Why is equipment calibration important?
Calibration, as defined by the International Vocabulary of Metrology (VIM), is: “The set of operations that establish, under specified conditions, the relationship between the values of magnitude indicated by a measuring instrument or system, values represented by a materialized measure or a reference material, and the corresponding values provided by standards” (source: VIM dictionary). In short, it compares the reading value of an instrument with the value of a standard that has been previously established.
In calibration, metrological traceability is a very relevant concept that must be taken into account. According to ENAC, it consists of: “An uninterrupted and documented chain of calibrations to a reference (measurement standard, practical realization of the definition of a unit of measurement, or a measurement procedure), using documented measurement procedures that allow relating the measurement results, generally to the units of the International System (SI), legally established in Spain, with a known and documented measurement uncertainty” (source: ENAC).
Laboratories and entities have different instruments and process tools that are regularly calibrated. There are factors such as aging components, temperature and/or humidity conditions, or mechanical stress that can gradually worsen the performance of measurement equipment. Any deviation or problem can lead to errors or issues in the performance of tests and/or deviations from the required specifications.
The UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 international accreditation, which guarantees technical competence, states that all equipment whose measurement accuracy or uncertainty affects the validity or metrological traceability of results must be calibrated. For this reason, laboratories must establish calibration programs. These must be properly reviewed and adjusted with a single goal: to maintain trust in the equipment. When performing calibration, the laboratory can do so:
- Externally, in an accredited laboratory or one that meets the requirements of NT74
- Internally, by developing the traceability chain under its responsibility
- Guarantee the quality of your results
- Understand how your laboratory equipment measures and the uncertainty associated with its calibration
- Ensure the reliability and metrological traceability of measurements
- Know the instrument error to verify that it meets the specified accuracy and/or uncertainty requirements to provide valid results
Optimize your laboratory with our calibration and measurement spreadsheets
At GSC, we know that equipment calibration in laboratories is key to ensuring product and process quality. That’s why we offer tools to carry out internal calibration with all the necessary guarantees. This option, supported by UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025, allows the laboratory to minimize the economic resources involved in external calibration, understand how their equipment measures, and the uncertainty associated with their calibration.
To achieve this, we provide these processes:
Calibration Procedure including instructions on how to carry it out for each of your equipment specifically, and instructions on how to calculate the uncertainty associated with calibration.
Validated and protected calibration spreadsheets, that meet the accreditation requirements of UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025, where you can input your internal calibration data for various equipment and perform all associated calculations quickly and easily, so you can focus on what matters: getting back to work as soon as possible.
Additionally, our validated spreadsheets include:
Certificate of validation
for the spreadsheet
for the spreadsheet
Explanatory document on
the functioning of the spreadsheet,
if needed
the functioning of the spreadsheet,
if needed
Excerpt from the calibration/control/measurement procedure for adaptation to the entity’s formats
We have what you're looking for! Contact us if you need a specific spreadsheet tailored for you.
Calibration/Control:
- Calibration of balances
- Calibration of ovens, stoves, refrigerators, etc.
- Calibration of volumetric material, both fixed and variable 8655
- Calibration of pH meters
- Calibration of temperature equipment with repeated measurements
- Control and maintenance of UV-Visible equipment
- Calibration of turbidimeters
- Calibration of thermohygrometers (humidity)
- Calibration of float meters
Measurements:
- Direct measurement of sound level
- Estimation of uncertainty in direct measurement
- Measurement uncertainty in the verification of fuel dispensers and analogs and additive substances
- Estimation of uncertainty for a reference value obtained by addition
We help you to achieve the best version of your laboratory
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