11/11/2019 What is Calibration and Why is it so Important?

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WHAT IS CALIBRATION AND WHY IS IT

SO IMPORTANT?

Calibration is vitally important wherever measurements are

important, it enables users and businesses to have confidence in
the results that they monitor, record and subsequently control.

If you would like your equipment calibrated by our on-site lab,

please contact us for a quote.

Calibration is the process of comparing a reading on one piece of

equipment or system, with another piece of equipment that has been
calibrated and referenced to a known set of parameters. The
equipment used as a reference should itself be directly traceable to
equipment that is calibrated according to ISO/IEC 17025.
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ISO/IEC 17025 is the International Standard for the accreditation of
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Testing and Calibration Laboratories. It includes quality management
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system requirements along with technical requirements. In the UK,
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ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is provided by UKAS. So, often calibration
Instruments’ Range of

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11/11/2019 What is Calibration and Why is it so Important? | Tempcon Instrumentation

Cost-Effective Tilt performed by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory is referred to as

Current Meters ‘UKAS Calibration’.

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HOW TEMPERATURE CALIBRATION IS
Systems: Latest Best-
practice
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In general use, calibration is often regarded as including the process
Tips for Selecting Data of adjusting the output or indication on a measurement instrument to
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however this is actually two processes: calibration and adjustment. It
is important therefore to understand exactly what service you require.
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It is also important to understand what is being calibrated and how
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the calibration is being performed.
System Being Used in
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As an example, consider a digital thermometer that uses an external
Portsmouth Cathedral – temperature probe; some calibration service providers will perform
Using HOBO the calibration using a simulated temperature value that is applied to
Temperature Data the thermometer only (i.e. without the temperature probe). Here, a
Loggers to Improve test instrument is attached to the digital thermometer and a voltage
Heating Strategies equivalent to a specific temperature is applied to the digital
thermometer. The result is recorded, and the thermometer is then
considered to be calibrated.
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Many users require, and expect, a more rigorous calibration to be
Articles performed that reflects real-world usage. Here, the preferred method
is to test both the digital thermometer and the temperature probe
Case Studies together (in other words a ‘system test’) and to use a real heat source.
The value displayed by the system being tested is then compared
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against the standard (the system with a known or assigned accuracy
from the first paragraph).
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HVAC / Building WHY IS CALIBRATION SO IMPORTANT?

Management
Calibration defines the accuracy and quality of measurements
recorded using a piece of equipment. Over time there is a tendency
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for results and accuracy to ‘drift’ when using particular technologies
Onset HOBO or measuring particular parameters such as temperature and
humidity. To be confident in the results being measured, there is an
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lifetime for reliable, accurate and repeatable measurements.
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11/11/2019 What is Calibration and Why is it so Important? | Tempcon Instrumentation

The goal of calibration is to minimise any measurement uncertainty by

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Monitoring
ensuring the accuracy of test equipment. Calibration quantifies and
controls errors or uncertainties within measurement processes to an
acceptable level.

FOOD INDUSTRY
Within catering, or commercial kitchens, the implications of using a
piece of equipment that has not been calibrated could be that a
critical food temperature is incorrectly measured; this could result in:

A food safety issue

Breach of HACCP and customers being ill
Environmental Health Officer notices of closure
Legal action

All of which result in damage to the reputation of a business. The

possible cost to reputation, when compared to the cost of a simple
two point annual calibration, means it’s often not worth the risk of
ignoring calibration.

MANUFACTURING
In manufacturing process applications, any equipment used should be
calibrated at multiple points across its working range to ensure
reliable information to critical alarms and systems. Failure to calibrate
or improper calibration has been the cause of injury, death and even
major environmental disasters.

HOW OFTEN TO CALIBRATE?

Consider the cost of calibration as an investment and the potential
results of an incorrect reading as the cost of not making the
investment.

For most industries, the standard is to calibrate annually. As you gain

results from calibration tests, you will be in a position to potentially
adjust the frequency of calibrations, and/or upgrade to more robust
measuring instruments if needed. Most calibration laboratories supply
a printed calibration certificate for the customer to retain as proof of
quality standards.

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11/11/2019 What is Calibration and Why is it so Important? | Tempcon Instrumentation

In summary, calibration is vitally important wherever measurements

are important; it enables users and businesses to have confidence in
the results that they monitor record and subsequently control.

Contact us for a quote to calibrate your equipment.

Posted in Articles and tagged Accuracy | Calibration | ETC-125 | ITC-320 |

Measurements | RTC-700 | Standards.

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