Measuring instruments for pressure and temperature are employed in almost all regions of industrial manufacturing. Due to continuous mechanical, chemical and thermal loading, these instruments age and can therefore not guarantee the correctness of the measured values over the course of time. Through timely calibration, however, the alteration of the measured value could be determined.
Along the way of calibration, the displayed value of the measuring instrument is weighed against the measuring consequence of a different measuring device that is known to function correctly and accurately and which itself has been made to coincide directly or indirectly with a national (or international) reference instrument. In a nutshell, to be able to compare measuring results, they must be ?traceable? to a national or international standard via a chain of comparative measurements. The calibration hierarchy shown in the picture (utilizing the exemplory case of Germany) depicts the traceability of an inspection equipment in an organization up to national standard at the PTB (German national metrology institute).
So that you can ensure traceability used, the following points should be observed, amongst others:
The chain of comparison should not be interrupted.
The measurement uncertainty must be known in each stage of the calibration chain so that the total measurement uncertainty could be calculated. As a rule, a superordinate measuring instrument must have a measurement accuracy three to four times higher.
Each step in the calibration chain must be documented, including the measurement results.
All bodies carrying out a stage in the chain must prove their competence by way of accreditation.
Calibrations must be repeated at appropriate intervals. The periods depend on the demanded measurement accuracy and the technical requirements
Note
The WIKA calibration laboratory is accredited by the German Accreditation Body (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle ? DAkkS) relative to DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025 for the measurands temperature, pressure, DC current, DC voltage and DC resistance. Uninterested on our calibration laboratory or an on-site calibration with the WIKA calibration van can be found on the WIKA website. Should you be interested in our services, please feel free to e mail us via e-mail.
Learn more about the differences between factory calibration and traceable calibration in the following video: