What is calibration and what is its importance? 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 to a National Standard. The UK Standard being UKAS.
Some companies will offer a pre-calibration test where they test equipment first, to determine whether it is suitable for calibration, whilst others will submit all equipment for calibration whether or not it is working properly.
In general use, calibration is often regarded as including the process of adjusting the output or indication on a measurement instrument to agree with value of the applied standard, within a specified accuracy however this is actually two processes: calibration and adjustment. It is important therefore to understand exactly what service you require. It is also important to understand what is being calibrated and how the calibration is being performed. As an example, consider a digital thermometer that uses an external temperature probe. Many companies are surprised to learn that their calibration is performed using a simulated temperature value that is applied to the thermometer only. Here, a test instrument is attached to the digital thermometer and a voltage equivalent to a specific temperature is applied to the digital thermometer. The result is then recorded and the thermometer considered to be calibrated.
Many users require, and probably expect, a more rigorous calibration to be performed that reflects real world usage. Here, the preferred method is to test both the digital thermometer and the temperature probe 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 against the standard (the system with a known or assigned accuracy from the first paragraph!).
Why is Calibration so Important?
Calibration defines the accuracy and quality of measurements recorded using a piece of equipment. Over time there is a tendency for results and accuracy to ‘drift’ particularly when using particular technologies or measuring particular parameters such as temperature and humidity. To be confident in the results being measured there is an ongoing need to maintain the calibration of equipment throughout its lifetime for reliable, accurate and repeatable measurements.
The goal of calibration is to minimise any measurement uncertainty by ensuring the accuracy of test equipment. Calibration quantifies and controls errors or uncertainties within measurement processes to an acceptable level.
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 2 point annual calibration, means it’s often not worth the risk of ignoring calibration.
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.
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.
If you need your equipment calibrated, contact us for pricing.