Our experience is our greatest asset, so we collect frequently asked questions for our users and answer them publicly, so you always have our answers at your fingertips.
NEW USERS
in the Preparing for calibration section, what do you need to know? fill in the online form or call us.
EXISTING USERS
Please send/deliver the criteria to our address and note whether we calibrate to existing requirements or to new requirements, which you send at the same time for coordination.
For field calibrations, please call or send an enquiry.
FAST TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE:
Telephone +386 2 629 6720 (between 07:00 and 15:00), outside these hours you can call +386 41 626 771
They are authorised to give opinions and interpretations:
Why is calibration important?
Firstly, it is important to realise that each calibration has its own purpose. If there is no intention, calibration is not necessary. Where there are requirements from the legislator, the legislator also prescribes by law, act or regulation why it is important – health protection, occupational safety, protection of property… these often go in the direction of the public good.
In other cases, calibration provides you with relevant and trustworthy information that is useful for your work. A certificate is not just a piece of paper to be used as a receipt. It is an important factor for decisions on the suitability of a product/service/process, whether a customer still trusts you, decisions related to sustainability and energy efficiency, etc. The results of the calibrations should be reviewed, evaluated and appropriate measures put in place. If you don’t, you’re not on the right track.
Read more in this interesting article Why calibration is important
What do we do when we receive a measure from calibration?
Each measure to be calibrated must have a custodian. It monitors the gauge, settings, maintenance, calibration, stability and implements actions.
When you receive the instrument from calibration, first check that there is no damage due to handling or transport that could affect the results of the calibration you have just performed. You should be aware that results are only given and valid at the time and place when and where they were obtained, usually in a controlled laboratory environment. If an untoward event occurs during the transfer from the laboratory to the user, the instrument must be checked again.
Next, check the calibration results and compare them with the previous ones to identify drifts and other differences. Based on the results and findings, and in accordance with your own rules, determine whether or not the criterion is still applicable to you to the extent intended and take appropriate action. We advise you to write down this procedure and prepare a checklist.
What is an error and what can affect it?
Benchmarks change their error due to handling and ageing and, as a consequence, the stability of their results over time cannot be trusted indefinitely. With regular calibration, these errors can be documented and taken into account in the measurement. There are several influences on the criteria, and they have very different impacts, so it is important to know what impacts we are talking about. The gauge can be subjected to large temperature differences (heating, cooling), vibration and rough handling, as well as ageing and material wastage. Such effects can be predicted and, if the gauge is regularly calibrated, we can see these effects in the form of gauge creep. There are also influences that change the properties of the benchmark in unpredictable ways. Such impacts include. gauge overload, physical damage, service intervention, etc. In such cases, recalibration of the gauge is the most appropriate.
How often do we need to calibrate and what is the recalibration period?
You are the best placed to know who is using the calibrated gauge, where, how and for what purpose. Using the risk assessment and previous calibration results, determine the period for which you expect the expected error to remain acceptable. For industrial gauges, the most common recalibration period is 12 months. If the benchmark is at a critical point, the time limit is often 6 or even 3 months. But at more than 12 months, it is actually very difficult to control oversights and unforeseen situations. You need to consider and anticipate all factors that would (or have) led to a deterioration in the criterion. Because what is the purpose of a calibrated yardstick that you cannot trust?
Therefore, the manufacturer’s technical specifications, the manufacturer’s requirements for operating ranges and overruns, the results of previous calibrations, the working conditions under which the gauge is used, the method of storage, the frequency of use, the persons using the gauge and other specifics of your work and application must all be included in the recalibration deadline equation.
As accredited laboratories, we are not allowed to set recalibration deadlines because we are not the users of the benchmark. Alternatively, we can write them on the calibration certificate and label if you provide us with a written request before the calibration is carried out.
The temperature sensor on the thermometer has been replaced. Is recalibration required?
Replacing the sensor is a major service procedure and therefore requires recalibration or at least an internal check. If the meter is calibrated with a temperature sensor and you replace the temperature sensor, the calibration is no longer valid. If you foresee frequent changes of temperature sensors, please contact us, there are a variety of suitable solutions to effectively address such situations.
At what points do we need to calibrate our gauge?
The biggest conundrum for users in most cases is simple – operating temperature + upper and lower operating limits. This issue also requires some reflection in terms of mid-term review, intended use, internal requirements, etc.
EXAMPLE 1:
The user dries the products at 800 °C. Set a limit of ± 10 °C for energy efficiency and material requirements. For verification, it uses an indicating thermometer with a thermocouple for which it has a specification of -200 … +1200 °C. At what points should he calibrate his gauge?
Solution:
At 780, 800 and 820 °C, or perhaps a slightly extended 750, 800 and 850 °C, depending on whether it is accompanied by heating and cooling of the furnace. He can add any other point relevant to him if he wishes.
EXAMPLE 2:
The same user has another procedure where he checks the temperature at around 60 °C.
Solution 1:
First, it needs to decide whether to do this with the same temperature sensor. This is because it will creep faster when used at high temperature than at low temperature. In addition, the thermocouples are differently suited for use at 60 or 800 °C. If he chooses the same temperature sensor, he adds point 60 and both limits. It follows that it will have to take into account greater measurement uncertainty.
Solution 2:
It may choose to simulate the temperature of the indicating thermometer without calibration with a temperature sensor and over the entire range of the indicating thermometer. The temperature sensors are then checked separately or against the error factors provided in the standard.
Solution 3:
If both measurements are important, you are advised to use a separate gauge for each temperature. Today, good quality and stable meters are very affordable, and calibration is likely to be even cheaper if there are no combinations of processes.
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