Frequently Asked Questions About Calibration
Calibration is a complicated issue. That’s why we have prepared some straightforward answers to the questions we often receive from our customers.
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Can I have my equipment calibrated at my facility?
This depends on exactly what the equipment is. Please contact us to determine whether or not an on-site calibration is applicable.
I need my order fast. Can I call ahead of time to pre-schedule?
We are here to meet your schedule, if next-day service is necessary, we will do everything possible to meet your requirements. However, a fee for expedited service will apply.
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What is calibration?
Calibration is the verification of a product’s specified accuracy.
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What are the basic types of calibration?
Batch – one device is picked from a manufactured lot and tested to confirm the entire batch meets specifications. This can potentially send a defective product into the market.
Individual – every device is tested and calibrated to ensure you are getting a complete working product, not a defective one.
Accredited – each individual device is calibrated in accordance with a quality standard—usually ISO/IEC 17025 for testing and calibration laboratories. Additionally, the calibration has been reviewed and certified by a third-party, ILAC-certified accreditation body (i.e., A2LA, NAVLAP, ANAB, etc.). This type of calibration offers the highest level of certainty that the device is accurate and reliable to use.
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What is Laboratory Accreditation?
Laboratory accreditation is defined as formal recognition of an organization's technical competency to perform specific tests, types of tests, or calibrations.
The general requirements for laboratory accreditation are contained in ISO/IEC 17025. This standard contains quality system requirements and technical requirements that the laboratories must meet. Laboratory accreditation requirements, however, go beyond just ISO/IEC 17025.
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What is the "Scope of Accreditation"?
The list of specific tests, types of tests or calibrations for which a laboratory is found competent is listed in a Scope of Accreditation. The final content of the scope must be approved by the assessor(s) and the selected members of the accreditor. For calibration laboratories, the scope normally includes the parameters, ranges of measurement, the best uncertainty associated with each range, and the techniques/equipment used to perform the calibrations.
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My certificate contains incorrect information. How do I get it revised?
Contact POWERPRO Project & Services by dialing 0908 793 9482 or fill out our contact form. Have your certificate ready for reference. We'll email the revised certificate or sticker to you.
I need my order fast. Can I call ahead of time to pre-schedule?
We are here to meet your schedule, if next day service is necessary we will do everything possible to meet your requirements, however an expedite fee will apply.
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Why should I calibrate a new instrument that came directly from the factory?
Sometimes it will be a legal requirement and sometimes you will need to chart changes in the instrument over time. In these cases, you will need to track calibration data from the time of the initial purchase.
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When should I re-calibrate my instrument?
We recommend that you begin a calibration history from day one and re-calibrate once a year. This enables you to compare your measurement results over time.
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Is it sufficient to send in my instruments for calibration every second year?
It depends on how accurate you want it to be. Do you want to risk months or years of untrustworthy measurement results? This makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly when the faulty measurements first occurred. This is why we strongly recommend annual calibration for all devices.
How often you calibrate your instrument is a balance between risk and cost. The shorter the period between calibrations, the lower the risk of questionable measurements. We consequently recommend annual calibration for instruments.
Equipment used on a daily basis will have a shorter calibration cycle than equipment used, for example, once a month.
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Why should I get my device calibrated?
Calibration ensures the data output from your device is providing accurate, repeatable measurements right out of the box. This allows you to rule out a defective device that could potentially cause production delays, product defects, and recalls. It also allows you to meet quality systems and comply with industry standards such as ISO, FDA, USDA, EPA, GLPs/cGMPs and other quality standards.
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How often should my device be calibrated?
We recommend devices be calibrated annually. However, your quality system, conditions of use, and performance may warrant more frequent calibration such as sensitive applications requiring high device accuracy or less infrequent depending on your need. If you are unsure, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your device as an initial calibration point.
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Why trust POWERPRO for calibration service in Nigeria?
In-house A2LA-accredited laboratories complying with International Standards in accordance with ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025 to help customers meet ISO, EPA, GLPs/cGMPs, FDA compliance, and other quality standards.
Metrology labs can calibrate new or existing instrument using standards traceable through NIST and provide a document of certification (if required).
Excellent value—our NIST-traceable reports offer extensive test data on a broad range of measurement parameters at an affordable price. (can list parameters or link to documents)
Accredited precalibration and recalibration service available for virtually any instrument or equipment in your industry.
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What is recalibration ?
When you send your existing device for calibration on a regularly-scheduled basis to make sure your product is always in compliance. The frequency of recalibration will depend on your quality system or usage conditions.
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How do I know if I should recalibrate or replace?
Recalibrate if its required by a regulatory body or accreditation agency, required by your documented process, the unit or device has a high point price, or you need to document a history of the device’s consistency. Replace if the recalibration cost is significantly higher than the replacement cost, or if you are not required to recalibrate by a regulatory body or accreditation agency, required by your documented process, or you need a documented history of the device’s consistency. Choosing to replace equipment instead of recalibrating can expose your company to risk, if device consistency is critical to your application, since you are not able to confirm that critical measurement equipment maintained its accuracy throughout the full use period. Ultimately, it is the end user’s decision.
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What is NIST-traceable calibration?
NIST traceable means that the equipment being used to calibrate your product meets NIST standards and has an audit paper trail back to the original equipment used to test to the highest accuracy possible.
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What is a NIST-traceable certificate?
A calibration certificate that identifies the standards used are traceable through NIST. It is a link in the traceability chain from the customer unit to NIST.