Electrical and Mechanical Calibration FAQs

The calibration of Electrical and Mechanical equipment used by industry is a key component of quality management and the delivery quality products /services. In many cases it is obligatory to legislative and regulatory compliance. Without calibration as a fundamental business process, companies could produce inferior quality products and services, incur additional costs, diminish relationships with customers and fail to meet compliance requirements.

In this article, we review some of our most frequently asked questions relating to calibration – especially surrounding the types of calibration and how equipment can be calibrated.

What is calibration and do I need it?

Businesses using equipment to test the quality and function of their goods and seeking the best standards should calibrate their equipment at regular intervals. In this context, calibration is defined as the documented comparison of the equipment being calibrated against a traceable reference device.

In a traceable calibration provided by DM, the results taken are compared to the specification provided by the manufacturer. This process will identify if the equipment is out of specification or functionally deficient in its operation and whether, to maintain its accuracy and work within the manufacturer's specification, it needs to be adjusted.

In industries such as aerospace and defence, calibration is critical. Certain equipment is required to conform to specific legislative/regulatory requirements and standards that govern the intervals and standard of calibration.

What types of calibration do we offer?

At DM, we predominantly (but not exclusively) calibrate electrical and mechanical equipment. The common types of calibration we include are:

Electrical

• Voltage

  • Power Supplies

  • Safety Testers

  • Handheld/Bench DMMs

• Current

  • Current Clamps

  • Electronic Loads

• Resistance

  • Ohmmeters

  • Resistance Boxes

• Capacitance

  • DMM’s

• Thermal

  • Thermometers

  • Hygrometers

• Inductance

• Power

  • Power Meters

  • Power Sensors

• Calibrators

• Frequency

  • Oscilloscopes

  • Function Generators

  • Signal Generators

• Long scale DMMs

• Component bridges

• Stopwatches & timers

Mechanical

• Micrometres

• Verniers

• Thread Gauges

• Taper Gauges

• Height Gauges

• Gauge Block Sets

• Surface Plates

• Torque Devices

• Pressure Gauges

• Weighing Scales

When is calibration required?

Calibration is required to be performed at regular intervals, normally every 6 to 12 months, or more often depending on factors, such as:

• Equipment use
• Frequency of use
• Equipment type
• Manufacturers recommendations
• How accurate you need to maintain your equipment

The results of equipment calibrated is appropriately documented, categorised as operating within or outside of specification and labelled with the date of calibration (and other stipulated information).

Which calibration standard should I use?

At DM we offer Traceable and UKAS Calibration:

1. Our traceable calibration is the most common type of calibration as it meets most customer requirements. It's defined by how the results taken, relating to an item of equipment, can be traced back to a National Laboratory.
2. UKAS is an accreditation that is recognised by the government, giving confirmation that equipment is being calibrated with a process that is assessed by an external body to meet the ISO-17025 calibration standard. When calibrating to this standard, the personnel, procedure and equipment have all been approved by UKAS acting as an external body.

DM provides both services at our facility in Letchworth and onsite with our mobile calibration service, thus minimising disruption to your business.

What are ISO-9001 calibration standards?

ISO-9001’s calibration requirements are set out in the 7.1.5 Monitoring and Measuring Resources clause of the document. The ISO-9001 calibration requirement intends that once you own an instrument that requires calibration, you should undertake regular calibration. By inference organisations are responsible for ensuring their equipment is:

• Calibrated to the standard required by the industry
• Regularly monitored to ensure compliance
• Accompanied by the correct documentation to prove calibration
• Protected from damage that would make readings unreliable

How can I ensure my measuring equipment is calibrated to ISO-9001 calibration standards?

Organisations should undertake appropriate quality management to ensure they meet the requirements of ISO-9001's calibration. This includes ensuring documentation is accurate and up-to-date, equipment is calibrated at the correct intervals and creating processes to regulate the working environment of the equipment to reduce the risk of unwanted adjustments or damage. This is all assessed by the BSI who award the certification and audit at regular intervals (annual / bi annually) that the requisite standards are being met.

What is UKAS standard calibration?

United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the national body for calibration that the government recognises in the UK as it adheres to detailed and internationally recognised guidelines. UKAS assesses a company to allow them to use ISO-17025 calibration standard. To be successfully certified UKAS assess and approve the equipment used to perform the UKAS calibration, the laboratory (environment) the calibration takes place in and the quality of technicians undertaking the UKAS calibration.

How can I ensure every piece of equipment is correctly calibrated?

DM Systems & Test Limited will take care of all your calibration needs with our team of highly experienced engineers. We are accredited to ISO-9001 and UKAS standards and provide mechanical and electrical calibration to traceable standards both in-house and on site. Discuss your calibration requirements with our experts today.