BASICS OF

CALIBRATION
METROLOGY – the science of
measurements
Metrology allows us to make confident commercial
exchanges. Life can get complicated without proper
measurement. As technology advances, the
techniques of measurement become more
sophisticated.
Sundial
 COMMONLY USED UNITS OF
MEASURE IN THE INDUSTRY
► Pressure – psi, kg/cm2, Bar
► Length – m, mm, cm, in
► Temperature - ºC, ºF
► Flow – gal/min
► Volume – cc, m3
► Weight – kg, g, ton
► Electrical – VDC, mVDC, mA, A, W
► Force – kgf, N, lbf
► Torque – kgfcm, Nm,
PRESSUR
E

DIMENSIONAL

WEIGHTS
TORQUE
VISCOSIT
Y

TEMPERATURE
FORCE

ELECTRICAL

FLOW
 What is Calibration?
► Calibration is the periodic comparison of working
standards against the master standard.
► The working standards must be traceable to a
single source, usually the national standard of
the concerned country with close connections to
the International Bureau of Weights and
Measures.
► This process give assurance that products
manufactured to identical dimensions from
different countries obtain harmonious
compatibility.
 What is Calibration?
► Calibration is a set of operations, performed
in accordance with a definite , documented
procedure that compares the
measurements performed by an instrument
or standard, for the purpose of detecting,
reporting or eliminate by adjustment, errors
in the instruments tested.

STANDARD
INSTRUMENT VS
UNIT UNDER TEST
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
► STANDARD
► UNIT UNDER TEST
► ACCURACY
► PRECISION
► TRACEABILITY
► RANGE
► SPAN
► READABILITY
► STANDARD UNCERTAINTY
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD
UNIT UNDER TEST
ACCURACY

Instrument of a
PRECISION
►
TRACEABILITY
RANGE
SPAN
READABILITY
STANDARD UNCERTAINTY

higher accuracy
than the unit
under test (UUT).
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Sometimes called
► STANDARD “CALIBRATOR”
UNIT UNDER TEST TEMPERATURE:

ACCURACY • Hybrid Recorder

PRECISION PRESSURE:

TRACEABILITY •Test Gauge

RANGE •Deadweight Tester

SPAN TRANSMITTERS

READABILITY •Loop Calibrator

STANDARD •Multi-function
Calibrator
UNCERTAINTY
WEIGHTS
•Test Weight
DIMENSIONAL
Commonly Used Standard

MULTIFUNCTION
CALIBRATOR
TEST GAUGE

BUFFER SOLUTION
 GAUGE BLOCK

TEST WEIGHT
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD
UNIT UNDER TEST
ACCURACY
PRECISION
TRACEABILITY
RANGE
SPAN
READABILITY
►
STANDARD UNCERTAINTY

Instrument to be
tested
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD Closeness to the
UNIT UNDER TEST true value
► ACCURACY
PRECISION
TRACEABILITY STANDARD READING:
RANGE 12.60 psi
SPAN
READABILITY
STANDARD
UNCERTAINTY
A B
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD
UNIT UNDER TEST
ACCURACY
PRECISION
TRACEABILITY
RANGE
SPAN

Repeatability of measured
READABILITY
STANDARD UNCERTAINTY
►

value
Not necessarily accurate.

Std UUT
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD

Unbroken chain of
UNIT UNDER TEST
ACCURACY
PRECISION
TRACEABILITY
RANGE
SPAN
READABILITY
STANDARD UNCERTAINTY

comparison
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD
UNIT UNDER TEST
ACCURACY
PRECISION
TRACEABILITY
RANGE
SPAN
READABILITY
STANDARD UNCERTAINTY

Capacity
►
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD
UNIT UNDER TEST
ACCURACY
PRECISION
TRACEABILITY
RANGE
SPAN
READABILITY
STANDARD UNCERTAINTY

Maximum minus
►

minimum
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD
UNIT UNDER TEST
ACCURACY
PRECISION
TRACEABILITY
RANGE
SPAN

Smallest value
READABILITY
STANDARD UNCERTAINTY

instrument can
measure
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
STANDARD
UNIT UNDER TEST
ACCURACY
PRECISION

Probability that the true

TRACEABILITY
RANGE
SPAN
READABILITY
STANDARD UNCERTAINTY

value lies within a stated

range of values

“No measurement is guaranteed to be

 WHY CALIBRATE?
► One calibrates to find how far the
unknown is from the standard

► One calibrates to detect the changes

on the instrument’s performance due
to drift
 Is the instrument still accurate
or not ?

► Where to find the accuracy of an

instrument?
 manufacturer’s manual or brochure
 published standards or handbooks
 calibration certificate
 calibration records
 process requirement
 WHY CALIBRATE?
► ISO REQUIREMENT
► RE-RANGING
► MAINTENANCE

WHEN TO CALIBRATE?
► ONCE A YEAR
► QUARTERLY
► EVERY 6 MONTHS
► AS THE NEED ARISES
 WHERE CALIBRATION TAKES
PLACE?
► In-house (Laboratory)
► On-site (location of the instruments)

WHERE TO GET CALIBRATION

SERVICE? (Phils.)
► Industrial Testing and Development
Institute – ITDI (Nat’l Lab)
► Metals Industry Research and Dev’t
Center – MIRDC (3rd Party Lab)
► Philippine Accreditation Office –
Accredited Laboratories (formerly BPS)
 WHERE TO GET CALIBRATION
SERVICE?
► National Standards Laboratories

► ISO Accredited Laboratories

► Third-party accreditation provides a formal

recognition that a laboratory is capable of meeting a
recognized standard.

► Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 denotes technical

competence, credibility and an expectation of valid
results by an accredited laboratory.
 An accredited calibration
laboratory is a competent
laboratory.
► Accreditation is the formal recognition by an
authoritative body that an organization is
competent to carry out specific tasks like
calibration and testing.

► Bureau of Product Standards (BPS)

 Phil Accreditation Office (PAO) the
Philippine’s Laboratory Accreditation Body.
 An accredited calibration
laboratory is a competent
laboratory.
► ISO/IEC 17025
 General Requirements for the Competence of
Calibration and Testing Laboratories.

 is the basis both for establishing quality

systems in testing and calibration laboratories
and for recognizing their competence.
 CONTENTS OF CALIBRATION
► TITLE
CERTIFICATE
Calibration Report
Calibration Certificate

► CLIENT
NAME / DEPARTMENT / END -
►USER
INSTRUMENT IDENTIFICATION
 Instrument Name – “Pressure Transmitter”
 Make/Model – “PTX-351”
 Serial Number – “AE1238X”

► JOB NUMBER – “09261”

► DATE
CALIBRATED AND
RECOMMENDED DUE DATE
 Date Of Calibration: Sept 26, 2009
 Recommended Due Date: Sept. 27, 2010
 CONTENTS OF CALIBRATION
CERTIFICATE
► RESULTS
Applied Value
Indicated Value
Correction (+ / -)
Applied Value – Indicated Value

APPLIED VALUE INDICATED VALUE CORRECTION

50.00 49.3 +0.7
60.00 62.6 -2.6
 CALIBRATION PROCEDURES

► WEIGHTS
► TEMPERATURE
► DIMENSIONAL
CALIBRATION OF BALANCES
 Type of Standard Weights

STAINLESS STEEL RECTANGULAR CAST

IRON
(INDUSTRY GRADE)

BRASS / CHROME PLATED

Table I Maximum
permissible errors of mass
standards.
Nominal Class E1 Class E2 Class F1 Class F2 Class M1
Values of mg mg mg mg mg
Mass
50kg 25 75 250 750 2500
20kg 10 30 100 300 1000
5kg 5 15 50 150 500
2kg 2.5 7.5 25 75 250
1kg 0.50 1.5 5 15 50
500g 0.25 0.75 2.5 7.5 25
200g 0.10 0.30 1.0 3.0 10
100g 0.05 0.15 0.5 1.5 5
50g 0.030 0.10 0.30 1.0 3.0
20g 0.025 0.080 0.25 0.8 2.5
10g 0.020 0.060 0.20 0.6 2.0
5g 0.015 0.050 0.15 0.5 1.5
2g 0.012 0.040 0.12 0.4 1.2
1g 0.010 0.030 0.10 0.3 1.0
500mg 0.008 0.025 0.08 0.25 0.8
200mg 0.006 0.020 0.06 0.20 0.6
100mg 0.005 0.015 0.05 0.15 0.5
50mg 0.004 0.012 0.04 0.12 0.4
20mg 0.003 0.010 0.03 0.10 0.3
10mg 0.002 0.008 0.025 0.08 0.25
5mg 0.002 0.006 0.020 0.06 0.20
2mg 0.002 0.006 0.020 0.06 0.20
1mg 0.002 0.006 0.020 0.06 0.20
Table I Maximum
permissible errors of mass
standards.
Nominal Class E1 Class E2 Class F1 Class F2 Class M1
Values mg mg mg mg mg
of Mass
100g 0.05 0.15 0.5 1.5 5
THINGS TO CONSIDER IN THE
USE AND CALIBRATION OF
SCALES AND BALANCES
•For electronic balances, always power up the unit

for about 30 minutes stabilization time before

performing measurements.
•Weigh on leveled plane. Level the balances
before placing weights.
•For electronic balances, always power up the unit for about 30

minutes stabilization time before performing measurements.

•Weigh on leveled plane. Level the balances before placing
weights.
•Clean the pan of the scale or balance before placing weights.

•Place the balance on top of a rigid table where there is no

vibration and air movements (draft).

•Zero the scale or balance before placing weights.

•For electronic balance, wait for the busy signal or annunciator
to disappear before reading the measurement.

•Use calibrated scales and balances.

 “THE CALIBRATION OF
BALANCES”

1. Repeatability of Reading Test

This is a test measure of how consistently a reading is displayed by

the balance.

The balance is tested at nearly half-maximum capacity, repeating the

reading ten (10) times.
2. Departure From Nominal Value Test

The reading on the balances should be checked at different steps

(usually a minimum of 10 points) over the capacity of balance.
 3. Effect Off-Center Loading Test

When the center of mass of the object being weighed is off-center on

the pan, shift or corner-load error may occur. This test is designed to
enable user to decide how accurately objects must be positioned on the
pan for this effect to be negligible.
The balance is tested at nearly one-third the maximum capacity of the
balance. It is suggested that a single mass should be issued for this
test.
 WORKSHEET

Effects of Off Center Loading

Mass on pan=50g
Center 50.0003
Front 50.0003
Back 50.0004
Left 50.0003
Right 50.0005

Maximum Difference = 0.0002 g

LIQUID-IN-GLASS THERMOMETER

The glass material is commonly made up of

borosilicate glass or of quartz material.
Types of filling medium
1. Water
2. Alcohol
3. Mercury
PRINCIPLE AND MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

Expansion of liquid with the rise of its temperature

Line Spacing is called graduation or scale division
The behavior of the liquid is normally quite stable
Mercury is the most commonly used fluid
It remains liquid over a wide temperature range
Freezing Point is –38°C
Boiling point is 356°C
The boiling point may be elevated to 600°C or
higher by filling the thermometer with nitrogen
It does not wet the glass
It is opaque and readily detected in glass
Readily obtainable in pure form
Expansion is very regular
Expansion Chamber

Glass Tubing

Top of Liquid column

Main Scale
Stem
Graduation Lines

Contraction chamber

Capillary

Auxiliary Scale

Bulb
Thermometric Liquid
Types of Glass Thermometers According
To Immersion

COMPLETE TOTAL PARTIAL

IMMERSION IMMERSION IMMERSION
Accuracies of Liquid-In-Glass Thermometers
Thermometer °C °C °C °C °C °C
Divided to -183 -80 -50 -10 -10 -10
(°C) to 50 to 50 to 50 to 50 to 100 to 200
0.01       0.005 0.01  
0.005 0.01

0.02     0.02 0.01 0.02  

0.02 0.01 0.02

0.05     0.05 0.01 0.02 0.05

0.05 0.02 0.05 0.05

0.1     0.1 0.02 0.02 0.05

0.1 0.02 0.05 0.1

0.2     0.2 0.05 0.05 0.05

0.5 0.05 0.1 0.1

1 1 1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5

1 1 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.5

2 2 1 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

2 1 1 0.5 0.5 1

Upper figure applies to total ;

lower figure applies to partial
CALIBRATION OF THERMOMETER BY COMPARISON METHOD

Standard Platinum Resistance

Thermometer Glass Thermometer

Liquid Calibration Bath

100 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
 0.0 0   0.0
     

     

     

     

     

0.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
 0.0 0    0.0
25.0 25 0.0
     

     

     

     

25.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
 0.0 0   0.0
 
25.0 25
    0.0
 
50.0 50
    0.0
     

     

     

50.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
 
0.0 0    0.0
 
25.0 25
    0.0
 
50.0 50
    0.0
75.0 75
    0.0
     

     

75.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
0.0 0    0.0
 
25.0 25
    0.0
 
50.0 50
    0.0
 
75.0 75
    0.0
  100.0 100
    0.0
     

100.0 OC
Calibration
Results
Applied Test Instrument Correction
Temperature (°C) Reading (°C) (°C)
 0.0 0    0.0
25.0
  25
    0.0
50.0
  50
    0.0
75.0
  75
    0.0
  100.0 100
    0.0
     

Remarks
1. The user should determine the suitability of the instrument for its
intended use.
2. The uncertainty of measurement for the results given in this
certificate is ± ______°C
estimated at a confidence level of not less than 95%.
3. A positive correction is to be added to test instrument reading and a
negative correction subtracted to give true temperature.
 
Cal. Officer : ___________________
Checked by : ___________________
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
 0.0 2   -2.0
     

     

     

     

     

0.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
 0.0 2    -2.0
 25.0 27 -2.0
     

     

     

     

25.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
 0.0 2   -2.0
 
25.0 27
    -2.0
 
50.0 52
    -2.0
     

     

     

50.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
 
0.0 2    -2.0
 
25.0 27
    -2.0
 
50.0 52
    -2.0
75.0 78
    -3.0
     

     

75.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test
Temperature Instrument Correction (°C)
(°C) Reading (°C)
0.0 2    -2.0
 
25.0 27
    -2.0
 
50.0 52
    -2.0
 
75.0 78
    -3.0
  100.0    

     

100.0 OC
Calibration Results

Applied Test Instrument Correction

Temperature (°C) Reading (°C) (°C)
 0.0 2    -2
25.0
  27
    -2
50.0
  52
    -2
75.0
  78
    -3
  100.0    
     
Remarks
1. The user should determine the suitability of the instrument for its
intended use.
2. The uncertainty of measurement for the results given in this
certificate is ± ______°C
estimated at a confidence level of not less than 95%.
3. A positive correction is to be added to test instrument reading and
a negative correction subtracted to give true temperature.
 
Cal. Officer : ___________________
Checked by : ___________________
CALIBRATION OF
ENCLOSED OVEN
AND
FREEZERS
1.0 TEST EQUIPMENT 
1.1 Hybrid Recorder 
1.2 Type K T/C Wires 
 2.0 PROCEDURE
2.1 Commencing Calibration
2.1.1 Mount the couple end of the T/C wires
inside the chamber of the Unit Under Test
(UUT) at 5 to 10 different locations. The
number of Temperature points depends
upon the clients specification and/or the
space availability.
SENSOR 1

3
6 4
2
5
2.1.2 Make sure that the T/C wires are
mounted freely without touching any of the
UUT’s surface. See illustration.
2.1.3 Be sure that the T/C wires are placed in
their proper test points

2.1.4 Set the

Recorder to
the range of
the UUT. Set
Recorder
chart
2.1.5 Turn the Recorder “ON” and warm it
up for 15 minutes
2.1.6 Operate oven and set to desired
temperature. Run the recorder.

2.1.7 When the

UUT and the
Recorder have
stabilized, put the
Recorder to the
print mode.
2.1.8 Set the UUT to the next range and put the
Recorder to the run mode.
2.1.9 Repeat steps 2.1.7 and 2.1.8 if there are
more temperature settings
2.1.10 After
calibration, open
the UUT and let it
cool down to
ambient
temperature
before taking the
sensors off.
2.1.11 Record all readings in the worksheet provided
 CALIBRATION REPORT
End User : _______________ Job Order No.: ____________
 
Type of Job : CALIBRATION
End User’s Equipment : Digital Thermometer
Manufacturer’s Name : _______________________
Model No. / Type : _______________________
Serial No. : _______________________
Range Calibrated : _______________________
Date Calibrated : _______________________
Date Due : _______________________
Ambient Temperature : 23 ± 3°C
Relative Humidity : 55 ± 15% R.H.
 
Calibration Procedure :
 
This temperature controller has been adjusted and calibrated by
comparison against a temperature calibrator which is traceable to
National Institute of Standards & Technology, USA.. The calibration
was based on thermocouple reference tables are per ASTM E230-
98.
 B

A
 Calibration Results

 
Remarks
1. The user should determine the suitability of the instrument for its intended use.
2. The uncertainty of measurement for the results given in this certificate is ± _______°C,
estimated at a confident level of not less than 95%.
 
Cal. Officer : ____________________
Checked by : ____________________
Calibration Results

STD-MET
Rev 0
Calibration Results

 
Remarks
1. The user should determine the suitability of the instrument for its intended use.
2. The uncertainty of measurement for the results given in this certificate is ± _______°C, estimated at a
confident level of not less than 95%.
 
Cal. Officer : ____________________
Checked by : ____________________
Calibration Results

STD-MET
Rev 0
 LINEAR
CALIBRATION
THE DEFINITION OF THE METER (m)

The international definition of meter being used

today is the distance traveled by light in vacuum in
a time interval of 1/299 792 458 seconds. Hence,
this definition is specifically referring to light as the
primary standard for length (m).

The illustration below shows the ladderized

relationship of different length standards with the
primary standard.
 GAUGE BLOCKS
Gauge Blocks are rectangular blocks of tool steel,
tungsten or ceramic materials which are carefully
finished and accurately fabricated to less than a
micrometer error in length, parallelism and flatness.
These gauges when rubbed together will wring
together due to its very smooth surface finish. This
property of gauge blocks is called wringing.
The length represented by the gauge block
(sometimes called Slip Gauge) is the distance
between its two mirror finished faces (measuring
faces)
There are several sets of gauge block presently
available in the market and the number of pieces
per set varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
The illustration below shows a typical set of gauge
There are two distinct and well-recognized uses for
gauge blocks; they are in general use for precise
measurement whenever accurate work sizes are
required or may be reserved as standards of length
to be used with very high magnification comparators
to establish the size of gauge blocks in general use.