Class 9

19M603 Metrology & Instrumentation
6MG2/G2B Even Sem 2023-24
Class 9 - Calibration of measuring instruments and

ISO 9000 quality standards
Dr A Prabukarthi
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
PSG College of Technology
Coimbatore-641004
Course outcome 2 (CO2): Demonstrate an understanding
of calibration procedure for measuring instruments and
select appropriate procedure as per ISO norms
• Calibration of measuring instruments - principles of

calibration
– Calibration of Instruments
Vernier caliper
Micrometer
Feeler gauges
Dial indicator
• Surface plates, slip gauges and care of gauge blocks
• General cares and rules in measurement
• ISO 9000 quality standards
Content
• Calibration
• Need of Calibration
• Benefits of Calibration
• Basic Requirements for Calibration
• Reference / Calibration Standard
• Control on Environmental Conditions
• Documentation
• Recalibration
Objectives
• Understand the need, benefits, requirements and

standards of calibration.
• To know the influence of environment condition in the
context of calibration.
• Documentation after calibration.
• What is recalibration and factors influence
recalibration.
• Standard periodicity of calibration of selective
measuring instrument.
Calibration
• The set of operations which establish under specific conditions, the
relationship between values indicated by measuring instrument or
measuring system or value represented by a material measure or a
reference material, and the corresponding value of a quantity realized by a
reference standard.
NIST --- National Institute of Standards and Technology

Need of Calibration
• To maintain quality control and quality assurance in

production.
• To comply with requirements of global trade.
• To meet the requirement of ISO guides.
• To promote international recognition.
• For tracking back measurement results to national

standards.
Benefits of Calibration
• It fulfils the requirements of traceability to national /

international standards like ISO 9000, ISO 14000 etc.
• As a proof that the instrument is working.
• Confidence in using the instruments.
• Traceability to national measurement standard.
• Interchangeability.
• Reduced rejection.
• Improved product and service quality leading to satisfied
customers.
• Power saving.
• Cost Saving.
• Safety.
Basic Requirements for Calibration
• Reference / Calibration Standards & other instruments /
equipment's.
• Controlled Environment Conditions.
• Competence of Calibration Lab personnel.
• Traceability of Reference / Calibration standards.
• Documentation.
Classification of Standard
– Primary Level standard
– Secondary level standard
– Tertiary or working Level Standard

Contd..
• Primary standards are made to the highest metrological

quality and are the definitive definition or realization of
their unit of measure. Historically, units of measure were
generally defined with reference to unique artifacts which
were the legal basis of units of measure.
• The next quality standard in the hierarchy is known as a

secondary standard. Secondary standards are calibrated with
reference to a primary standard. The third level of standard, a
standard which is periodically calibrated against a secondary
standard, is known as a working standard.
Contd..
Contd..
Control on Environmental Conditions
• In order to derive best accuracy and meaningful
calibration result it is important to control environmental
conditions in which measurements are made. Control and
monitoring of following factors should be maintained, as
recommended by manufacturer of standard / instrument.
– Temperature ( e.g. 25 +/-4.0 deg.C)
– Relative Humidity (e.g. </=70% RH)

Contd..
– Illumination level ( e.g. minimum 450 Lx.)
– Acoustic Level (e.g. max. 60 dB)
– Shock and Vibration should be adequately.
– Power supply Regulation (e.g. +/- 1%)
– Temperature gradient (e.g. 1.5 deg.C / hour)
– Proper earth etc..

Documentation
• In any quality system, documentation has very important

role and therefore, proper care shall be taken for
documenting.
– Calibration Procedure / methods.
– Calibration Results( Recording of data)
– Calibration Report and
– Calibration Certificate
Contd..
• A full explanation of documentation one may find in

guidelines of ISO 9000 ( ISO 10012-1) documents.
– However, calibration report must be address answer

for
– Who? ( Name / identification of Cal Lab
Tech./Approving authority)
– What? ( Cal. Result / Data)
– When? ( Calibration Date)
– Where?( Location / address, where calibration done)
– How? ( Calibration Procedure / Method)
– Limitations / decision shall also be reflected.
Recalibration
• Calibration of a measuring instrument ensures that the value

displayed by the instrument is both accurate and repeatable
with respect to a traceable standard.
• However, once calibrated, it cannot be assumed that the

instrument would continue to give accurate and repeatable
results for all time to come.
• Thus, recalibration of the instrument is necessary to estimate

its deviation from a reference value or standard and to ensure
that the deviation is acceptable for the measurement over time.
Contd..
• Recalibration is also necessary under the following two conditions:
• When the instrument undergoes routine maintenance
• When the instrument goes out of order and is repaired
• The purpose of a periodic calibration, therefore, is:
• To estimate the reference standard’s or measuring instrument’s

deviation from a reference value and the measurement uncertainty
associated with that deviation;
• To reassure that the measurement uncertainty can continue to be

achieved with the reference standard or measuring instrument.
Contd..
• However, although frequent calibration would fulfil the

above objective, the high cost involved in calibration also
has to be considered.
• Thus, determining the appropriate periodicity of

calibration, which balances the risk and cost, becomes an
important activity in measurement.
• Factors influencing recalibration
– There are a number of factors that influence the time

period between calibration of a measuring instrument.
Contd..
– The important factors are:
• Accuracy/uncertainty of measurement;
• Risk of a measuring instrument going out of tolerance
when in use;
• Type of equipment;
• Tendency to wear and drift;
• Manufacturer’s recommendations;
• Extent and severity of use;

Contd..
• Environnemental conditions, e.g. temperature, vibration,

radiation, etc.;
• Trends in data obtained from previous calibration

records;
• Recorded history of maintenance and servicing;
• Frequency of cross-checking against other reference

standards or measuring devices;
• Handling and storage arrangements and associated risk;
• Degree to which the serving personnel has been trained.

Contd..
• If the accuracy/uncertainty of the measurement is small, and if

the risk of out-of tolerance is high, then the measuring instrument
needs more frequent recalibration.
• A similar situation would be the case for an instrument that has a

tendency to wear and drift and is in use almost all the time.
• If, on the other hand, an instrument is robust in construction, is

used only once in a while, is stored in proper environmental
conditions and is subject to frequent verification against a
reference standard, then the instrument need not be recalibrated
as frequently.
Periodicity of calibration
• Periodicity of calibration generally would be finalized

based on recorded investigation.
• This means that calibration results of an instrument must

be monitored over time and, depending on the drift it
exhibits, the time period between recalibration can be
decided.
• However, this is possible only after a few recalibrations.
• How should the initial recalibration interval be fixed?

Contd..
Fluke Calibration
• https://us.flukecal.com/calibration-standards
Thank You

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19M603 Metrology & Instrumentation

6MG2/G2B Even Sem 2023-24

Class 9 - Calibration of measuring instruments and

• Calibration of measuring instruments - principles of

• Basic Requirements for Calibration

• Reference / Calibration Standard

• Control on Environmental Conditions

• Understand the need, benefits, requirements and

NIST --- National Institute of Standards and Technology

• To maintain quality control and quality assurance in

• To comply with requirements of global trade.

• To meet the requirement of ISO guides.

• To promote international recognition.

• For tracking back measurement results to national

• It fulfils the requirements of traceability to national /

• Reference / Calibration Standards & other instruments /

• Controlled Environment Conditions.

• Competence of Calibration Lab personnel.

• Traceability of Reference / Calibration standards.

– Primary Level standard

– Secondary level standard

– Tertiary or working Level Standard

• Primary standards are made to the highest metrological

• The next quality standard in the hierarchy is known as a

• In order to derive best accuracy and meaningful

calibration result it is important to control environmental

conditions in which measurements are made. Control and

monitoring of following factors should be maintained, as

recommended by manufacturer of standard / instrument.

– Temperature ( e.g. 25 +/-4.0 deg.C)

– Relative Humidity (e.g. </=70% RH)

– Illumination level ( e.g. minimum 450 Lx.)

– Acoustic Level (e.g. max. 60 dB)

– Shock and Vibration should be adequately.

– Power supply Regulation (e.g. +/- 1%)

– Temperature gradient (e.g. 1.5 deg.C / hour)

– Proper earth etc..

• In any quality system, documentation has very important

– Calibration Procedure / methods.

– Calibration Results( Recording of data)

– Calibration Report and

• A full explanation of documentation one may find in

– However, calibration report must be address answer

• Calibration of a measuring instrument ensures that the value

• However, once calibrated, it cannot be assumed that the

• Thus, recalibration of the instrument is necessary to estimate

• When the instrument undergoes routine maintenance

• When the instrument goes out of order and is repaired

• The purpose of a periodic calibration, therefore, is:

• To estimate the reference standard’s or measuring instrument’s

• To reassure that the measurement uncertainty can continue to be

• However, although frequent calibration would fulfil the

• Thus, determining the appropriate periodicity of

• Factors influencing recalibration

– There are a number of factors that influence the time

– The important factors are:

• Risk of a measuring instrument going out of tolerance

• Tendency to wear and drift;

• Extent and severity of use;

• Environnemental conditions, e.g. temperature, vibration,