What is Traceability

Metrological traceability is a crucial concept in the field of calibration. It refers to the ability to link measurements made by a device to a national or international recognized standard, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the instrument. This traceability is essential to provide assurance that measurements are consistent and comparable across different instruments and laboratories.

In order to achieve metrological traceability, instruments used as reference or to take measurements must also be regularly calibrated against reference standards that are themselves traceable to a higher authority. This chain of traceability ensures that measurements made with a calibrated instrument can be linked back to the fundamental standards of measurement, such as those maintained by national metrology institutes like NIST (the Institute of Standards and Technology) used in North America.

Why is it important?

The process of establishing metrological traceability begins with the selection of appropriate reference standards. These standards are well-characterized and maintained in a controlled environment to ensure their accuracy and stability. They are directly traceable to the relevant fundamental standards of measurement, such as the International System of Units (SI).

Once the reference standards have been selected, the calibration instrument is compared to these standards using a calibrated reference instrument. The calibration procedure involves making a series of measurements with both instruments and analyzing the results to determine any discrepancies between them. Adjustments to the calibration instrument are made to correct these discrepancies to bring it into alignment with the reference standards.

In order to maintain metrological traceability, it is important to keep a detailed record of the calibration process, including the specific instruments used, the procedures followed, and the results obtained. This documentation provides a clear audit trail that demonstrates the instrument’s traceability back to the reference standards. This information is an important part of the calibration process and it is available in our verification report and calibration certificate.

In addition to regular calibration against reference standards, it is also important to consider the measurement uncertainty associated with measurements made by calibration instruments. We provide you more insight about this in our topic on measurement uncertainty.

Takeaways

• Traceability gives confidence that the measurements made by the device are accurate and can be reproduced.

• Without traceability, there is no way to know if the instrument is providing accurate readings.

• Traceability also allows for comparisons between different calibrations, providing valuable information about any changes that may have occurred.

• Accredited Service Providers must achieve traceability and are required to create and demonstrate this traceability chain.

If you have questions about the reliability or traceability of the calibration we perform and how it impacts your business, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.