Temperature Calibration

Purpose

To define the method for calibrating temperature-measuring instruments by comparison with reference thermometers in stirred liquid baths, dry-block calibrators and climatic chambers, and by electrical simulation for indicators, so that results are traceable, the uncertainty is evaluated in accordance with SOP-16 and the results are reported in accordance with SOP-18.

What is inside

10 sections, about 5 pages when printed.

1. 1. Purpose
2. 2. Scope
3. 3. References
4. 4. Definitions
5. 5. Responsibilities
6. 6. Procedure
7. Records generated by this procedure
8. Monitoring and performance indicators
9. Assessment readiness notes
10. Related documents

Records it generates

Applying this procedure produces the following records, which are the evidence an assessor samples.

• –Calibration worksheet with raw data, environment, equipment and calculations
• –Instrument / logger data files
• –Job uncertainty evaluation
• –Certificate and review checklist
• –QC / check standard results

What an assessor looks for

The document closes with these points, so you can check your own practice before someone else does.

• –Witnessing a calibration and checking immersion, stabilisation, reading sequence, and that the ice-point check was done and recorded.
• –Reviewing the bath / block characterisation data that support the gradient and stability contributions.
• –Recomputing one point from raw resistance to temperature using the certificate coefficients.
• –Checking that logger calibrations account for chamber uniformity and time synchronisation.

Before you use it

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• Have the content technically reviewed against how your laboratory actually works, then approved by the responsible manager before it becomes a controlled document.
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• Record the document in your own document register and set its review date.
• Delete the assessment readiness notes if you do not want them in your controlled version; they are guidance for you, not requirements.

Related documents

• QM-01

  Quality Manual

  Top-level description of the management system against every clause of ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

• SOP-13

  Selection, Verification and Validation of Methods

  Choosing appropriate methods, verifying standard methods, validating non-standard and laboratory-developed methods.

• SOP-16

  Evaluation of Measurement Uncertainty

  GUM-based uncertainty evaluation, budgets, CMC consistency and reporting, aligned with UKAS M3003 principles.

• SOP-22

  Humidity Calibration

  Calibration of hygrometers, RH probes and loggers against a reference hygrometer in a humidity generator or chamber.

• SOP-23

  Pressure Calibration

  Calibration of gauges, transducers and indicators against pressure balances and reference transducers.

• SOP-24

  Electrical Calibration

  DC and low-frequency calibration of multimeters, calibrators and process instruments.

• SOP-25

  Dimensional Calibration

  Calibration of callipers, micrometers, gauge blocks, dial indicators and rules by comparison to reference standards.

• SOP-26

  Mass and Balance Calibration

  Calibration of weights and non-automatic weighing instruments, aligned with EURAMET cg-18 principles.