Sources of Information About Electrical Calibration
Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 7/1/2000
Finding information about electrical engineering topics such as circuit design, EMC, signal processing, and protocols is fairly easy, but finding information about instrument calibration can prove difficult. Our compilation of calibration resources can help you track down the information you need.
If you need to learn the basics of calibration, check out the general resources and the Web resources. We’ve found various resources that can help you with your hands-on work. The standards documents can help you set up your lab procedures, and the free software can help you with some simple calibration calculations. We have also listed calibration organizations, national labs, and laboratory accreditation organizations.
Finally, we have provided the dates of some conferences that cover calibration. Attending a conference can help, but be aware that the technical papers tend to be geared toward engineers who earn their living making precision measurements.
You can suggest additions to our list by sending an e-mail message to tmw@cahners.com.
General Resources
Periodicals
Cal Lab
San Diego, CA
Phone: 619-281-6250
Fax: 619-281-6279
E-mail: office@callabmag.com
Web: www.callabmag.com
The bimonthly Cal Lab covers all branches of metrology, publishing conferences papers and original works.
Test & Measurement Europe
Norwich, UK
Phone +44-1508-528435
E-mail: tmekerridge@compuserve.com
Web: www.e-insite.net/tmworld
Test & Measurement World
Newton, MA
Phone: 617-558-4671
Fax: 617-558-4470
E-mail: tmw@cahners.com
Web: www.e-insite.net/tmworld
Books
Calibration: Philosophy in Practice, Fluke, Everett, WA, 1994. ISBN: 0-9638650-0-5.
www.fluke.com/calibrators/training/calphilosophy.asp?AGID=7&SID=122
Morris, Alan S., Measurement and Calibration Requirements for Quality Assurance to ISO 9000, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 1998. ISBN: 0-471-97685-7
Nicholas, J.V., and D.R White, Traceable Temperatures: An Introduction to Temperature Measurement and Calibration, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 1994. ISBN: 0-471-93803-3.
Assorted Publications
ANSI/NCSL Z540-2-1997, “U.S. Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement,” NCSL, Boulder, CO. www.ncsl-hq.org/publications/index.cfm
Calhoun, Richard, Calibration & Standards, DC–40GHz. 1994. Tegam, Geneva, OH (440-466-6100).
Calibration and Use of EMC Antennas, National Physical Laboratory, London, UK. Order from www.npl.co.uk/cgi-bin/guide_info.pl?guide=4
Cigler, James L., and Vanda R. White, eds., NIST Handbook 150: “NVLAP Procedures and General Requirements,” NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, 1994. ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/214/docs/hb150.pdf
Goettsche, L.D., Maintenance Basics: Calibration, ISA, Research Triangle Park, NC. Available in print (number REMC0801P) or downloadable (number REMC0801) formats. www.isa.org/reference
A Guide to Measuring Resistance and Impedance Below 1 MHz, Wavetek (now Fluke Precision Measurements), Norwich, UK. Published by the Institute of Measurement and Control, London, UK. 1999. www.instmc.org.uk/pubs/books.htm
Lindstrom, Eric R., and Jeffrey Horlick, NIST Publication 150-11: “NVLAP Electromagnetic Compatibility and Telecommunications, FCC Methods,” NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, 1995. ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/214/docs/hnbk-11.pdf
Shumway, David H., and Christopher L. Grachanen, “Lab Accreditation Yields Measurement Confidence” Test & Measurement World, December 1998.
Taylor, Barry N., and Chris E. Kuyatt, NIST Technical Note 1297: “Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results,” NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, 1994. physics.nist.gov/Pubs/guidelines/contents.html
CD-ROM
GIDEP Metrology Data CD-ROM
Includes calibration procedures for more than 11,000 instruments. Available to GIDEP members.
Contact: Jim Carlton, Metrology Data Manager
Phone: 909 273-4958
E-mail: carltonja@corona.navy.mil
Web: www.gidep.corona.navy.mil/metrolog/cdrominf.htm
Web Resources
Noncommercial and University Sites
Metrological Terms www.nmi.nl/english/about_metrology/terms/
Metrology Information home1.gte.net/metcal/
Scientific and mathematical constants tcaep.co.uk/science/constant
Commercial Sites
Fluke’s site offers useful application notes, but you will have to register to view them (www.fluke.com/Application_Notes/Calibrators/calibrators.asp?AGID=7&SID=123):
• Gaining Accreditation for an American Standards Laboratory
• Justifying In-House Calibration
• Metrology, Quality and ISO 9000
• Understanding and Comparing Instrument Specifications
A service of Blue Mountain Quality Resources provides calibration industry news, products, a calendar, and a director: www.ecalibration.com
Hart Scientific has information about temperature calibration: www.hartscientific.com/publications.
Mike Hutchin’s metrology page takes a lighthearted approach to metrology, yet provides useful information about the basics: metrologyforum.tm.agilent.com
TestMart provides a database of manufacturers’ suggested calibration intervals for test instruments: www.testmart.com
Internet Discussion Group
ISO 25 Listserv
To subscribe to the ISO 25 E-mail Discussion List, send an e-mail to majordomo@quality.org. In the body of the message, send this command (the subject area is ignored): subscribe iso25. You will first receive a message to ensure the subscription is for you. Reply with the requested info. Subsequently, you will receive confirmation of your subscription. You can also subscribe at www.quality.org/cgi-bin/majordomo.
Standards Documents
ISO/IEC 17025, “General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.” Order from www.iso.ch/infoe/catinfo.html. (Search the International Standards—HTML Version.)
NASA Ref. Publication 1342, “Metrology-Calibration and Measurement Process Guidelines,” NASA Metrology and Calibration Working Group, June 1994. www.sti.nasa.gov. (To order, search “selected databases.” Choose the CASI Technical Report Server and search for report number 1342.)
NASA Ref. Publication 1364, “Metrology - Measurement Assurance Program Guidelines,” March 1995. www.sti.nasa.gov. (To order, search “selected databases.” Choose the CASI Technical Report Server and search for report number 1364.)
NCSL recommended practices. Download NCSL publication list and order form at www.ncsl-hq.org/publications/publst.pdf.
Free Software
Category B Degrees of Freedom Estimator (from ISG) estimates category B uncertainty and computes the degrees of freedom. www.isgmax.com/freeware.htm
Conversion Buddy (from Presley Systems) makes unit conversions for more than 1700 engineering units. users.ntr.net/~jpresley/index.html
Method A3 Interval Tester (from ISG) applies the Interval Test Method from NCSL’s Recommended Practice 1 (RP-1) to evaluate and estimate calibration or test intervals. www.isgmax.com/a3_calculator.htm
Mismatch Uncertainty Calculator 1.0 for Windows 95 performs uncertainty analysis associated with microwave mismatch components, conversion between reflection coefficient, return loss, and SWR. ftp://www.tmworld.com/MISMATCH.ZIP
Tolerance Calculator 3.0 for Windows 3.1 performs calculations associated with the interpretation of equipment tolerances, test-uncertainty ratios, and accumulated uncertainties. ftp://www.tmworld.com/TOLCAL3.EXE
Uncertainty Calculator 2.5 for Windows 95 computes and expresses measurement uncertainty. ftp://www.tmworld.com/UNC_2-1.ZIP
Calibration Organizations and Standards Bodies
Government - Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP)
Norco, CA
Phone: 909-273-4677
Fax: 909-273-5200
Web: www.gidep.corona.navy.mil
GIDEP provides member companies with calibration procedures, engineering data, and failure information.
National Association for Proficiency Testing (NAPT)
Minneapolis, MN
Phone: 612-542-8872
Fax: 612-525-1566
E-mail: napt@proficiency.org
Web: www.proficiency.org
NAPT coordinates proficiency testing, interlaboratory comparisons, round robins, and measurement-
assurance programs.
National Conference of Standards Laboratories (NCSL)
Boulder, CO
Phone: 303-440-3339
Fax: 303-440-3384
E-mail: ncsl-staff@ncsl-hq.org
Web: www.ncsl-hq.org
The NCSL aims to advance excellence in the field of metrology, measurement standards, instrument calibration, and test and measurement through voluntary activities.
National Labs
Metrology includes more than electrical measurement, but we have listed only those national labs who indicated capabilities for electrical metrology.
United States
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Electronics & Electrical Engineering Laboratory
Gaithersburg, MD
Phone: 301-975-2220
Fax: 301-975-4091
E-mail: eeel@nist.gov
Web: www.eeel.nist.gov
Canada
Institute for National Measurement Standards
Ottawa, ON
E-mail: questions.inms@nrc.ca
Web: www.cisti.nrc.ca/inms/main_elecmag.html
Denmark
Danish Institute of Fundamental Metrology
Lyngby
Phone: +45-4593-1144
Fax: +45-4593-1137
E-mail: hdj@dfm.dtu.dk
Web: www.daniamet.dk
France
Laboratorie National d’Essais
Cedex
Phone: +33-1-30-69-10-00
Fax: +33-1-30-69-12-34
E-mail: info@lne.fr
Web: www.lne.fr/e_index.html
Germany
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
Braunschweig
Phone: +49-531-592-0
Fax: +49-531-592-9292
E-mail: pst@ptb.de
Web: www.ptb.de/english/welcome.htm
Netherlands
NMi, Institute for Metrology and Technology
Delft
Phone: +31-15-269-15-00
Fax: + 31-15-261-29-71
E-mail: NMi@NMi.nl
Web: www.nmi.nl/english/index.htm
New Zealand
Industrial Research Limited
Wellington
Phone: +64-4-569-0000
Fax: +64-4-566-6004
E-mail: c.sutton@irl.cri.nz
Web: www.irl.cri.nz/home/energy/msl.htm
Singapore
Singapore Productivity and Standards Board
Singapore
Phone: +65-278-6666
Fax: +65-278-6665
E-mail: queries@psb.gov.sg
Web: www.psb.gov.sg
South Africa
National Metrology Laboratory
Pretoria
Phone: +27-12-841-4623
Fax: +27-12-841-4458
E-mail: bfdenner@csir.co.za
Web: www.nml.csir.co.za/
Sweden
Swedish National Testing and Research Institute (SP)
Borås
Phone: +46-33-165000
Fax: +46-33-135502
E-mail: olle.paulson@sp.se
Web: www.sp.se/eng/default.htm
United Kingdom
National Physical Laboratory
Middlesex
Phone: +44-20-8977-3222
Fax: +44-20-8943-6458
E-mail: enquiry@npl.co.uk
Web: www.npl.co.uk
Laboratory Accreditation Organizations
These organizations provide accreditation and audit services.
United States
American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
Frederick, MD
Phone: 301-644-3248
Fax: 301-662-2974
Web: www.a2la.org
National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA)
Gaithersburg, MD
Phone: 301-975-6472
Fax: 301-963-2871
E-mail: naclasecretariat@nist.gov
Web: ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/nacla/index.htm
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)
NIST
Gaithersburg, MD
Phone: 301-975-4016
Fax: 301-926-2884
E-mail: nvlap@nist.gov
Web: ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/214/214.htm
Europe
European Operation for Accreditation
Paris, France
Phone: +33-1-4468-8225
Fax: +33-1-4468-8221
E-mail: daniel.pierre@cofrac.fr
Web: www.european-accreditation.org
European Organisation for Conformity Assessment (EOTC)
Brussels, Belgium
Phone: +32-2-502-41-41
Fax: +32-2-502-42-39
E-mail: helpdesk@eotc.be
Web: www.eotc.be/
United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)
Middlesex, UK
Phone: +44-20-8917-8556
Fax: +44-20-8917-8499
E-mail: rdj@ukas.com
Web: www.ukas.com
Australia
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)
Rhodes, Australia
Phone: +61-2-9736-8222
Fax: +61-9743-5311
E-mail: ilac@nata.asn.au
Web: www.ilac.org
Conferences
Attending a conference is a good way to keep up on new developments in calibration. Conference papers and presentations focus on new calibration techniques, on what national labs such as NIST are doing, and on how to best manage the calibration workload. Many conference sessions cover dimensional or physical calibration (pressure, strain, and flow). Although both the Measurement Science Conference and the NCSL Symposium have product exhibitions, their primary focus is on the conference sessions.
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)
October 29–November 3, 2000
Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
Web: www.ilac2000.com
ILAC is an international forum that covers the development of laboratory accreditation practices and procedures. ILAC promotes laboratory accreditation as a tool to facilitate trade, assists in the development of accreditation systems, and recognizes competent test facilities around the globe.
Measurement Science Conference
January 18–19, 2001
Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA
Web: www.msc-conf.com
The Measurement Science Conference promotes education and professionalism in measurement science and related disciplines.
NCSL Workshop & Symposium
July 29–August 2, 2001
Washington, DC
Web: www.ncsl-hq.org/conference/index.cfm
The NCSL Workshop & Symposium provides a forum for the exchange of the latest ideas, techniques, and innovations among those engaged in measurement science. T&MW
