| For any type of equipment from testing and | | | | number of calibrations, this can be an indication of |
| monitoring to your home electricity and natural gas | | | | problems with the metering devices or changes made |
| meters, regular calibration services are extremely | | | | to a process. |
| important in order to gauge the accuracy of the | | | | Calibration - How It's Done |
| instrumentation in use. Most large industrial companies | | | | Calibration is a relatively simple service, depending on |
| make a point of engaging regular calibration service | | | | the nature of the equipment, process and |
| groups to insure that all of their equipment and | | | | instrumentation involved. Professional calibration |
| instrumentation is working accurately, according to | | | | services rely on their own calibration instrumentation |
| manufacturer's specifications. In industry, this | | | | and knowledge of calculations as approved by a |
| accuracy is crucial to maintaining regular process | | | | certifying, licensed compliance bureau which insures |
| operations and to avoid running afoul of local, regional | | | | the accuracy of all equipment and instrumentation. |
| and federal compliance laws. Instrumentation of any | | | | Professional instrumentation used by calibration |
| type that calculates usage should be regularly | | | | services is also checked for accuracy under regulated |
| checked by professional calibration services. | | | | conditions so that it meets with compliance bureau |
| Instrumentation | | | | guidelines. Postage meters are an example of |
| Instrumentation is generally very delicately balanced | | | | equipment that fall under the US Postal laws and |
| to meet specification and use standards. As an | | | | require all businesses using these meters to be |
| example, air and pressure meters are types of | | | | calibrated once a year. Professional calibration |
| instrumentation that help maintain certain handling | | | | services inspect equipment or instrumentation, |
| systems. If this instrumentation is not regularly | | | | insuring it is in operable condition and then proceed |
| calibrated, the system may begin to register | | | | with testing that results in compliant ranges of |
| inaccurate volumes at inputs and outputs. In the case | | | | operation. A basic report, depending on the |
| of liquid flow meters, inaccurate calibration data may | | | | complexity of the instrumentation or equipment |
| cause too high or too low a level of flow of liquid into | | | | involved, is issued for owner's review. If there are |
| a system which further damages the equipment and | | | | any problems, these professionals will discuss issues |
| causes costly repairs and inefficient overall process | | | | or potential for future inaccuracies. |
| operations. This is also true of pressure and release | | | | Professional Calibration Services For The Home |
| valves that are metered. Monitoring equipment and | | | | Although most homeowners overlook the importance |
| instrumentation calibrations over long periods of time | | | | of their own metering systems, this can be very |
| can also help determine flaws in a system or in the | | | | costly in the long run. Water, electricity and natural |
| compatibility of the instrumentation with the particular | | | | gas meters should be inspected and calibrated at |
| type of industrial equipment in use. Most large | | | | least once every two to three years. One reason is |
| industrial companies see the cost-effectiveness in | | | | the volume of meter use. Another reason is |
| maintaining records of all calibrations performed. If | | | | overbilling if these meters prove inaccurate. |
| equipment or instrumentation requires an unusual | | | | |