ILAC-G24-OIML D10 Edition 2007 (E)

Support for the National Accreditation Centre MOLDAC
to successfully undergo the EA peer evaluation process

Twinning Project MD14/ENPI/TR/20
ACTIVITY 1.4
TRAININGS OF MOLDAC PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN
ACCREDITATION PROCESS INCLUDING THE ISSUE REGARDING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW VERSIONS OF THE EA, IAF, ILAC
DOCUMENTS
ILAC-G24-OIML D10
Edition 2007 (E)
Giulia SURIANI
This project is funded by

The European Union
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The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

Guidelines to the determination of calibration intervals of measuring instruments
PREAMBLE
It is important to point out that:
It is not the responsibility of accreditation bodies to

teach laboratories how to run their business.
It is the responsibility of each individual laboratory to
choose to implement any or none of the methods
described in this Document based on its individual needs
and its individual assessment of risks.

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

PREAMBLE
It is important to point out that:
It is also the responsibility of the laboratory to evaluate

the effectiveness of the method it chooses to implement
and take responsibility for the consequences of the
decisions taken as a result of the method chosen.

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

PURPOSE
The purpose of this Document is to give laboratories,
particularly while setting up their calibration
system, guidance on how to determine calibration
intervals.
This Document identifies and describes
the methods that are available and known for the
evaluation of calibration intervals.

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:
INTRODUCTION
An important aspect for maintaining the capability
of a laboratory to produce traceable and reliable
measurement results is a determination of the
maximum period that should be permitted
between successive calibrations (recalibrations) of
the reference or working standards and measuring
instruments used.
The European Union
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International Standard Requirements

ISO/IEC 17025: 2005
Clause 5.5.2: Calibration programs shall be

established for key quantities or values of the
instruments where these properties have a
significant effect on the results.

The European Union
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ISO/IEC 17025: 2005
Clause 5.5.8: "Whenever practicable, all equipment

under the control of the laboratory and
requiring calibration shall be labeled, coded, or
otherwise identified to indicate the status of
calibration, including the date when last calibrated
and the date or expiration criteria when
recalibration is due.
The European Union
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Example of an internal label

( ACCREDIA RG-09 13.1.2)

The European Union
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ISO/IEC 17025: 2005
Clause 5.6.1: "All equipment used for tests and/or

calibrations, including equipment for subsidiary
measurements (e.g. for environmental conditions)
having a significant effect on the accuracy or
validity of the result of the test, calibration or
sampling shall be calibrated before being put into
service.
The European Union
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ISO/IEC 17025: 2005
Clause 5.6.1: The laboratory shall have an established program and
procedure for the calibration of its equipment.
Note: Such a program should include a system for

selecting, using, calibrating, checking, controlling and
maintaining measurement standards, reference
materials used as measurement standards, and
measuring and test equipment used to perform tests
and calibrations.
The European Union
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Example of ACCREDIA-DT application form (DA-05

rev.04 7): information needed on calibration
intervals of reference standards and working
standards
DA-05 7

The European Union
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Requirements on calibration programs are also
confirmed in the CD1 ISO/IEC 17025
6.5.4 A calibration programme shall be established

for measuring equipment unless it has been
determined that the associated contribution of the
measuring equipment to the uncertainty of the
measurement result is negligible.

The European Union
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6.5.5 All measuring equipment under the control of

the laboratory and requiring calibration shall be
labelled, coded or otherwise identified to allow the
user of the equipment to readily identify the status
of calibration.

The European Union
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Case study:
ACCREDIA comments on CD1 ISO/IEC 17025

The European Union
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The general purpose of a periodic calibration is:
to improve the estimation of the deviation

between a reference value and the value
obtained using a measuring instrument, and the
uncertainty in this deviation, at the time the
instrument is actually used;

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:
The general purpose of a periodic calibration is:
to reassure the uncertainty that can be achieved

with the measuring instrument;
to confirm whether or not there has been any

alteration of the measuring instrument which
could introduce doubt about the results
delivered in the elapsed period.
The European Union
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Decision process on calibration:
When to do it?
How often to do it?

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:
Most important factors that can influence the

calibration interval:
uncertainty of measurement required or declared
by the laboratory;
risk of a measuring instrument exceeding the
limits of the maximum permissible error when in
use;
type of instrument;

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

cost of necessary correction measures when it is
found that the instrument was not appropriate
over a long period of time;
manufacturers recommendation;
extent and severity of use;
environmental conditions (climatic conditions,
vibration, ionizing radiation, etc.);

The European Union
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frequency of cross-checking against other
reference standards or measuring devices;
frequency and quality of intermediate checks in
the meantime;
transportation arrangements and risk; and
degree to which the serving personnel are
trained.
[..]
The European Union
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2. Initial choice of calibration intervals

The initial decision in determining the calibration
interval is based on the following factors:
the instrument manufacturers recommendation;
expected extent and severity of use;
the influence of the environment;
the required uncertainty in measurement;
maximum permissible errors (e.g. by legal
metrology authorities);

The European Union
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The initial decision in determining the calibration
interval is based on the following factors:
adjustment of (or change in) the individual
instrument;
influence of the measured quantity (e.g. high
temperature effect on thermocouples); and
pooled or published data about the same or
similar devices.

The European Union
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The target is to the length of time the

instrument is likely to remain within
the maximum permissible error after
calibration.
The European Union
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3. Methods of reviewing calibration intervals
The target is to optimize the balance

of risks and costs

The European Union
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The reasons on reviewing calibration intervals
could be, for example:
instruments may be less reliable than
expected;
the usage may not be as anticipated;
it may be sufficient to carry out a limited
calibration of certain instruments instead of a
full calibration
The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

The reasons on reviewing calibration intervals
could be, for example:
the drift determined by the recalibration of the
instruments may show that longer calibration
intervals may be possible without increasing
risks;
[..]

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

Method 1: Automatic adjustment or staircase

(calendar-time)
Each time an instrument is calibrated on a routine
basis, the subsequent interval is extended if it is
found to be within e.g. 80 % of the maximum
permissible error that is required for measurement,
or reduced if it is found to be outside this
maximum permissible error.

The European Union
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Method 1: Automatic adjustment or staircase

(calendar time)
Advantages:
Rapid adjustment of intervals
Easy to carry out with no clerical effort
Disadvantages:
X Instruments treated individually
X Difficult balanced workload
The European Union
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Method 2: Control chart (calendar-time)

Significant calibration points are chosen and the
results are plotted against time.
From these plots, both dispersion of results and
drift are calculated, the drift being either the mean
drift over one calibration interval, or in the case of
very stable instruments, the drift over several
intervals.
From these figures, the optimum interval may be
calculated.
The European Union
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Method 2: Control chart (calendar-time)

Advantages:
Reliable
Efficient
Disadvantages:
X Considerable knowledge of the law of variability
of the instrument;
X Difficult balanced workload
The European Union
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Method 3: In-use time
The calibration interval is expressed in hours of use,

rather than calendar months.
The instrument is fitted with an elapsed time
indicator and is returned for calibration when the
indicator reaches a specified value.

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

Examples:
Thermocouples used at extreme temperatures
Dead weight tester for gas pressure
Length gauges (i.e. instruments that may be
subject to mechanical wear).

The European Union
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Advantages:
The number of calibrations performed
and therefore the cost of calibration
varies directly with the length of time
that the instrument is used

The European Union
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Disadvantages:
X it cannot be used with passive instruments (e.g.
attenuators) or standards (resistance,
capacitance,etc.);
X it should not be used when an instrument is
known to drift or deteriorate when on the shelf,
or when handled, or when subjected to a
number of short on-off cycles;
The European Union
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Disadvantages:
X the initial cost of the provision and installation of
suitable timers is high;
X Difficult balanced workload.

The European Union
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Method 4: In service checking, or black-box

testing
Critical parameters are checked frequently by
portable calibration gear, or preferably, by a black
box made up specifically to check the selected
parameters.
If the instrument is found to be outside the
maximum permissible error by the black box, it is
returned for a full calibration.
The European Union
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testing
Advantages:
it provides maximum availability for the
instrument user
is suitable for instruments geographically
separated from the calibration laboratory

The European Union
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testing
Disadvantages:
X Difficulty in deciding on the critical parameters
X Difficulty on designing the black box

The European Union
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ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:


testing
Examples:
Density meters (resonance type);
Pt-resistance thermometers;
Dosimeters (source included);
Sound level meters (source included).

The European Union
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Method 5: Other statistical approaches

These methods are gaining more and more interest,
especially when used in combination with adequate
software tools.
References:
[X] Lepek, A.: Software for the prediction of measurement standards
NCSL International Conference, 2001
[X] Pau, L.F.: Priodicit des Calibrations

Ecole Nationale Suprieure des Tlcommunications, Paris, 1978
The European Union
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Method Comparison
Method 1 Method 2 Method 3 Method 4 Method 5
stair control in use black others
case chart time box statistics
approaches
Reliabilty Medium High Medium High Medium
Effort of Low High Medium Low High

application
Work-load Medium Medium Bad Medium Bad
balanced
Applicability with Medium Low High High High
respect to
particular devices
Availiability of Medium Medium Medium High Medium

instruments
The European Union
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Example of ACCREDIA-DT accepted calibration

intervals
INTERVALLO DI TARATURA (mesi)
TIPO DI STRUMENTO
Uso come campioni Uso come campioni
di riferimento di lavoro
Strumenti indicatori analogici 24 12
Strumenti indicatori numerali 12 6
Resistori campione 24 12
Condensatori campione 36 12
Induttori campione 36 12
Derivatori campione 24 6

The European Union
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Example of ACCREDIA-DT recommended calibration

intervals
TIPO DI STRUMENTO
Uso come Uso come campioni
campioni di di lavoro
riferimento
Ponti (R-L-C) 24 12
Cassette di resistenza 12 3
Cassette di capacit 24 12
Cassette d'induttanza 24 12
Trasformatori di tensione 60 36
Trasformatori di corrente 60 36
The European Union
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intervals
TIPO DI STRUMENTO
Uso come Uso come campioni
campioni di di lavoro
riferimento
Contatori di energia 24 6
Strumenti registratori - 6
Pirometri 12 6
Termocoppie 12 6
Termoresistenze 12 6

The European Union
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intervals
TIPO DI STRUMENTO
Uso come Uso come
campioni di campioni
riferimento di lavoro
Blocchetti piano paralleli grado "00" 36 12
Blocchetti piano paralleli grado "0" 12 6
Micrometri (formato < 0,01 mm) 12 6
Micrometri (formato 0,01 mm) 6 3
Calibri a corsoio (formato < 0,1 mm) 12 6
Calibri a corsoio (formato 0,1 mm) 6 3

The European Union
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intervals
TIPO DI STRUMENTO
Uso come campioni Uso come campioni
di riferimento di lavoro
Comparatori ad asta 24 12
Comparatori a leva 18 6
Trasduttori lineari 36 12
Masse di classe E2 12 6
Masse di classe F1 24 12
Strumenti per pesare non 12 6
automatici

The European Union
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Case Studies:
GUIDE TO QUALITY IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

CITAC/Eurachem Guide APPENDIX B
Calibration intervals and Performance Checks

The European Union
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Case Studies:
Calibration Guide
EURAMET cg-8
Version 2.1 (10/2011)
CALIBRATION OF THERMOCOUPLES
13 Recalibration

The European Union
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Support for the National Accreditation Centre MOLDAC

to successfully undergo the EA peer evaluation process

This project is funded by

This project is funded by

ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

It is not the responsibility of accreditation bodies to

This project is funded by

ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

It is also the responsibility of the laboratory to evaluate

This project is funded by

ILAC-G24 OIML D 10:

This project is funded by

International Standard Requirements

Clause 5.5.2: Calibration programs shall be

This project is funded by

International Standard Requirements

Clause 5.5.8: "Whenever practicable, all equipment

Example of an internal label

This project is funded by

International Standard Requirements

Clause 5.6.1: "All equipment used for tests and/or

International Standard Requirements

Note: Such a program should include a system for

Example of ACCREDIA-DT application form (DA-05

This project is funded by

International Standard Requirements

6.5.4 A calibration programme shall be established

This project is funded by

International Standard Requirements

6.5.5 All measuring equipment under the control of

This project is funded by

International Standard Requirements

This project is funded by

The general purpose of a periodic calibration is:

to improve the estimation of the deviation

This project is funded by

The general purpose of a periodic calibration is:

to reassure the uncertainty that can be achieved

to confirm whether or not there has been any

Decision process on calibration:

How often to do it?

This project is funded by

Most important factors that can influence the

This project is funded by

Most important factors that can influence the

This project is funded by

Most important factors that can influence the

2. Initial choice of calibration intervals

This project is funded by

2. Initial choice of calibration intervals

This project is funded by

2. Initial choice of calibration intervals

The target is to the length of time the

3. Methods of reviewing calibration intervals

The target is to optimize the balance

This project is funded by

3. Methods of reviewing calibration intervals

3. Methods of reviewing calibration intervals