Question:
Do I need to have my test equipment calibrated annually if I’m keeping my own measurement records?
Answer:
By keeping your own record of measurements, you are satisfying guidelines issued by the IET to registration bodies like the NICEIC, NAPIT and ELECSA who will carry out your annual assessment.
Using a checkbox or a designated circuit may highlight if your test equipment is running out of specification over a period of time, but the checks conducted can be either inaccurate and/or very minimal.
It is also worth noting that changes to the electrical supply network can affect the supply characteristics at the installation. For this reason, using a designated socket outlet for loop and RCD checks can cause very inconsistent results.
Below is an extract from the official guidelines written by the IET in the ‘Electrotechnical Assessment Specification For Use By Certification and Registration Bodies’ publication:
Appendix 3
TEST INSTRUMENTS – CALIBRATION REQUIREMENTS
The Enterprise shall be required to have a suitable system in place to ensure that the accuracy and consistency of all test instruments used for certification and reporting purposes is being maintained.
There are a number of alternatives for such control systems, including:
1) Maintaining records of the formal calibration/re-calibration of test instruments as recommended by the instrument manufacturers, supported by calibration certificates with measurements traceable to national standards, issued by organizations recognized by Certification or Registration Bodies for the purposes of checking the accuracy of test instruments. Certificates issued by UKAS accredited laboratories are preferable.
By having your test equipment checked and calibrated annually by an authorised calibration lab, you can be assured that accuracy tolerances and full instrument ranges set by the manufacturer are being met and checked in a controlled environment.
Calibration equipment is manufactured to be especially electronically precise; afterall, your test equipment is only as ever going to be as accurate as the method used to check it against.
Call test-meter on 0113 248 99 66 or email calibration@test-meter.co.uk today to book your electrical test or measurement equipment in for calibration with a calibration certificate which is fully traceable to National standards.