All measuring instruments in laboratories, industries, stores and even those used at home lose accuracy over time and due to various factors. To make the readings reliable again, it is necessary to schedule a regular instrument calibration; the conditions and needs of each activity determine how often it is necessary to recalibrate the instruments.
The aging of the components, routine use and temperature changes that the instruments endure, gradually deteriorate their functions. When this happens, tests and measurements begin to lose confidence and this is reflected in both the design and quality of the product. Even the supplier-customer relationship can be affected, since confidence in the quantity of product to be received is questioned by a visual perception at the time of purchase. This type of situation can be avoided by using accredited calibration laboratories.
In general, regular instrument calibration helps to improve product quality, increases process safety, device reliability and prevents product rejections and discards due to poor product quality. In addition, they ensure compliance with national and international standards and guidelines and support regulatory bodies in verifying their regulations.
Accreditation is an internationally recognized tool to generate confidence and credibility of the activities carried out by the organizations covered by this recognition; through accreditation, the effort, perseverance and competence that accredited organizations have to ensure that their work is performed according to international guidelines is recognized.
The OSA provides through its accredited calibration laboratories the guarantee of metrological traceability and reliability in the results of the calibrations they issue. Calibration laboratories cover different magnitudes, among which we can find mass, temperature, volume, among others. The reference standard against which calibration laboratories have demonstrated their competence and ability to calibrate measuring instruments is NTS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”.
Among the accredited laboratories that support calibrations are:
Some of the measuring instruments that can be calibrated by OSA-accredited laboratories include: balances, glass and digital liquid thermometers, manometers, volumetric material, thermohygrometers, force machines, torque meters, thermostats, isothermal media characterization, multimeters, ammeters, ammeter clamps, oscilloscopes, process calibrators, resistors, decade and insulation resistors, ohmmeters, verniers, micrometers, among others. To check the status and capacity in the calibration of measuring instruments of these accredited laboratories, please visit www.osa.gob.sv
For more information about the Salvadoran Accreditation Organization you can download the following documentation:
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