There is no legally defined calibration interval. The ideal frequency depends on several factors, including how the instrument is used, how it is stored, your internal maintenance procedures and any requirements linked to quality management systems, such as ISO 9001. As a general guideline, annual calibration is considered good practice.
Normal use exposes measuring instruments to a natural ageing process, which may cause variations in the measured values. Regular calibration makes it possible to detect these changes in time, helping to avoid process interruptions and, depending on the instrument and application, possible safety risks.
Same-day calibration is generally not possible because the calibration process includes mandatory preparation steps. One of these is thermal conditioning, which requires the instrument to remain under controlled conditions for 24 hours before calibration.
This ensures that the instrument is properly stabilized before measurements are performed and helps guarantee reliable calibration results.
To start the calibration process, please provide the delivery note and the order form, including the details of the certificate or report recipient.
This information allows our Calibration Centres to correctly identify the instrument, match it with the requested service and issue the calibration documentation with the correct customer details.
Yes. The instrument should be shipped in working condition, properly packed and complete with all accessories required for calibration.
Please also include the user manual when available, especially if specific operating instructions, probes, cables, adapters or power supplies are needed to perform the calibration correctly.
Yes. Senseca Calibration Centres can calibrate measuring instruments from different manufacturers, provided that the instrument falls within the accredited quantities, measurement ranges and technical capabilities covered by our calibration services.
If you are not sure whether your instrument can be calibrated, please contact our team with the instrument model, serial number and required calibration range.
Calibration is the process of determining the metrological characteristics of a measuring instrument by comparing its measurement results with a traceable reference standard. Calibration identifies the measurement error and documents the instrument’s performance.
Adjustment, on the other hand, is an intervention carried out to modify the instrument response and bring it closer to the reference value. In simple terms, calibration measures and documents performance, while adjustment aims to improve it where technically possible.
Accredited calibration provides documented evidence that your measuring instrument has been calibrated by a competent laboratory according to recognized technical and quality requirements.
It supports transparency towards customers, helps meet quality system requirements and may be required by standards, audits, procedures or customer specifications. Accredited calibration certificates also support international recognition through the relevant accreditation frameworks and mutual recognition agreements.
In most cases, this is not necessary. The metrological traceability chain is already documented in the calibration certificate or report through the identification of the reference standards used and their calibration certificate references.
Our accredited Calibration Centres operate according to defined procedures and are regularly assessed to verify that equipment, reference standards and calibration activities meet the applicable requirements.
If you have lost an accredited calibration certificate or a calibration report, please contact our Calibration Centres by e-mail:
Please include a loss declaration and provide either the certificate or report number, or the serial number of the instrument. Our team will check the available records and provide a copy or reprint of the calibration documentation where possible.
Accredited calibration is calibration performed by a laboratory that has been assessed according to recognized technical and quality requirements, such as ISO/IEC 17025.
It provides documented evidence of laboratory competence, measurement traceability and reliability of calibration results. Accredited calibration is often required for quality systems, audits, regulated processes or customer specifications.
Accuracy describes how close a measurement result is to the true or reference value. The smaller the measurement error, the more accurate the result is.
Accuracy should not be confused with precision: a measurement can be repeatable without being close to the reference value.
Calibration is the process of comparing the measurement results of an instrument with a traceable reference standard. It helps determine the instrument’s measurement error and documents its performance under defined conditions.
Calibration does not necessarily modify the instrument. It provides objective information about how the instrument performs at the time of calibration.
A calibration certificate is an official document that reports the results of a calibration. It typically includes instrument identification, calibration conditions, reference standards used, measurement results, measurement uncertainty and traceability information.
An accredited calibration certificate also confirms that the calibration was performed within the laboratory’s accredited scope.
A calibration report documents the results of a calibration activity. Depending on the requested service and applicable requirements, it may differ from an accredited calibration certificate in terms of scope, format or accreditation status.
A calibration report can still provide useful information about instrument performance, even when it is not issued as an accredited calibration certificate.
Instrument drift is the change in an instrument’s measurement behaviour over time. It may be caused by normal ageing, wear, environmental conditions, mechanical stress or long-term use.
Drift matters because it can lead to measurement errors that are not immediately visible. Regular calibration helps detect drift and supports reliable measurement performance over time.
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard that defines the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
For calibration laboratories, ISO/IEC 17025 provides the basis for demonstrating technical competence, valid measurement results, controlled procedures and reliable calibration activities.
Measurement uncertainty in calibration expresses the doubt associated with a measurement result. It indicates the range within which the true value is expected to lie.
Uncertainty takes into account several factors, including the measurement method, reference standards, environmental conditions, instrument resolution and other influences that may affect the result.
Metrological traceability in calibration means that a measurement result can be linked to national or international reference standards through an unbroken chain of documented calibrations.
Each step in this chain contributes to the overall measurement uncertainty. Traceability is essential for reliable, comparable and internationally recognized measurement results.
Precision describes how close repeated measurement results are to each other under the same or specified conditions.
A measuring instrument can be precise without being accurate. This means it can produce very repeatable results that are still not close to the true or reference value.
A reference standard is a measuring instrument or measurement system used as a reliable comparison basis during calibration.
Reference standards are themselves regularly calibrated to maintain metrological traceability to national or international standards. This helps ensure that calibration results are accurate, reliable and comparable over time.
