Calibration Standards: Definition and Different Levels Explained

In this brief video, Fluke Chief Corporate Metrologist Jeff Gust answers common questions about calibration standards.

Transcript

Interviewer: Jeff, people mean different things when they think of calibration standards. What are calibration standards to you?

Jeff: Well, standards, in general, are things to compare against. And so, a calibration standard is something your reference when calibrating a device.

Interviewer: Can you briefly discuss the different levels of calibration standards in the calibration pyramid and provide an example of each?

Jeff: SI units are at the top of the pyramid. They are 7 base units like the second and are based on constants of nature like the speed of light. Everything that is calibrated is tied back to the SI units through a traceable chain. Think of the SI as the ultimate calibration standards. National Metrology Institutes or NMIs maintain equipment, or standards, that allow us to calibrate to the SI.

The standards that are calibrated against National measurement standards are often referred to as primary standards. Calibration labs maintain primary standards like the Fluke 734C Voltage Reference Standard.

Cal labs also maintain secondary standards like the Fluke 5730A electrical calibrator that are calibrated against the primary standards.

Working standards, often used in industrial environments, like the Fluke 705 Loop Calibrator, are calibrated against secondary standards.

And finally, process instruments like the Fluke 117 multimeter are calibrated against working standards.

Fluke provides a full range of calibration standards and more information is available on our website.

Recommended Resources

Calibration Standards - web page explaining the what, why, where & how of calibration standards

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Calibration Equipment