Commercial calibration laboratories perform the vast majority of humidity calibration, with many accredited under ISO 17025. This accreditation ensures the laboratories meet internationally recognized standards for competence, reliability, and quality. Independent auditors regularly assess these accredited laboratories, verifying that their quality management systems and technical procedures align with the rigorous standards of the accreditation body. These audits evaluate every aspect of laboratory operations, from staff competency to equipment maintenance, ensuring that calibration results are reliable and accurate.
In contrast, non-accredited laboratories may claim their calibration is “traceable,” but these claims often lack the necessary assurances. Without independent verification from an accrediting body, traceability does not guarantee that calibration procedures or results align with the accuracy and reliability of accredited laboratories. Simply stating that calibration is traceable does not ensure equivalence to internationally accepted standards or provide the same level of confidence in the results. Accredited laboratories, however, offer a verifiable standard of quality that enhances the trustworthiness of their calibration services.
To meet specific calibration needs, laboratories use various humidity calibration systems. In most cases, they employ a transfer standard hygrometer, which plays a crucial role in ensuring traceability. This hygrometer either links to external calibration standards or verifies the accuracy of values generated by the humidity generator. By providing an intermediary calibration point, the transfer standard hygrometer ensures that calibration results are both reliable and traceable.
At our laboratory, we use a range of MBW instruments, selecting the appropriate model based on the range and type of humidity generator in use. Widely respected in the industry, MBW instruments are known for their exceptional long-term stability. This stability distinguishes them from many other instruments on the market. Over time, MBW instruments’ long-term stability significantly contributes to reducing calibration uncertainties, or Calibration and Measurement Capability (CMC). Achieving lower uncertainty results in more accurate and reliable calibration, making MBW instruments indispensable for precise and trustworthy humidity calibration. The ability to reduce uncertainty is essential in meeting the increasingly stringent accuracy requirements across various industries and applications.
