Calibration Services
 Policies for Calibration Services
Ordering Calibrations Services
Contacts
In Canada, INMS is responsible for primary standards of physical
measurements as formally established by the Weights and Measures
Act and the National Research Council Act. As an adherent to the
Convention du Mètre, Canada realizes its units of measurement
through NRC in accordance with the SI (International System of Units)
definitions adopted by the General Conference of Weights and Measures.
The Institute's activities focus on supporting the Canadian metrology
industry by realizing, maintaining, and improving basic standards;
by providing consultative and calibration services; by playing a
leading role in measurement science activities such as conferences,
boards, and committees; and, by participating in metrology training
programs.
The calibration services provided by NRC are designed to help the
manufacturers and users of precision instruments achieve the highest
possible levels of measurement quality and productivity. These services
are the highest order of such services available in Canada. They
provide a direct link between a client's precision equipment or
transfer standards and the national measurement standards. These
services are available to both public and private organizations
and individuals.
The calibrations listed identify the NRC services that check or
characterize particular instruments, devices, and sets of standards.
Unless otherwise stated, each service covers calibration of an item
on a one time per request basis. The client, in most cases, ships
the item requiring calibration to the NRC laboratories in Ottawa,
Ontario. The calibrated item is shipped back to the client, followed,
under separate cover, by a report of the calibration results.
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) does not wish to
compete with any Canadian organization, public or private, whose
income is derived from calibration contracts. Therefore, before
making a calibration, NRC asks for a statement to the effect that
the client is not prepared to have any organization other than NRC
perform the work, together with the reasons for that decision.
For general information:
Bernard Albert
(613) 998-7178
For technical information:
Contacts are identified in each of the metrology programs in the left-hand menu under Calibration and Other Services.
Calibration Reports
Traceability
Measurement Uncertainty
Environmental Conditions
Reference to NRC in Advertisements
Disclaimer
Consultation
Special Services
The copyright on reports of calibrations or other services is
owned by NRC. Reports may be reproduced in whole without prior approval.
However, reproduction of a report in part requires the written prior
approval of NRC and the owner of the equipment covered in the report.
The results of calibrations performed by NRC apply only to the
particular instrument or standard used and only at the time of calibration,
unless otherwise stated.
The provision of a report by NRC does not imply approval by NRC
of the client's products and laboratory practices or procedures,
unless otherwise stated.
Contractual agreements often require that measurements made by
contracting laboratories be "traceable" to national and
international measurement standards and that the laboratories be
able to support these claims of traceability with valid, current
documentation and records of the equipment used in the calibration
process. Incorrect traceability claims may make a company liable
for damages.
The requirement for traceability implies the ability to relate
individual measurement results, with a stated uncertainty, through
an unbroken chain of comparisons to a stated reference source, usually
the Canadian national measurement standards maintained by NRC, or
to intrinsic standards based on fundamental natural constants with
values assigned or accepted by NRC.
To adequately establish an audit trail outside NRC for purposes
of traceability, a calibration result should include: the assigned
value, a stated uncertainty, the identity of the standard(s) used
in the calibration, and the specification of any environmental conditions
of the calibration that require the application of correction factors
if the standard or equipment is to be used under different environmental
conditions.
NRC supports the practice of making its clients aware of traceability
to national measurement standards and providing them with details
on how traceability was established.
Unless otherwise specified, the uncertainty of the measurement
contained in an NRC calibration report, in terms of NRC's realization
of the internationally-adopted representation of the unit in question,
is an expanded uncertainty representing a confidence level of approximately
95% obtained by multiplying the combined standard uncertainty (one
standard deviation) by a coverage factor of k = 2. (ISO Guide to
the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, First Edition, 1993).
Calibrations at larger uncertainties should be arranged through
laboratories accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC)
and NRC's Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service (CLAS). A list
of these laboratories is available from the CLAS website at http://infoex.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/inms/search_clas_e.html.
The quoted uncertainty is normally the actual uncertainty of NRC
measurement results, including the effect of such influencing factors
as temperature and humidity, which may not have been fully controlled
during the measurement. It does not normally include estimates of
the uncertainties likely to be introduced by the transfer of the
measured device to the client's laboratory and its use there as
a standard for other measurements. Such uncertainties are due to
effects which include, but are not limited to, transportation of
the measured device to the client's laboratory, temperature, humidity,
passage of time, chemical reactions, mechanical damage, and conditions
of use in the client's laboratory.
Calibration of client equipment is normally performed in the ambient
conditions of the laboratory concerned. Some calibrations are performed
in a special micro-climate environment, as required by the client.
NRC calibration reports shall not be used in any way that could
indicate or imply that NRC approves, recommends, or endorses the
manufacturer, supplier, or user of any instruments or standards
or that NRC in any way guarantees or predicts the performance of
items after calibration. No reference shall be made to NRC or to
reports or results provided by NRC in any advertising or sales promotions
that would indicate or imply that NRC approves, recommends, or endorses
any proprietary material, instrument, or product.
Commercial products, materials, and instruments are identified
within these pages and in NRC reports solely to describe calibration
procedures. Such identification does not in any way imply a recommendation
or endorsement by NRC of a particular product nor does it imply
that an identified material, instrument, or product is necessarily
the best for the purpose that it serves, unless explicitly stated.
Technical advice and consultation are available on a wide range
of metrological activities: the technical aspects of specific measurements,
the application of specific metrological capabilities, and legislation
and regulation in the field of metrology. Brief consultations are
generally provided at no cost. Please call Sherry Sharpe at (613) 993-0515.
NRC is prepared to undertake calibrations other than those listed
in these pages. In such cases, the fees will be based on the NRC
staff time involved plus the cost of associated equipment and materials.
Inquiries should be directed to the appropriate contact.
Turnaround
Time
Scheduling Arrangements
Standard Calibration Services Agreement
Shipping
Foreign Clients
Normal turnaround time for NRC calibration services varies from
a few days to several weeks depending on the type of service required
and the workload of the group involved.
Prospective clients should discuss their requirements in advance
with the appropriate NRC staff member. This advance communication
can save costs by preventing unnecessary delays in the calibration
process. It can clear up any questions and permit tentative scheduling.
Some services are provided on a cyclical basis only. In such cases,
appointments should be made well in advance to ensure that the results
are available when required.
Technical contacts are identified under the service listings from
the menu under Calibration and Other Services.
Before shipping an item for calibration, the client must complete and send a signed copy of the Standard Calibration Services Agreement (form being updated) to the NRC-INMS staff member providing the service. By email with electronic signature or by fax is acceptable.
Note: The calibration fees quoted do not include
the cost of shipping or insurance. The client must arrange and pay
for these services separately
Items for calibration should be shipped directly to the NRC staff
member responsible for the requested service. The name and phone
number of the contact is available by clicking on the appropriate
section, e.g., Acoustical Standards, Dimensional Metrology, etc.
These sections are listed in the upper left menu of this page. Deliveries
should be scheduled between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM, Eastern Time, on
normal business days.
The information below provides general guidelines on shipping.
Refer also to the relevant section of these pages for additional
guidelines on specific items.
- Precision measuring instruments and standards must be carefully
protected from mechanical shocks, vibration, and damage during
shipment and great care must be taken in packing for shipment.
Before each item is packed, any binding posts should be tightened
and any clamping devices should be switched to the "Clamp"
or "Transit" position. Plugs and other small accessories
should be enclosed in a small separate container attached to the
equipment. Electrical standards that are oil-immersed must be
emptied and drained prior to shipment. Each item should be wrapped
in heavy paper or similar cover and sealed with gummed tape to
exclude dust. Shipping boxes should be strong and those made of
wood should have screw tops to avoid mechanical shocks caused
by a hammer or nail puller
- Clean, fresh, resilient material should be used as the shock-absorbing
medium, with a layer about 10 cm thick on all six sides of each
instrument. Boxes containing delicate instruments should be marked
"Fragile, Handle with Care". Those containing glass
parts should additionally be marked "Glass". The client's
name and address should be marked clearly and indelibly on the
outside of the container and on the documentation.
- Every effort is made to handle and repack instruments carefully
at NRC. When possible, the return shipment is made in the original
container. Incoming shipments should be prepaid and insured. The
return shipment, including insurance at an approximate replacement
value, may be prepaid or will be sent collect. The client should
inform NRC if the return shipment is to be handled by a particular
carrier. NRC will not assume liability for loss or damage to client
equipment unless such loss or damage results from negligence by
NRC personnel.
- Certain instruments and standards are notably fragile and in
many cases should not be inverted. It is desirable that these
be transported by messenger or, if shipped by commercial carrier,
they must be clearly marked "This Side Up". Shipment
of standard cells during very cold weather should be avoided because
of the possible hazard from freezing.
NRC does not provide repair or adjustment services on instruments
or standards. Simple repairs such as tightening of loose terminals
may be undertaken provided that the instrument is not sealed, but
it is expected that all instruments or standards submitted will
have been inspected and repaired before submission. Instruments
that are obviously in need of maintenance will be returned without
calibration and a handling fee will be levied for the work completed.
NRC may provide calibration services for clients located outside
of Canada, subject to the availability of NRC resources. If the
services are available in the requestor's country, the client may
be asked to provide a written justification stating why NRC should
provide this service. The foreign client should discuss the required
service with the INMS staff member identified in the service listings.
If NRC accepts the request for service, the client will be informed
in writing of the cost and will be given the name of the NRC staff
member who will carry out the measurements. The client must complete and send a signed copy of the Standard Calibration Services Agreement to the NRC-INMS staff member providing the service. By email with electronic signature or by fax is acceptable.
Ship the item(s) according to the guidelines provided under "Shipping"
in instructions for domestic clients, with the following additional
requirements:
Before shipping the instrument or standard to the appropriate INMS
laboratory, the client must prearrange with a customs broker for
entry of the item into Canada, with prepaid transportation to and
from the port of entry. If arrangements are made with a broker in
the country of origin, that broker should have a Canadian customs
broker in or near the port of entry who can arrange for entry of
the item(s) and for transportation to NRC. The Canadian broker must
also arrange for transportion of the item(s) to the port of exit
after calibration or testing is complete.
New foreign clients may be asked to make a pre-payment, usually
50% of the projected cost, depending on this projected cost and
the duration of the project.
When the calibration is complete, the client will be sent an invoice
that is payable within 30 days of the date of invoice. Make payment
by cheque, money order, or credit card to NRC for the full quoted
cost of the service in U.S. dollars, drawn on a Canadian bank, and
payable to the Receiver General for Canada, with reference to the
INMS Group/Program/Project providing the service.
Note: The calibration costs quoted do not include
shipping, insurance or the costs of a customs broker. The client
must arrange and pay for these services separately
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