As an industry leader in instrumentation calibration, MicronPA offers both on-site (or field) and off-site (or lab) calibration services that adhere to the highest standards and come with complete certifications. Still, we’re often asked, “Is field calibration as accurate as lab calibration?” It’s a fair question since several reasons can influence why one form of calibration service may be preferable to another.
To first address the question of accuracy, it’s important to emphasize that all of MicronPA’s on-site and off-site calibration services are conducted to fully meet the strictest industry standards. We are also fully accredited to the following highly-respected metrological organizations by The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation — A2LA:
- The International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission — ISO/IEC 17025:2005(E)
- The American National Standards Institute and the National Conference of Standards Laboratories — ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994
- The American National Standards Institute and the National Conference of Standards Laboratories — ANSI/NCSL Z540.3-2006
MicronPA’s decades of experience and numerous accreditations mean all of our off-site and on-site calibration services are accurate, reliable and fully traceable through our hard copy and web-based certifications.
What do you need to know about both field and workshop services to make the right decision regarding your instrumentation? Read on to learn more about both types of calibration services.
About Field Calibration
Once you’ve established that you can fully trust a mobile calibration service, the primary reasons for going this route often have to do with the installation and productivity of the instrumentation in question. What follows are some of the top reasons for employing field calibration services:
- Total loop: To calibrate a measurement loop in its entirety, from sensor points to displays in a control room, field calibration is often the only viable method of calibrating the whole system without having to uninstall it.
- Security: To prevent sensitive instrumentation from leaving a facility, field calibration is an option many choose for the added security it ensures.
- Field conditions: When equipment cannot be removed or needs to be calibrated under operating field conditions, then field calibration is the best choice.
- Affordability: MicronPA’s field calibration services are affordably priced to match our same-day service fees, which allows customers to eliminate all costs associated with shipping and handling.
- Productivity: Without having to uninstall, pack and ship instrumentation, field calibration services support the uptime and productivity of the applications the given instrumentation is used in.
- Transparency: When either you or your staff want to observe the entire calibration procedure from beginning to end, field calibration offers unparalleled transparency of the process.
About Lab Calibration
Of course, there are other instances when it’s preferable to have instrumentation calibrated in our lab that’s already set up for the service. Here are some of the most popular reasons for workshop calibration:
- Best possible uncertainty: In instances when your requirements call for best possible uncertainty, it’s typically more easily achieved with stationary calibration equipment found in a lab.
- Safety: For robust safety measures that might call for things such as thermal or electrical current overloads, a lab with sufficient built-in safety equipment and procedures can be the safest method of performing calibration.
MicronPA Can Help You Choose
As a family-owned and operated business, we’re always happy to hear from our customers and help them decide which form of calibration service best matches their needs.
For informed answers to all your calibration questions, please contact us today.
