Comparison of calibration certificate, accredited calibration certificate and calibration report
This knowledge area explains the terms calibration certificate, accredited calibration certificate and calibration report and the differences between them.
What is a calibration certificate?
The calibration certificate is used to record the calibration of test equipment in accordance to ISO/factory standards. Calibration certificates issued in accordance with these standards are not checked by external bodies, but must be critically reviewed by the customer himself. The eponymous ISO 9001:2015 does not specify any concrete requirements for the content of such certificates, which is why Testo Industrial Services is guided by ISO 10012:2003.
Accordingly, a calibration certificate contains information such as the technical data of the device or sensor and the measured values determined. In addition, information is provided on the laboratory performing the calibration, the equipment, procedures and reference devices used and the environmental conditions during calibration. Testo Industrial Services GmbH also guarantees metrological traceability to recognised standards.
As the documented measured values are an assessment of the actual state, recalibration should be carried out regularly. Recalibration ensures that the test equipment continues to meet the standards and that any deviations or changes can be recognised and corrected.
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What is an accredited calibration certificate?
The accredited calibration certificate is an official document that records the calibration of test equipment in accordance to DAkkS standards. The details in a calibration certificate with an accreditation symbol are specified in accordance to ISO/IEC 17025:2018 and must be listed in the calibration certificate in accordance with the defined layout.
This includes the technical data of the device or sensor, as well as the measured values recorded during the calibration process. Additional information includes the accredited laboratory performing the calibration, the equipment, procedures and reference devices used, the environmental conditions during the calibration process, the national accreditation body and the registration number. This ensures that the measurement results and references used are traceable to recognised standards.
The DAkkS calibration certificates are also an assessment of the actual state of the measured values, which is why regular recalibration should also be carried out here.
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What is a calibration report?
A calibration report is a document that usually contains less detailed information than a calibration certificate and is not subject to standardised regulation. The calibration report is often issued with new devices and serves more as proof of the initial condition of the device. The measurements are traceable to recognised standards, but this traceability is not evident from the calibration report. A separate calibration is therefore necessary to ensure that a measuring device or test equipment complies with ISO or DAkkS standards.
What is the difference between a calibration certificate, an accredited calibration certificate and a calibration report?
While the calibration certificate is regulated by ISO and the accredited calibration certificate by DAkkS standards and is therefore considered an official document, there is no established regulation or normative basis for calibration reports. Calibration reports are often issued with new devices and the information that can be found there is presented in a summarised form. A calibration protocol can therefore not be regarded as a certified calibration and an additional initial calibration must be carried out.