UKAS Calibration

Calibration Labs should be Accredited by UKAS to ISO 17025, which is the only international standard for competency in calibration laboratories.

THORCAL are Hull and Humberside's only UKAS Accredited Calibration laboratory.

We're able to provide Accredited calibrations for Pressure, Electrical and Temperature parameters.

Find our more about UKAS calibration below, and how we can help you meet your regulatory requirements.

Why you need an Accredited lab

ISO 17025 is the only standard applicable to calibration labs, so choosing a provider who is accredited is essential if you want to be confident your measuring equipment has been tested correctly. 

Using a UKAS accredited calibration company ensures the results you get are technically valid.

Take a look at the below table that compares ISO 17025 to other qualifications a calibration company might have.

Lab is independently audited by UKAS as able to produce valid results

Calibration procedures approved

Technical staff assessed and deemed competent

Calibrations witnessed by auditors

Claimed measurement uncertainties have been mathematically justified and demonstrated.

Traceability to National Standards has been independently verified.

Master equipment deemed appropriate to produce valid measurements 

Quality Management System has been independently assessed

Master equipment has been calibrated at a UKAS or other Accredited lab

Is this the same as ISO 9001?

No.

ISO 9001 is a quality standard that doesn’t relate to the technical side of calibration. It simply checks that a company is consistent in its processing of items, and does not guarantee that calibrations are being performed correctly.

The costs, work and commitment involved in achieving ISO 17025 are around 20 x greater than ISO9001 so it’s important that they are not considered equal. 

Some calibration services companies might advertise that they are “Accredited to ISO9001” which is misleading. Only ISO 17025 provides Accreditation for calibration activities. 

Take a look at the above table which explains the differences between ISO 17025 Accredited, ISO 9001 registered, and unaccredited calibrations.

Who are UKAS?

UKAS are the UK’s only accrediting body. They are appointed by the UK government to assess companies as competent in various standards, ISO 17025 being one of them. They don’t actually do any calibration themselves, but labs who become Accredited by them can put their logo on their certificates and perform “Accredited calibrations”

What’s involved in being Accredited to 17025?

For calibration labs, becoming accredited is a huge commitment in terms of work, equipment, training and time, along with the significant costs of ongoing assessment.

Accredited labs are regularly audited by experts in their field. A team of assessors, one per discipline (ie pressure, temperature, electrical etc) visit regularly to witness calibrations, assess the competency of staff and check that the correct procedures and equipment are being used to produce good measurements. 

THORCAL are committed to providing the highest standard of calibration and service, and our UKAS Accreditation supports the requirements of the Oil and Gas, Chemical, Offshore wind, Aviation and manufacturing industries.

How do I check my calibration provider is UKAS accredited?

You can search for them on the UKAS website

So are all the calibrations THORCAL do Accredited?

No. When a lab becomes accredited, you get the accreditation for certain parameters. 

THORCAL are Accredited for Electrical, Temperature and Pressure disciplines, but another UKAS lab might be accredited for say, Torque or Mass or Dimensional.

You can check what parameters and ranges a lab is accredited to by asking to see their Schedule of Accreditation, which is published on the UKAS website. View our UKAS schedule here

Do I need all my calibrations to be UKAS Accredited?

That's a question for your auditor. Some will be happy with a Traceable calibration, as long as the provider holds ISO 17025 Accreditation.

At THORCAL, if we don’t hold the accreditation for a parameter, but we still have the capability, we provide calibration certificates Traceable to National Standards. This way, you still have the assurance that you are getting calibrations from a company that is UKAS accredited.

For more information on ISO 17025 and why it’s the industry standard, visit the UKAS website here. or speak to our friendly team.