Fluke Calibration

Certifcates  Application Note

 A guide to understanding dierent types o 
calibration certifcates and certifcate terminology 

Fluke Corporation is a supplier o 

a variety o electronic testing and This guide answers requently
measurement instruments. Fluke asked questions and provides
is also a provider o precision general inormation about the
measurement instrumentation calibration and test reports avail-
used as calibrators and standards able rom Fluke. It should be
in various areas o metrology.
metrology. noted that reports o calibration
Additionally,
Additionally, Fluke provides evolve over time and Fluke has
repair and calibration services or the right to change some aspects
many dierent test instruments. o these reports, as needed, and
In each o these roles, providing at any time.
calibration certicates plays a
part which is very important, but What report types are
sometimes dierent. available with Fluke’s
instrumentation and what
Also, Fluke is a company with a are the purposes o these
presence throughout the world. documents?
Original manuacturing is done Reports on instrument peror-
rom a series o worldwide acto- mance supplied with Fluke’s
ries. Additionally, the calibration instruments can range rom sim-
and repair services are done at ple documents that certiy that a
dierent authorized service cen- general testing philosophy was
ters throughout the counties rom applied to a particular instrument,
which Fluke serves its customers. to very detailed calibration
Out o this manuacturing and reports that outline specic test-
service network there can be ing details intended to satisy or-
seen variations in the calibration mal guidelines or requirements.
certicates that Fluke provides. Perormance reports available
rom Fluke include:
 While these variations are very
reasonable and acceptable, the 1) Statement o calibration
dierences do raise questions practices Figure 1. Statement o calibration
calibration practices.

rom users o the test instru- A statement o calibration prac-

ments. Fluke requently is asked tices is not a ormal calibration to national and international
questions about what dierent certicate. This document standards. However, because
types o calibration and testing commonly accompanies most such testing and calibration
reports are available with our newly purchased test instru- is done in a high volume
products and services, what the ments that are o a general production environment, no
dierent reports are, what reports purpose nature.
nature. It attests
attests that specic calibration certicate
and certicates accompany new the quality control, testing, and is available and no details o 
instruments and what are avail- calibration o this particular the testing can be provided.
able optionally. The most impor- instrument were done accord- I a calibration certicate is
tant issue is to determine what ing to Fluke’s quality standards, required, a separate calibra-
type o report will best meet the and the instrument will meet tion must be done ollowing
needs o the customer. its published specications. production–usually at an extra
The tests were conducted using charge. An example
example o this
instrumentation and systems documentary statement is
with calibrations traceable included in Figure 1.
2) Certifcate o traceable 3) Certifcate o traceable
calibration (without data) calibration with data
This document certies that a This document certies that a  Within this category, there are
specic instrument, identied by specic instrument, identied by dierent classes o certicates.
model and serial number, was model and serial number, was They range rom supplying details
tested using Fluke’s applicable tested using Fluke’s applicable that generally satisy commonly
procedures, in accordance with procedures, in accordance with needed reporting requirements, to
Fluke’s quality standards, and the Fluke’s quality standards. The others that specically satisy various
instrument met published speci- calibration was done with cali- ormal requirements or calibration
cations. “Without data” means brating standards traceable to na- certicates.
that the report contains general tional and international standards.
inormation, such as instrument Specic testing dates and specic This type o certicate includes,
details and specic testing dates, testing instrumentation details are but is not limited to these common
but does not include test point provided. Details o the individual certicates:
measurement details. With this tests are also provided, with a o Traceable calibration certifcates
type o calibration, the procedure variety o supporting inormation. with data
does perorm the required test These details are intended or o Z540 calibration certifcates
operations and evaluates the uture reerence when evaluating o Accredited report o calibration
instrument or proper peror- instrument perormance or assist-
mance, but none o the test data ing with corrective actions. Details
is retained or uture reerence. Descriptions and general details o 
may include some or all o these these are provided on the next page.
This type o certicate is usually parameters: specic test points,
available only upon request rom appropriate specication limits,
a service center. New instru- measured values, test ratio inor-
ments typically do not come with mation, measurement uncertainty.
this certicate type. An example Other parameters may be included
o this document is included in as well, depending upon various
Figure 2. quality and metrology require-
ments.

Figure 2. Certicate o traceable calibration.

2 Fluke Corporation Fluke Calibration Certicates

  Traceable calibration
certifcate with data

This calibration certicate documents that a

specic instrument, identied by model and
serial number, was tested using Fluke’s appli-
cable procedures. The processes ensure testing
with traceability to national and international
standards, but do not necessarily ulll all re-
quirements o various ormal standards, such as
Z540.1 or 17025. Hence it is considered “gener-
ic,” simply a Traceable Calibration Certicate that
includes test data. Details o the individual tests
are provided with an appropriate set o support-
ing inormation. An example o this document is
included in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Traceable Calibration Certicate with Data

3 Fluke Corporation Fluke Calibration Certicates

 Z540 calibration certifcate
Certificate Number: F3128001 Date of Certificate: 20-Nov-2006 Page 2 of 8
Traceability Information

Commonly reerred to as a Z540 certicate, this is DC Voltage

more properly termed a Z540.1 calibration certicate. This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards to the Fluke Volt, which is traceable to the U.S.
representation of the volt, through the internationally accepted value of the Josephson constant Kj=483597.9 GHz/V and a 10
Volt Josephson Array Voltage Standard.
It documents that a specic instrument, identied by Frequency
model and serial number, was tested using Fluke’s This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards to a GPS disciplined oscillator frequency standard,
traceable to the United States Naval Observatory (USNO), which is traceable to the National Institute of Standards and

applicable procedures, traceable to national and Technology (NIST).

international standards, in accordance with ormal AC Voltage (1 MHz and below), Resistance, DC Current, AC Current (10 mA and above), Capacitance, Inductance and
Phase
This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards which are traceable to NIST.
American Standard named Z540.1. (More specically, AC Voltage ( > 1 MHz) and RF Power
its present version is named ANSI/NCSL Z540.1-1994 This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards which are traceable to NIST or the National Research
Council Canada (NRC).
(R2002) Part I.) With this certicate, details o the AC Current ( < 10 mA )

individual tests are provided with a variety o sup- This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards which are traceable to Physikalisch Technische
Bundesanstalt (PTB) (German National Metrology I nstitute).

porting inormation. These details may include some Temperature

This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards to the Hart Scientific Metrology Laboratory, which is
or all o, but are not limited to, the specic test points, traceable to NIST and/or to Hart maintained intrinsic standards.

the appropriate specication limits, measured values, Humidity

This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards traceable to the Fluke Everett Service Center, whose

etc. It doesn’t usually include specic measurement traceability is based on the physical phenomena in which the equilibrium relative humidity values associated with certain
saturated salt solutions are known.

uncertainty inormation, but rather does enumerate

test cases where accuracy ratios between the test
tolerances and the associated standard are less than
our to one. Also included are specic testing dates,
specic testing instrumentation details and trace-
ability inormation. An example o this document is
included in Figure 4.

Complies with the requirements of ANSI/NCSL Z540A.1-1994 (R2002)

 Factory Annex of the Primary Standards Laboratory

Fluke Corporation
Everett, Washington 98206
USA

Calibration Certificate
Fluke Corporation 425.446.6378 Fax 425.446.5649 www.fluke.com
Descripton: Multi-Product Calibrator Certificate Number: Sample

Manufacturer: Fluke Date of Calibration: 14-Apr-2006

Model: 5520A Date of Certificate: 20-Nov-2006 Certificate Number: F3128001 Date of Certificate: 20-Nov-2006 Page 3 of 8
Standards Used
Serial number: Sample Only Temperature: 23 ± 3°C PM02
Customer Name: Fluke Corporation Relative Humidity: Less than 70% RH
DC Voltage
City, State: Everett, WA Output/Range Measurement Deviation TUR 90 Day Spec
0 V, 330 mV 231.169 nV 0.231 uV 1.7 1.000 µV
Procedure Name: 5520A-500 329 mV, 330 mV 329.000 mV 0.000 % 0.002 %
-329 mV, 330 mV -328.998 mV 0.000 % 0.002 %
0 V, 3.30 V 66.681 nV 0.067 uV 3.0 2.000 µV
1 V, 3.30 V 999.998 mV 0.000 % 3.8 0.001 %
Measurement uncertainties at the time of test are calculated in accordance with the method described in NIST TN1297, for a -1 V, 3.30 V -999.995 mV -0.001 % 0.001 %
confidence level of 95% using a coverage factor of approximately k=2. 3.29 V, 3.30 V 3.290 V 0.000 % 3.8 0.001 %
-3.29 V, 3.30 V -3.290 V 0.000 % 3.7 0.001 %
In the attached measurement results deviation may be expressed with units, Measured Value (MV) – Nominal Value (NV) or as 0 V, 33 V -3.027 µV -3.027 µV 20.000 µV
a proportion of the nominal value ((NV-NV)/NV), expressed as percent. 10 V, 33 V 10.000 V 0.000 % 0.001 %
-10 V, 33 V -10.000 V 0.000 % 0.001 %
This calibration certificate applies only to the item identified and shall not be reproduced other than in full, without specific written 32.9 V, 33 V 32.900 V 0.000 % 0.001 %
approval by Fluke Corporation. The user is obliged to have the object recalibrated at appropriate intervals. Calibration -32.9 V, 33 V -32.900 V 0.000 % 3.6 0.001 %
certificates without signatures are not valid. 50 V, 330 V 50.000 V 0.001 % 0.002 %
329 V, 330 V 329.000 V 0.000 % 3.4 0.002 %
-50 V, 330 V -50.000 V 0.000 % 0.002 %
Fluke's calibration system complies with the requirements of ANSI/NCSL Z540A.1-1994 (R2002).
-329 V, 330 V -328.999 V 0.000 % 3.4 0.002 %
334 V, 1 kV 334.002 V 0.001 % 0.002 %
900 V, 1 kV 900.005 V 0.001 % 3.7 0.002 %
1.020 kV, 1 kV 1.020 kV 0.001 % 3.7 0.002 %
-334 V, 1 kV -334.002 V 0.000 % 0.002 %
-900 V, 1 kV -900.004 V 0.000 % 3.7 0.002 %
-1.020 kV, 1 kV -1.02000 kV 0.00045 % 3.7 0.00165 %
 Aux Out/Range
0 mV, 300 mV -13.684 µV -0.014 mV 0.350 mV
329 mV, 300 mV 329.008 mV 0.002 % 0.136 %
-329 mV, 300 mV -329.032 mV 0.010 % 0.136 %
330 mV, 3 V 329.990 mV -0.003 % 0.136 %
3.29 V, 3 V 3.290 V 0.001 % 0.041 %
-3.29 V, 3 V -3.290 V 0.001 % 0.041 %
7 V, 7 V 6.999 V -0.008 % 0.035 %
-7 V, 7 V -6.999 V -0.008 % 0.035 %
DC Current
Output/Range Measurement Deviation TUR 90 Day Spec
0 A, 300 µA 206.661 pA 0.207 nA 20.000 nA
190 µA, 300 µA 189.996 µA -0.002 % 0.023 %
Kim Bailey Nicholas Mason -190 µA, 300 µA -189.995 µA -0.002 % 0.023 %
Technician Factory Annex Deputy 329 µA, 300 µA 328.994 µA -0.002 % 0.018 %
-329 µA, 300 µA -328.993 µA -0.002 % 0.018 %
0 A, 3 mA 1.417 nA 1.417 nA 50.000 nA
1.90 mA, 3 mA 1.900 mA 0.000 % 0.011 %
-1.90 mA, 3 mA -1.900 mA -0.001 % 0.011 %
3.29 mA, 3 mA 3.290 mA 0.000 % 0.010 %
-3.29 mA, 3 mA -3.290 mA 0.000 % 0.010 %
0 A, 30 mA 26.477 nA 0.026 uA 2.2 0.250 uA
19 mA, 30 mA 19.000 mA 0.001 % 3.6 0.009 %
-19 mA, 30 mA -19.000 mA 0.000 % 3.6 0.009 %
32.9 mA, 30 mA 32.900 mA 0.001 % 3.6 0.009 %
-32.9 mA, 30 mA -32.900 mA 0.000 % 3.5 0.009 %
Page 1 of 1 0 A, 300 mA 99.708 nA 0.100 uA 2.500 µA
Fluke Corporation 425.446.6378 Fax 425.446.5649 www.fluke.com 190 mA, 300 mA 189.996 mA -0.002 % 2.7 0.009 %
-190 mA, 300 mA -189.994 mA -0.003 % 2.7 0.009 %
329 mA, 300 mA 328.994 mA -0.002 % 2.6 0.009 %
-329 mA, 300 mA -328.992 mA -0.002 % 2.6 0.009 %
Figure 4. Z540 calibration certicate 0 A, 2.90 A -14.165 µA -14.165 µA 2.7 40.000 µA
1.09 A, 2.90 A 1.090 A -0.001 % 0.020 %
-1.09 A, 2.90 A -1.090 A -0.001 % 0.020 %
2.99 A, 2.90 A 2.990 A -0.004 % 0.031 %
-2.99 A, 2.90 A -2.990 A -0.005 % 0.031 %
0 A, 20 A -70.623 µA -0.071 mA 0.500 mA
11 A, 20 A 11.000 A 0.000 % 0.043 %
-11 A, 20 A -11.000 A 0.002 % 0.043 %
20 A, 20 A 19.999 A -0.006 % 0.084 %
-20 A, 20 A -20.001 A 0.007 % 0.084 %

Fluke Corporation 425.446.6378 Fax 425.446.5649 www.fluke.com

4 Fluke Corporation Fluke Calibration Certicates

 Accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
for the specific Scope of accreditation under Lab Code 105016-0.

 Factory Annex of the Primary Standards Laboratory

Fluke Corporation
Everett, Washington 98206
USA

Calibration Certificate  Accredited report o calibration

Description: Multi-FunctionCalibrator Certificate Number: Sample
Manufacturer: Fluke Date of Calibration: 23-Feb-2007
This calibration certicate documents that a
Model:

Serial number:
5720A

XXXXXXX
Date of Certificate:

Temperature:
05-Mar-2007

23 ± 3°C
specic instrument was calibrated in a man-
Customer Name: Fluke Corporation Relative Humidity: Less than 70% RH ner traceable to national and international
City, State: Everett, WA standards, in accordance with the practices
Procedure Name: 5720A-150
dened in the international standard ISO/
This calibration certificate may contain data that is not covered by the NVLAP Scope of Accreditation. The unaccredited
material, where applicable, is indicated by an asterisk (*) or confined to clearly marked sections. IEC 17025. (Specically, its present version
Measurement uncertainties at the time of test are calculated in accordance with the method described in NIST TN1297, for a is ISO/IEC 17025:2005). The report identies
confidence level of 95% using a coverage factor of approximately k=2.

In the attached measurement results deviation may be expressed with units, Measured Value (MV) – Nominal Value (NV) or as
the instrument tested by model and serial
a proportion of the nominal value ((NV-NV)/NV), expressed as percent. number. The testing used Fluke’s applicable
This calibration certificate applies only to the item identified and shall not be reproduced other than in full, without specific written
approval by Fluke Corporation. The user is obliged to have the object recalibrated at appropriate intervals. This certificate shall procedures. Details o the individual tests
not be used to claim product endorsement by NVLAP or any agency of the U.S. Government. Calibration certificates without
signatures are not valid. are provided with a variety o supporting
Fluke's calibration system complies with the requirements of ANSI/NCSL Z540A.1-1994 (R2002) and ISO/IEC 17025:2005. inormation. These details may include some
or all o, but are not limited to, the specic
test points, measured values, the appropriate
specication limits, measurement uncertainty,
etc. Also included are specic testing dates,
Technician Factory Annex Deputy
specic testing instrumentation details, trace-
ability inormation, and reers to the 17025
accreditation body with accreditation details.
An example o this document is included in
Figure 5.

Page 1 of 5
Fluke Corporation 425.446.6378 Fax 425.446.5649 www.fluke.com

Certificate Number: Sample Date of Certificate: 05-Mar-2007 Page 2 of 5 Certificate Number: Sample Date of Certificate: 05-Mar-2007 Page 3 of 5
Traceability Information Standards Used
DN46
DC Voltage DN47
This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards to the Fluke Volt, which is traceable to the U.S.
representation of the volt, through the internationally accepted value of the Josephson constant Kj=483597.9 GHz/V and a
10 Volt Josephson Array Voltage Standard. DC Voltage
Output/Range Measurement Deviation Uncertainty 24 Hour Spec
Frequency 0 V, 220 mV -0.30 uV -0.30 uV 0.21 uV 0.50 uV
This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards to a GPS disciplined oscillator frequency standard, 0 V, 2.2 V -0.11 uV -0.11 uV 0.16 uV 0.80 uV
traceable to the United States Naval Observatory (USNO), which is traceable to the National Institute of Standards and 0 V, 11 V -0.9 uV -0.9 uV 0.6 uV 3.0 µV
Technology (NIST). 0 V, 22 V -0.6 uV -0.6 uV 1.0 µV 5.0 µV
0 V, 220 V -21 µV -21 µV 16 µV 50 µV
AC Voltage (1 MHz and below), Resistance, DC Current, AC Current (10 mA and above), Capacitance, Inductance and 100 mV, 220 mV 99.9996 mV -0.0004 % 0.0005 % 0.0010 %
Phase -100 mV, 220 mV -99.9998 mV -0.0002 % 0.0007 % 0.0010 %
This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards which are traceable to NIST. 1 V, 2.2 V 0.9999994 V -0.0000636 % 0.0001207 % 0.0004300 %
-1 V, 2.2 V -1.0000005 V 0.0000473 % 0.0001200 % 0.0004300 %
AC Voltage ( > 1 MHz) and RF Power 10 V, 11 V 9.999998 V -0.000023 % 0.000070 % 0.000280 %
This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards which are traceable to NIST or the National Research -10 V, 11 V -9.999997 V -0.000030 % 0.000070 % 0.000280 %
Council Canada (NRC). 10 V, 22 V 10.000001 V 0.000013 % 0.000070 % 0.000300 %
-10 V, 22 V -10.000000 V 0.0000 05 % 0.000070 % 0.000300 %
AC Current ( < 10 mA ) 100 V, 220 V 99.99999 V -0.00001 % 0.00010 % 0.00040 %
This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards which are traceable to Physikalisch Technische -100 V, 220 V -100.00001 V 0.00001 % 0.00010 % 0.00040 %
Bundesanstalt (PTB) (German National Metrology Institute). 1 kV, 1.1 kV 1.0000010 kV 0.0000997 % 0.0001400 % 0.0005500 %
-1 kV, 1.1 kV -1.0000008 kV 0.0000842 % 0.0001400 % 0.0005500 %
Temperature
This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards to the Hart Scientific Metrology Laboratory, which is Resistance
traceable to NIST and/or to Hart maintained intrinsic standards. Output Measurement Deviation Uncertainty 24 Hour Spec
0 Ω -8 µΩ -8 µΩ 10 µΩ 50 µΩ
Humidity 999.890 m Ω 999.874 m Ω -0.002 % 0.002 % 0.009 %
This calibration was conducted using an unbroken chain of standards traceable to the Fluke Everett Service Center, whose 1.89981 Ω 1.89983 Ω 0.00109 % 0.00202 % 0.00850 %
traceability is based on the physical phenomena in which the equilibrium relative humidity values associated with certain 9.99963 Ω 9.99957 Ω -0.00059 % 0.00100 % 0.00230 %
18.99974 Ω 18.99963 Ω -0.00058 % 0.00085 % 0.00230 %
saturated salt solutions are known.
100.0003 Ω 100.0005 Ω 0.0001 % 0.0003 % 0.0010 %
190.0010 Ω 190.0009 Ω -0.0001 % 0.0003 % 0.0010 %
1.0000400 k Ω 1.0000404 k Ω 0.0000427 % 0.0003132 % 0.000 8000 %
1.900061 k Ω 1.900065 k Ω 0.000231 % 0.000418 % 0.000800 %
9.999987 k Ω 9.999985 k Ω -0.000020 % 0.000208 % 0.000800 %
19.00080 k Ω 19.00080 k Ω 0.00003 % 0.00025 % 0.00090 %
99.99946 k Ω 99.99955 k Ω 0.00009 % 0.00035 % 0.00090 %
189.9923 k Ω 189.9925 k Ω 0.0001 % 0.0003 % 0.0009 %
999.985 k Ω 999.987 k Ω 0.000 % 0.000 % 0.002 %
1.899927 M Ω 1.899927 M Ω 0.000013 % 0.000477 % 0.001700 %
9.99904 M Ω 9.99904 M Ω 0.00005 % 0.00102 % 0.00330 %
18.99941 M Ω 18.99925 M Ω -0.00082 % 0.00105 % 0.00430 %
100.010 M Ω 100.009 M Ω -0.001 % 0.006 % 0.010 %

 AC Voltage
Output/Frequency Measurement Deviation Uncertainty 24 Hour Spec
1.9 mV, 1 kHz 1.8993 mV -0.0367 % 0.0964 % 0.2716 %
1.9 mV, 20 kHz 1.8998 mV -0.0091 % 0.1230 % 0.2716 %
19 mV, 40 Hz 18.9972 mV -0.0149 % 0.0090 % 0.0348 %
19 mV, 1 kHz 18.9974 mV -0.0139 % 0.0090 % 0.0348 %
19 mV, 20 kHz 18.9990 mV -0.0051 % 0.0090 % 0.0348 %
19 mV, 100 kHz 18.999 mV -0.005 % 0.028 % 0.082 %
19 mV, 300 kHz 18.996 mV -0.020 % 0.042 % 0.163 %
19 mV, 1 MHz 18.954 mV -0.244 % 0.110 % 0.422 %
190 mV, 40 Hz 190.003 mV 0.002 % 0.003 % 0.013 %
190 mV, 1 kHz 189.999 mV -0.001 % 0.006 % 0.013 %
190 mV, 20 kHz 190.000 mV 0.000 % 0.008 % 0.013 %
190 mV, 100 kHz 190.00 mV 0.00 % 0.01 % 0.06 %
190 mV, 300 kHz 190.00 mV 0.00 % 0.02 % 0.10 %
190 mV, 1 MHz 189.97 mV -0.02 % 0.07 % 0.30 %
600 mV, 40 Hz 599.995 mV -0.001 % 0.003 % 0.006 %
600 mV, 1 kHz 599.994 mV -0.001 % 0.002 % 0.006 %
600 mV, 20 kHz 600.002 mV 0.000 % 0.002 % 0.006 %
600 mV, 100 kHz 600.03 mV 0.01 % 0.01 % 0.02 %
600 mV, 300 kHz 599.95 mV -0.01 % 0.01 % 0.05 %
600 mV, 1 MHz 599.4 mV -0.1 % 0.1 % 0.2 %
1 V, 40 Hz 1.00001 V 0.00057 % 0.00200 % 0.00550 %

Fluke Corporation 425.446.6378 Fax 425.446.5649 www.fluke.com Fluke Corporation 425.446.6378 Fax 425.446.5649 www.fluke.com

Figure 5. Accredited report o calibration

5 Fluke Corporation Fluke Calibration Certicates

 Common questions
What are the documentary standards that  Why do there seem to be dierent types o 
reerence the standard practices and  17025 Accredited Calibration Certifcates or 
requirements o calibration?  Reports? 
There are a number o ormal documents that infu- Any calibration lab or testing organization providing
ence calibration practices and calibration certi- such a calibration must be audited, approved, and
cates. A partial list o the more common o these is certied to conorm to the 17025 standard. This
shown below, with a simple description. auditing is perormed by any o a number o dierent
• ISO/IEC17025 organizations which are authorized to audit whether
This reers to the international standard or or not calibration laboratories meet the 17025
General Requirements or the Competence o  requirements. These auditing organizations reside
Testing and Calibration Laboratories. Originally in various countries who participate in the Mutual
published in 1999, the present version was Recognition Agreement. These organizations and
revised in 2005. Its requirements are the basis their accreditation assessments are internationally
or which present day calibration and testing recognized outside o their country o origin through
laboratories are measured. international agreements.
Once a lab has been certied, the specic accredit-
• ANS/NCSLZ540.1 ing organization’s approval is reerenced in the cali-
This reers to the American National Standard or bration certicate. Hence, the name o the accrediting
Calibration Laboratories and Measuring and Test organization will oten be identied with the calibra-
Equipment–General Requirements. It is based tion certicate. This means there are several types
on the ISO/IEC Guide 25 as well as on MIL- o certicates, but all are considered equal as they
STD 45662A, which was included to meet U.S. conorm to the requirements o the same international
Department o Deense requirements. Originally standard.
published in 1994, it is scheduled to expire in Examples o 17025 accredited calibration certi-
2007. cates include:
• ISO9000 • NVLAPaccreditedcalibrationcertifcate.This
This reers to the international standard or certicate conrms the testing was done in a man-
quality management systems. It covers a wide ner approved by the USA’s calibration accrediting
range o topics. Included are specic directions body named the National Voluntary Laboratory
requiring the consideration o both the manage- Accreditation Program.
ment and the calibration o the testing equipment
which are involved in the quality processes o  • UKASaccreditedcalibrationcertifcate. This
an organization. With respect to calibration, ISO certicate conrms the testing was done in a man-
9000 is a philosophical standard rather than ner approved by the UK’s calibration accrediting
a technical one. Specic calibration certicate body named the United Kingdom Accreditation
requirements are determined by the individual Service.
organization and its quality systems. To satisy • A2LAaccreditedcalibrationcertifcate.This
any technical and operational requirements or certicate conrms the testing was done in a man-
calibration, it is best to reer to other standards, ner approved by the USA’s calibration accrediting
such as those also mentioned in this section. body named the American Association or L abora-
• ISOGuide25 tory Accreditation.
This reers to the international guide or general
requirements or the competence o calibration There are many other accreditation bodies autho-
and testing laboratories. This is guide is now rized to accredit laboratories or 17025, represented in
obsolete and has been replaced by ISO/IEC 17025. nearly all developed countries throughout the world.
The names and acronyms or some o these bodies
• MIL-STD45662A include:
This reers to a military standard on calibration
system requirements. This MIL-STD was origi- • C LAS. Canadian Lab Accreditation System
nally intended to meet U.S. Department o  (Canada)
Deense requirements. This standard is obsolete. • DKD. Deutscher Kalibrierdienst, German
Its requirements are still met through Z540.1 Part Laboratory Association (Germany)
2, and somewhat by ISO 10012-1, Quality Assur- • IAJapanJCSS. International Accreditation Japan,
ance Requirements or Measuring Equipment. Japan Calibration Service System (Japan)
• NATA. National Association o Testing Authorities
(Australia)
• RvA. Raad voor Accreditatie, Dutch Accreditation
Council (Netherlands)
• SAC-SINGLAS. Singapore Accreditation Council
- Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
(Singapore)

6 Fluke Corporation Fluke Calibration Certicates

 Common questions
What certifcates come standard with a What is traceability? 
newly purchased instrument?  The term traceability reers to an unbroken chain
Generally, all Fluke instruments come with either o measurements relating an instrument’s mea-
a ormal calibration certicate or a statement o cali- surements to a known standard. These measure-
bration practices. General purpose test instruments ments are realized through an unbroken chain o 
commonly come with a statement o calibration comparisons rom the measurement being made,
practices. A ormal calibration certicate is optional. back to a recognized national and legal standard.
On the other hand, calibration instruments com- Traceability insures that all measured parameters
monly include some type o a traceable calibration eventually trace back to an appropriate undamen-
certicate with data. When other certicates are tal international system unit o measurement (the SI
required, then other specic calibrations with unit). In practice, the instrument is being calibrated
specic types o certicates may be perormed with a calibration standard that can be proven as
as an option. traceable is to a national standard. This national
standard in turn is traceable to an international
Do all new instruments need a calibration standard. This traceability chain is used to certiy
certifcate?  an instrument’s accuracy relative to a known and
accepted standard. The calibration certicate is
It is highly recommended that an instrument be documentary proo o traceability or a particular
calibrated and have evidence o such through an instrument.
appropriate certicate. The quality management
system standard ISO 9000 states that prior to its
use, an instrument should be calibrated using trace- Will a calibration certifcate originating in
able standards to insure its proper perormance. another country, and possibly accredited 
Depending upon the instrument user’s requirements, by a oreign organization, be acceptable as 
the specic type o calibration and the associated traceable in my country? 
certicate can be determined. Simply speaking, calibrations which are properly
accredited as meeting ISO/ IEC 17025 will satisy
the requirements to be internationally acceptable.
What about a calibration certifcate or an There should be no need to recertiy or recalibrate
existing instrument?  an instrument with such a calibration certicate
It is important to routinely calibrate existing test to satisy local authorities o proper traceability to
instruments during their useul lie. The perormance international standards.
o all instruments changes with time, and certi- Specically, an international agreement has
cates valid at the time they are new must replaced been signed between the National Metrology In-
with valid certicates on a regular basis during the stitutes (NMIs) o most developed countries world-
lietime o an instrument. (Typically this is yearly, wide. This Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)
or alternatively at an interval that is set to be at an provides or acceptance o the national measure-
acceptable level risk against undetected instrument ment standards and or calibration and measure-
ailures.) It is also a requirement or calibration ater ment certicates issued by NMIs. This acceptance is
an instrument is repaired. When an instrument is urther expanded to the test and calibration certi-
returned or routine calibration or repair and reca- cates made by other laboratories traceable to NM Is,
libration, it is important to speciy the appropriate provided these laboratories have been accredited
type o calibration certicate required. through the processes dened as acceptable under
international agreement.
On the other hand, calibration certicates that
are not accredited to meet I SO/IEC 17025 may
or may not be ound acceptable as traceable to
national and international standards. No ormal
agreements o acceptance or such certicates exist.
It is up to instrument owner and the local authori-
ties to decide on the acceptability o such calibra-
tion reports.

7 Fluke Corporation Fluke Calibration Certicates

 Common questions
How can I ensure I get a particular type o   Are the procedures identical or producing 
calibration or my instrument?  17025 and Z540.1 calibration certifcates or 
 When you either (1) purchase a new instrument a specifc instrument? 
or return it or (2) recalibration or (3) repair and In concept, both procedures should be identical or
recalibration, you should inquire about what type nearly identical. However dierences can and do
o documented calibrations are available rom that exist. These could be based on dierences in the
servicing laboratory. Make sure the laboratory lab’s equipment or metrology processes or one
is capable and has the authority to provide the procedure vs. the other. Also, the measurement
calibration your organization requires. Also, it is uncertainty calculation processes required in 17025
oten necessary to have a report o the instrument’s calibrations might cause the measurement pro-
perormance as measured when it arrives at a labo- cess to be dierent than the process used in Z540
ratory (commonly termed “As Found” data), and also calibrations. For example, the number o measure-
supplied with perormance data as measured when ments taken and analyzed at each test point could
it leaves the laboratory (commonly termed “As Let” be dierent between the two types o calibration
data). With this ull set o data you can ensure that procedures.
any present or uture perormance deemed marginal However, both procedures will be appropriate
or aulty is properly identied or appropriate and adequate to provide a proper calibration report
corrective actions. per their individual requirements.

What are “as ound” data and “as let” data?  What calibration certifcate does Fluke rec- 
Several dierent measurement test data types can ommend? 
be ound on certicates. They can be interpreted as: As a general practice, Fluke does not recommend
one certicate over another. It is up to the us er o 
• Asfound.Calibrationdatacollectedbeforethe
the instrument to determine what is appropriate
unit is adjusted and/or repaired.
or the quality and metrology processes which
• Asleft.Calibrationdatacollectedaftertheunitis support their product or service. It is important to
adjusted and/or repaired. be consistent. For example, a laboratory which
• Asfound/asleft.Calibrationdatacollectedwith- supplies 17025 accredited calibrations to their
out any adjustment and/or repair perormed. customers should obtain similar 17025 accredited
calibrations or their instruments.
It is important or instruments that are being rou- I there is some doubt on what type o calibra-
tinely recertied, or certied ollowing a repair, to tion report is needed, it is good practice to obtain
have the as ound data documented as well the as the more ormal 17025 calibration certicate over
let data documented. In this way, the complete less stringent calibration certicate alternatives.
perormance prole o the calibrated instrument is This ensures the highest quality and best situation
known, and any uture corrective actions can be to minimize an organization’s risk against providing
more easily taken. Both as ound/as let data are unreliable test results, services and/or products or
provided with 17025 certicates, but it is not neces- their end customer’s expectations.
sarily included in Z540 certicates unless requested.

Fluke. Keeping your world 

up and running. ®

Fluke Corporation
PO Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206
Fluke Europe B.V.
PO Box 1186, 5602 BD
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
For more inormation call:
In the U.S.A. (800) 443-5853 or
Fax (425) 446-5116
In Europe/M-East/Arica +31 (0) 40 2675 200 or
Fax +31 (0) 40 2675 222
In Canada (800) 36-FLUKE or
Fax (905) 890-6866
From other countries +1 (425) 446-5500 or
Fax +1 (425) 446-5116
 Web access: http://www.fuke.com
©2007 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved.
Printed in U.S.A. 6/2007 3029357 D-EN-N Rev A
8 Fluke Corporation Fluke Calibration Certicates Pub_ID: 11249-eng Rev 01