Feature sponsored by Calibration
WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CALIBRATION TOOLS AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THEY ARE SAFE TO USE?
W
hy do we calibrate? We calibrate to make sure that various electrical safety testers are safe to use.
The kind of equipment that would typically be
checked includes high-potential (hipot) testers and insulation resistance testers (also known as megohmmeters), including older analogue testers. Checks would also be made on testers for loop/line impedance, continuity, earth resistance, ground bond, current leakage, circuit breaks (RCD/GFCI), multi-function installations and portable appliances.
Safety is clearly an essential element in carrying out all calibrations, but this does not relate just to the equipment that is being tested. It is equally important to ensure the calibration tools themselves are safe to use. Getting this right means that operators can use those tools in a laboratory or in the field with the confidence that they will do their job correctly and safely, while providing accurate results and meeting all the relevant standards.
Standards for calibrators are set by different bodies in different countries. For example, in the USA it is the role of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), then there is the Canadian Standards Association, the Association of German Electrical Engineers (VDE) and the British Standards Institute (BSI). In the UK, BS 7671 is the standard relating to ‘Requirements for Electrical Installations’ while some of its equivalents are the IEC 60364 standard, the Canadian Electrical Code CSA C22.1, and Australia and New Zealand’s AS/NZS 3000.
FIND THE RIGHT TOOLS TO TEST THE CALIBRATOR
So how do we test calibration tools safely, and what are the potential risks that we need to be aware of? The first step is to realise that just as
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important as choosing the correct calibrator for a particular piece of equipment is the need to find the right tools to test the calibrator and manage those risks. Not only that, but whatever testing equipment is used will need to meet all of its own relevant safety standards. For test, measurement and laboratory equipment for example, this means dedicated standards such as IEC 61010 and BS EN 61010. No matter what area or industry an operator works in, there can be risks associated with that work when using calibration tools. For example, they could be calibrating tools that operate at high voltages or they could be using a temperature bath operating at temperatures that are either extremely high or extremely low. In addition, they could be exposed to various dangerous chemicals that are used in calibration or to potentially damaging high pressures. Safety is always paramount and companies like Fluke Calibration take the issue extremely seriously. That is why every one of their tools is put through rigorous testing and carry certification markings to prove that they comply with all the required regulatory standards. For example, to record that they have been assessed in qualified, nationally recognised testing laboratories and meet the safety, health, and environmental standards agreed upon by the IEC, calibration testers will carry marks relating to Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Conformité Européenne (CE), or the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS).
PROTECT CALIBRATING EQUIPMENT FROM DAMAGE On Fluke Calibration testing tools specifically, users will be assured by a ‘Visual Connection
Management’ marking which means that connecting leads on the device is simplified through the terminals being lit up. By following a straightforward step-by-step guide, calibration technicians know exactly what to plug in and where, keeping them safe and preventing the calibrator from being damaged. This kind of feature can be found on Fluke’s 5730A high- performance multi-function calibrator, for example, which is used to calibrate many kinds of digital multimeters (up to long-scale 8.5-digit DMMs) as well as radio frequency (RF) voltmeters. Fluke’s new Multi-Product Calibrator series, 5560A, 5550A and 5540A, is equipped with ‘Virtual Connection Management’ as well. This series also has a reverse power protection to protect the instruments from incoming voltages.
Other equipment such as Fluke’s 1551A/1552A ‘Stik’ thermometer for industrial temperature calibration features a read-out that is EX certified, which means it is safe to use when taking
June 2023 Instrumentation Monthly
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