RC-01—Conditions and administrative requirements for the recognition program of calibration results from CLAS laboratories

(2011-03-31)

Table of Contents


Revision Table

This document will continue to be periodically reviewed by Measurement Canada to ensure its effectiveness with respect to its objectives. The following revisions are authorized by:

Alan E. Johnston
President
Measurement Canada

Sonia Roussy
Vice-President
Innovative Services Directorate
Measurement Canada

Revision Table
Date of Revision or Addition Language Section Nature of the Revision or Addition
2011-03-31 English and French Throughout the document Expansion of the program scope to include temperature standards and CLAS Type ll laboratories for calibration of mass weights over 5 kg, and minor editorial corrections
2008-09-30 French 1.1 Correct the translation of the scope so it meets the English version which is the original intended scope.
2008-09-30 English Revisions Table Change date of version to align with the French version revision date.
2008-05-23 English and French 1.2 Clarification of exclusion of weights and weight sets that were never designated as local standards
2008-05-23 English and French Throughout the document Minor editorial revisions

Authorization

Section 13 of the Weights and Measures Act provides that the Minister of Industry, or his/her delegate, may designate as a local standard any standard that has been calibrated and certified in relation to a reference standard as accurate within prescribed tolerances. The Minister of Industry has elected to consider CLAS Type l and Type ll Laboratories calibration results in the exercise of this authority, subject to the program terms and conditions set out in this document.

This document has been produced under the authority of the President of Measurement Canada for the recognition of calibration results from CLAS Type l and Type ll Laboratories by Measurement Canada.

This document will continue to be periodically reviewed by Measurement Canada to ensure its effectiveness with respect to its objectives.

Alan E. Johnston
President
Measurement Canada

Sonia Roussy
Vice-President
Innovative Services Directorate
Measurement Canada

Revision Process

Revisions to RC‑01 will be processed as follows:

Editorial changes (e.g. grammatical, spelling, wording) will be processed as required by the Innovative Services Directorate of Measurement Canada, without consultation.

Changes to the structure, format and content that do not require external consultation (no change to the conditions) will be processed by the Innovative Services Directorate after consultation with the Measurement Canada Alternative Service Delivery Standing Committee.

Major changes to the conditions will be processed by the Innovative Services Directorate after consultation with the Measurement Canada Engineering and Laboratory Services Directorate has taken place. Consultation with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service (CLAS) may also take place as necessary.

Introduction

Measurement Canada has developed the Recognition Program of Calibration Results from CLAS Laboratories (hereinafter referred to as the "Program") in order to provide more flexibility to organizations, such as Measurement Canada Authorized Service Providers (ASPs), that require traceability to Measurement Canada's reference standards.

This document sets out the conditions under which Measurement Canada will consider CLAS Type l and Type ll Laboratories calibration results in order for the Minister of Industry, or his/her delegate, to designate as a local standard any standard, within the scope of the Program, that has been calibrated in relation to a reference standard as accurate within prescribed tolerances.

1.0 Scope

This document contains the conditions and administrative requirements that CLAS (Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service) Type l and Type ll Laboratories shall meet when performing calibration of standards described in the scope of the Program.

1.1 Scope of the Program

The scope of the Program:

Type l Laboratory

  1. is limited to the calibration for the re-certification of: inspector weight kits, other mass standards and temperature standards as defined in Measurement Canada Bulletin A‑2 according to the tolerances prescribed in Schedule IV of the Weights and Measures Regulations; and
  2. is subject to exclusions mentioned in section 1.2 below.

Type ll Laboratory

  1. is limited to the calibration for the re-certification of mass standards over 5 kg and temperature standards as defined in Measurement Canada Bulletin A‑2 according to the tolerances prescribed in Schedule IV of the Weights and Measures Regulations.

1.2 Exclusions from the Program

The scope of the Program does NOT include the calibration of:

  1. weights and weight sets that have never been initially evaluated and accepted by Measurement Canada nor designated as local standards;
  2. weights and weight sets used to inspect devices for weighing precious metals (Schedule IV, Part I and Part II of the Weights and Measures Regulations);
  3. thermometers that have never been initially evaluated and accepted for use by Measurement Canada nor designated as local standards; and
  4. high accuracy thermometers with a resolution of 0.001°C.

1.3 Eligibility

Under the Program all calibration laboratories shall:

  1. be certified by the National Research Council's Institute for National Measurement Standards (NRC-INMS) Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service (CLAS) and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a "CLAS Type l or Type ll calibration laboratory" (hereinafter referred to as the "Laboratory" unless specified as a Type l Laboratory or a Type ll Laboratory) for the scope of activities defined;
  2. maintain the certification and accreditation specified in subsection 1.3 (a) in good standing;
  3. participate in CLAS or Measurement Canada proficiency testing at the time of the initial evaluation, at the evaluation for expansion of scope, and at any time as required by Measurement Canada;
  4. when requested by Measurement Canada, participate in training; and
  5. comply with all additional Measurement Canada conditions established in this document, as may be amended from time to time.

2.0 Definitions and References

The definitions set out in the following referenced documents shall apply to this document, and the following definitions also apply:

Definitions:

CLAS Type l Laboratory:
means a laboratory that is certified by the National Research Council's Institute for National Measurement Standards (NRC-INMS) Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service (CLAS) and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a "Type I" calibration laboratory for the scope of activities defined Minimum Requirements for Measurement Standards for Laboratory Certification – CLAS Requirements Document 3.
CLAS Type ll Laboratory:
means a laboratory that is certified by the National Research Council's Institute for National Measurement Standards (NRC-INMS) Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service (CLAS) and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a "Type ll" calibration laboratory for the scope of activities defined Minimum Requirements for Measurement Standards for Laboratory Certification – CLAS Requirements Document 3.
ISO:
International Organization of Standardization
IEC:
International Electrotechnical Commission
OIML:
International Organization of Legal Metrology
Primary Reference Standards:

Standards meeting the following conditions:

  1. they represent or register a unit of measurement included in Schedule I or II of the Weights and Measures Act, or a multiple or fraction of such a unit;
  2. they have been calibrated and certified by the National Research Council of Canada; and
  3. they are used or are meant to be used as standards to determine the accuracy of local standards.
Program:
means the RC‑01 Program for the Recognition of Calibration Results from CLAS (Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service) Type I and or Type ll Laboratories.
Traceability:
Property of the result of a measurement or the value of a standard whereby it can be related to stated references, usually national or international standard, through an unbroken chain of comparisons all having stated uncertainties.
References:

3.0 Responsibilities

3.1 Measurement Canada

Measurement Canada shall:

  1. establish and publish the conditions and procedures for the Program;
  2. assist interested laboratories in acquiring and interpreting information relevant to the Program;
  3. provide appropriate training, as deemed necessary by Measurement Canada, to the calibration laboratories interested in the Program;
  4. evaluate the information provided by the calibration laboratories which pertains to the specific conditions and criteria contained in this document;
  5. review and evaluate calibration results submitted by the calibration laboratories and inform calibration laboratories of any deficiencies, if any;
  6. report the results of any evaluations to the calibration laboratory concerned;
  7. designate as a local standard, any standard that has been calibrated by a recognized laboratory within this program, in relation to a reference standard as accurate within prescribed tolerances and traceable to Measurement Canada's Primary Standard;
  8. publish and maintain a list of calibration laboratories that meet the Program's conditions; and
  9. advise, through public notification, of the suspension and/or withdrawal of calibration laboratories from the Program.

3.2 Calibration Laboratories

Calibration laboratories shall:

  1. not outsource the calibration work for standards to be designated as local standards by Measurement Canada unless agreed to in writing by Measurement Canada;
  2. provide Measurement Canada representatives with access to the premises and measuring equipment for the purposes of evaluating the information provided by the calibration laboratories which pertains to the specific conditions and criteria contained in this Program;
  3. provide calibration results and maintain the quality records required by this Program;
  4. ensure the confidentiality of any calibration results and certifications, in the case of third party organizations;
  5. report immediately to Measurement Canada any changes in measuring apparatus or test equipment that would affect compliance with the Program;
  6. not show preferential treatment nor bias for or against clients; and
  7. not use this Program in such a manner that Measurement Canada may consider misleading or unauthorized and make no unauthorized use of the Measurement Canada logo or information.

4.0 Conditions for the Recognition of Calibration Results of Inspector Weight Kits and Mass weights from CLAS Type I Laboratories and of Mass weights 5kg and more from CLAS Type ll Laboratories

At the time of the initial request to participate in the Program, the following technical conditions shall be addressed in the quality documentation provided by the Laboratory:

  1. the scope of a CLAS Type I Laboratory shall include the calibration of inspector weight kits and any other standard as defined in Measurement Canada Bulletin A‑2 according to the tolerances prescribed in Schedule IV, Part III and Part IV of the Weights and Measures Regulations;
  2. the scope of a CLAS Type Il Laboratory shall be limited to the calibration of mass standards over 5kg as defined in Measurement Canada Bulletin A‑2 according to the tolerances prescribed in Schedule IV, Part III and Part IV of the Weights and Measures Regulations;
  3. the Quality Policy of the Laboratory's management system documentation shall explicitly state commitment to all requirements listed in Measurement Canada RP‑01, RP‑02, RP‑03, RP‑04, RP‑01Field, RP‑02Field, RP‑03Field, RP‑04Field and to the application of the requirements listed in Measurement Canada Bulletin A‑2;
  4. the Class Type ll Laboratory's reference standards and working standards shall meet all requirements of RC‑01 and shall be calibrated by a CLAS Type l Laboratory recognized by Measurement Canada as meeting all the requirements of RC‑01;
  5. the tolerances for inspector weight kits and mass weights shall be equivalent to the tolerances for OIML R111 Class M1 weights;
  6. all calibrations shall be provided in conventional mass values using full equations without approximations, the associated uncertainties shall also be provided using full equations without approximations;
  7. the mass comparator (or balance) used in the calibration of a given weight shall have a readability (graduation) that is smaller than 1/9 of the tolerance of the weight being calibrated;
  8. non-conforming weights shall be identified and corrective action shall be undertaken by the calibration laboratory. Further, all adjustments and/or replacements of weights shall be documented; this action as well as the associated values shall be stated on the calibration report and certificate;
  9. if any of the minimum performance criteria for individual sets or for the process as stated in section 1.7 of RP01 and/or in section 5.0 of RP03 is found to be in an "out-of-control" state, all calibrations affected shall cease until the problem is identified, documented and rectified;
  10. sampling plans shall be established and as-found values shall be determined as described in RP‑04 and RP‑04Field or by another method accepted by Measurement Canada's Senior Engineer-Gravimetry. An annual sampling data report shall be submitted to Measurement Canada; and
  11. all changes to calibration procedures, uncertainty calculations, process monitoring and sampling plans shall be reviewed and approved by Measurement Canada.

4.1 Measurement Traceability

The following traceability requirements shall be addressed in the quality documentation provided by the Laboratory:

  1. where a CLAS Type ll Laboratory has its own primary reference standard, the primary reference standard shall have direct traceability to Measurement Canada's reference standards MR‑1 or MR‑2 (depending on the unit);
  2. the Laboratory shall request NRC to introduce MR‑1or MR‑2, as the case may be, as one of the standards used when establishing traceability to Canada's national kilogram when calibrating the Laboratory's primary standard;
  3. the Laboratory shall request NRC to provide a statement in the calibration report issued to the effect that the their primary standard is traceable to MR‑1or MR‑2, as the case may be;
  4. the CLAS Type l Laboratory, shall calibrate all its reference and working standards against its primary reference standard;
  5. the CLAS Type ll Laboratory having its own primary reference standard, shall have all its reference and working standards calibrated against its primary reference standard by a CLAS Type l Laboratory recognized by Measurement Canada as meeting the requirements of RC‑01; and
  6. the traceability to MR‑1or MR‑2, as the case may be, of all working standards shall be reflected in its quality documentation.

Note: Only the National Research Council of Canada, as designated in section 3.1 (a) of the document entitled Requirements for Measurement Traceability CLAS Requirements – Document 9, January 2003, will be accepted as the source of traceability (due to the requirement for traceability to MR‑1 and MR‑2). The sources set out in sections 3.1 b), c), d) and e) of such document are not acceptable.

4.2 Measurement Uncertainty

The following measurement requirements shall be addressed in the quality documentation provided by the Laboratory:

  1. any and all mass standards used as a working standard (reference standard) in the calibration of a given weight shall have a total expanded (and combined) uncertainty that is smaller than 1/9 of the tolerance of the weight being calibrated. Therefore the combined standard uncertainty (at one sigma) of the mass used as the reference in the calibration shall be smaller than 1/18 of the tolerance of the weight being calibrated. In general terms, the reference weight shall be of one class superior to that of the weight being calibrated;
  2. the calibration laboratory shall have check standards of the same class and design and of similar nominal value as those of the weights being calibrated. The check standards are used to establish the long-term process uncertainty and also to monitor any changes in the working standards, if any;
  3. although "Best Measurement Capability" is required by the CLAS/PALCAN program, all uncertainty calculations shall be made in accordance with RP‑02 and RP‑02Field and shall include a long-term component, known as the long-term process uncertainty (or as the long-term process standard deviation), as determined by the use of check standards of the same class and design and of similar nominal value as that of the weight being calibrated. This long-term component shall be initially established over a 15 day period, subsequently be monitored continuously and be re-established as prescribed in RP‑03; and
  4. the repeatability and reproducibility of the equipment used in performing the calibrations as determined by means of the long-term process uncertainty, shall be better than 1/9 of the tolerance applicable to the weight being calibrated. The long-term process uncertainty is established by monitoring the standard deviation of observations performed by comparing two known masses: the working standard (reference weight) and the check standard using the same method as that used to perform the regular calibration of the weights. Process monitoring shall be performed according to the requirements of RP‑03 and RP‑03 Field or other method accepted by Measurement Canada. Further, before single-comparative weighing (or comparative weighing with "n" comparisons) and/or calibration of multiple weights without re-weighing the reference weight is performed, it shall be proven that the repeatability and reproducibility of measurements are such that the performance criteria are met for these methods.

5.0 Conditions for the Recognition of Calibration Results of Thermometers from CLAS Type l or Type ll Laboratories

At the time of the initial request to participate in the Programn, the following technical conditions shall be addressed in the quality documentation provided by the Laboratory:

  1. the scope of the Laboratory shall include the calibration of temperature standards as defined in Measurement Canada Bulletin A‑2 according to the tolerances prescribed in Schedule IV, Part XIX of the Weights and Measures Regulations;
  2. the primary reference standard used by the Laboratory shall have direct traceability to Measurement Canada reference standards described in Schedule IV of the Weights and Measures Act;
  3. the Laboratory shall request that Measurement Canada provide a statement in the calibration report that the Laboratory's primary standard is traceable to reference standards VS767_203 or VS767_1808 described in Schedule IV of the Weights and Measures Act;
  4. the Laboratory shall calibrate all its working (reference) standards against its primary reference standard; and
  5. the Quality Policy Statement in the CLAS Type I or Type ll laboratory's management system documentation shall explicitly state commitment to all requirements listed in Measurement Canada's TE‑LP‑003 Laboratory Practice for the Selection, Calibration and Use of Direct Reading Thermometers, and to the application of the requirements listed in Measurement Canada Bulletin A‑2.

6.0 Administrative Process

Laboratories eligible for application to the RC‑01 program shall be CLAS certified and listed by NRC as a CLAS Laboratory on the NRC internet site.

6.1 Application

A request for recognition to the RC‑01 Program shall provide:

  1. a written expression of interest, including the name and address of the test facility, telephone number, with an email address of the contact person;
  2. documentation that address all of the requirements of this Program;
  3. the scope for which Measurement Canada recognition is being sought;
  4. a copy of the scope of the test facility's CLAS accreditation;
  5. a copy of the last CLAS audit report; and
  6. any specific technical information requested by Measurement Canada as it relates to this Program.

6.2 Submission of Calibration Certificates to Measurement Canada

Once the laboratory is recognized as meeting RC‑01 by Measurement Canada, and has its name on the List of CLAS Laboratories, and has calibrated a standard for a customer that requires the standard be designated as a local standard by Measurement Canada, the following information shall be submitted:

6.2.1 Gravimetric Standards:

  1. a copy of the customer's completed Calibration Services Request Form;
  2. the completed Measurement Canada checklist (excel spread sheet);
  3. the standard's previous calibration certificate; and
  4. the new calibration certificate.

For sets of mass standards from 10 mg to 5 kg (1/32 ounce to 10 lb) or less (inspector's weight kits), the information must be sent to the Mass Laboratory Manager, Approval and Calibration Services Laboratory (ACSL), Engineering & Laboratory Services Directorate, Measurement Canada, Ottawa.

For mass standards of 5 kg or more / 10 lb or more (usually cast iron or fabricated weights), the information must be sent to the nearest Measurement Canada District Office.

6.2.2 Thermometry Standards

  1. a copy of the customer's completed Calibration Services Request Form;
  2. the completed Measurement Canada checklist;
  3. the standard's previous calibration certificate; and
  4. the new calibration certificate.

For temperature standards, the information must be sent to the Liquids Laboratory Manager, Approval and Calibration Services Laboratory (ACSL), Engineering & Laboratory Services Directorate, Measurement Canada, Ottawa.