A calibration certificate is a document that verifies your scale or balance has been calibrated to the appropriate standards, such as ISO Quality Systems. Unfortunately, calibration certificates do not make a scale or balance trade approved.

Calibration certificates should be obtained at the same time as you purchase a new scale or balance and they’re valid for a limited amount of time. They cannot be purchased independently from a scale or balance. However, there are a few circumstances where you’ll need to obtain a new certificate before the expiration date. These circumstances include:

1. You’ve gotten the scale or balance repaired.

2. The scale has undergone a moving process from one location to another.

     2.1   This is for intense road or air travel, not necessarily moving from one area in your facility to another.

3. The scale has undergone an event that may have shocked, damaged or jolted internal components.

4. You’re about to perform work that needs extremely precise results with guaranteed accuracy.

     4.1    A fresh calibration certificate lends your semi-micro, analytical or precision balance a lot of credibility.

In general, if you’re performing work as normal and the scale or balance never goes through anything particularly unusual day-to-day, your calibration certificate should remain valid until the expiration date.