NABL 143

National Accreditation Board for Testing

and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)

Policy on Calibration and Measurement

Capability (CMC) and Measurement Uncertainty
in Calibration

ISSUE NO.: 03 AMENDMENT NO.: --

ISSUE DATE: 06-Feb-2020 AMENDMENT DATE: --
 AMENDMENT SHEET

S. Page Clause Date of Amendment Reasons Signature Signature

No. No. No. Amendment QA Team CEO
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National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Doc. No.: NABL 143 Policy on Calibration and Measurement Capability (CMC) and Uncertainty in Calibration
Issue No.: 03 Issue Date: 06-Feb-2020 Amend. No.: -- Amend. Date: -- Page No: 1 of 9
 CONTENTS

S. No. Title Page No.

Amendment Sheet 1

Contents 2

1 Introduction 3

2 Scope 3

3 Terms and Definitions 4

4 Policy on evaluation of Measurement Uncertainty 5

5 Policy on Scope of Accreditation of Calibration Laboratories 5

6 Policy on Statement of Measurement Uncertainty on Calibration Certificates 8

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Doc. No.: NABL 143 Policy on Calibration and Measurement Capability (CMC) and Uncertainty in Calibration
Issue No.: 03 Issue Date: 06-Feb-2020 Amend. No.: -- Amend. Date: -- Page No: 2 of 9
1. INTRODUCTION
ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 requires calibration and testing laboratories to have and apply
procedures for the evaluation of measurement uncertainty. ISO 15195 and ISO 17034
have similar requirements for reference measurement laboratories and reference
material producers. Specific guidance on the evaluation of uncertainty can be found in
the ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008 - “Uncertainty of measurement - Part 3: Guide to the
expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM: 1995)”. This Guide establishes general
rules for evaluating and expressing uncertainty in measurement that can be followed in
broad spectrum of physical and chemical measurements. This Guide also describes an
unambiguous and harmonized way of evaluating and stating the uncertainty of
measurement results obtained in testing and calibration laboratories.

In order to enhance the harmonization in the expression of uncertainty of measurement

on calibration certificates and on scope of accreditation of calibration laboratories, ILAC
has published a policy document ILAC P14: 01/2013 “ILAC Policy for Uncertainty in
Calibration”. ILAC and BIPM have also agreed to harmonize the terminology namely the
“Best Measurement Capability (BMC)” used on scopes of accreditations of calibration
laboratories in line with the “Calibration and Measurement Capability (CMC)” of the
Appendix C of the KCDB (Key Comparison Data Base) of CIPM MRA used to indicate
the capabilities of National Metrology Institutes.

2. SCOPE
This document sets forth the NABL policy regarding the requirements for the:
2.1. Evaluation of the calibration and measurement capability (CMC), which forms part of
scope of accreditation of calibration laboratories
2.2. Evaluation of uncertainty of measurement in calibration and measurement
2.3. Reporting of uncertainty on the certificates of calibration and measurement.

The document is in line with ILAC-P14:01/2013 ‘ILAC Policy for Uncertainty in Calibration’.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

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Issue No.: 03 Issue Date: 06-Feb-2020 Amend. No.: -- Amend. Date: -- Page No: 3 of 9
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this document, the relevant terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC
Guide 99:2007 - International vocabulary of metrology - Basic and general concepts and
associated terms (VIM) and the following apply:
3.1. Calibration Laboratory
In this policy, "calibration laboratory" further means a laboratory that provides calibration
and measurement services.
3.2. Calibration and Measurement Capability
In the context of the CIPM MRA and ILAC Arrangement, and in compliance with the
CIPM-ILAC Common Statement, the following definition is agreed upon:
3.2.1. A CMC is a calibration and measurement capability available to customers under normal
conditions as described in the laboratory’s scope of accreditation granted by a signatory
to the ILAC Arrangement; or
3.2.2. As published in the BIPM key comparison database (KCDB – Appendix C) of the CIPM
MRA.
3.3. Best Existing Device
Best Existing Device is understood as a device to be calibrated that is commercially or
otherwise available for customers, even if it has a special performance / stability or has a
long history of calibration.
Note: Under a CMC, the measurement or calibration should be:
• performed according to a documented procedure and have an established uncertainty
budget under the management system of the NMI or the accredited laboratory;
• performed on a regular basis (including on demand or scheduled for convenience at
specific times in the year); and
• available to all customers

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

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4. POLICY ON EVALUATION OF MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY
All accredited calibration laboratories shall evaluate and report the measurement
uncertainty of all calibrations covered by their scope of accreditation.

Note: Guidance on evaluation of measurement uncertainty is given in NABL document

NABL 141 ‘Guidelines for Estimation and Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement’.

5. POLICY ON SCOPE OF ACCREDITATION OF CALIBRATION LABORATORIES

5.1. The scope of accreditation of an accredited calibration laboratory shall include the
calibration and measurement capability (CMC) expressed in terms of:
5.1.1. Measurand or Reference Material/ Type of instrument or material to be calibrated or
measured/ Quantity Measured / Instrument
5.1.2. Calibration or Measurement Method or Procedure
5.1.3. Measurement range and additional parameters where applicable, e.g., frequency of
applied voltage
5.1.4. Measurement uncertainty (presented in the same unit as that of the measurand or in a
term relative to the measurand e.g. percent).
Note: As far as practicable, the scope of accreditation shall have the SI units of
measurements.
5.2. There shall be no ambiguity on the expression of the CMC on the scopes of accreditation
and, consequently, on the smallest uncertainty of measurement that can be expected to
be achieved by a laboratory during a calibration or a measurement.
5.3. Particular care should be taken when the measurand covers a range of values. This shall
generally be achieved through employing one or more of the following methods for
expression of the uncertainty:
5.3.1. A single value, which is valid throughout the measurement range / part of the
measurement range.
5.3.2. A range, in this case the calibration laboratory should have proper assumption for the
interpolation to find the uncertainty at intermediate values.
Note:
i. The recommended ranges shall be split on the basis of capability of the reference
standard(s)/master(s) used and different methods/procedures adopted by the laboratory.
It is preferably advisable to split ranges to ensure linear relationship between CMC ranges
and measurement ranges of the parameter.
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories
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Issue No.: 03 Issue Date: 06-Feb-2020 Amend. No.: -- Amend. Date: -- Page No: 5 of 9
 ii. Wherever linearity is not feasible in a range, it is recommended that the other form of
regression equation (i.e. polynomial, exponential) can be used. However, in all the cases,
a more conservative fit should be applied by correcting the best fit equation. Or else
uncertainties at those points may be specified separately for the relevant part of the
range.
5.3.3. An explicit function of the measurand or a parameter.
5.3.4. A matrix where the values of the uncertainty depend on the values of the measurand and
additional parameters.
5.3.5. A graphical form, providing there is sufficient resolution on each axis to obtain at least two
significant figures for the uncertainty.
Open intervals (e.g., “U < x”) are not allowed in the specification of uncertainties.
5.4. The uncertainty covered by the CMC shall be expressed as the expanded uncertainty
having a specific coverage probability of approximately 95%. The unit of the uncertainty
shall always be the same as that of the measurand or in a term relative to the measurand,
e.g., percent. Usually the inclusion of the relevant unit gives the necessary explanation.
5.5. Calibration laboratories shall provide evidence that they can provide calibrations to
customers in compliance with 5.1.2 so that measurement uncertainties equal those
covered by the CMC. In the formulation of CMC, laboratories shall take notice of the
performance of the “best existing device” which is available for a specific category of
calibrations. To demonstrate the competence, the laboratory shall choose a “best existing
device” as a DUC (Device Under Calibration).
5.6. A reasonable amount of contribution to uncertainty from repeatability shall be included
and contributions due to reproducibility should be included in the CMC uncertainty
component, when available. There should, on the other hand, be no significant
contribution to the CMC uncertainty component attributable to physical effects that can be
ascribed to imperfections of even the best existing device under calibration or
measurement.
Note -
i. Reasonable amount of contribution to uncertainty from repeatability generally means the
repeatability in a short span of time. If any part of the repeatability is not to be taken, it
should be supported by Technical justification.
ii. Reasonable amount of contribution to uncertainty from reproducibility is to be taken
where necessary and asked by the Standard method.
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Issue No.: 03 Issue Date: 06-Feb-2020 Amend. No.: -- Amend. Date: -- Page No: 6 of 9
 iii. Wherever possible and identifiable, Imperfection of best existing devices like hysteresis,
relative accuracy etc. are not to be taken directly. However, Type A (Repeatability) can
not considered as imperfection in this context.
iv. The resolution of Device to be considered when reading the variations in observations on
DUC; in cases where variations are read on reference standard; the resolution of
reference standard to be considered.
5.7. It is recognized that for some calibrations a “best existing device” does not exist and/or
contributions to the uncertainty attributed to the device significantly affect the uncertainty.
If such contributions to uncertainty from the device can be separated from other
contributions, then the contributions from the device may be excluded for arriving at CMC
figure. For such case, however, the scope of accreditation shall clearly identify that the
contributions to the uncertainty from the device are excluded while evaluating CMC
figures.
Note: The above case is generally applicable to higher end calibration where Reference
standard better than DUC does not normally exist.

5.8. For the applicant laboratories, during the final assessment, the CMCs will be based on the
actual representative demonstration during the assessment. In subsequent assessments
however the laboratory may apply for better CMCs. Such CMCs may be considered
5.8.1. Either based on records of the past routine calibrations done by the laboratory provided
the laboratory has evidence of this through procuring better reference standard,
appropriate environmental control and performing calibration using best existing device.
5.8.2. Or based on the actual demonstration.

However, in the former case, the laboratory shall demonstrate the practice and process
followed with any available device.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

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6. POLICY ON STATEMENT OF MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY ON CALIBRATION
CERTIFICATES
6.1. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requires calibration laboratories to report, in the calibration
certificate, the measurement uncertainty of the measurement result in the same unit as
that of the measurand or in a term relative to the measurand (e.g. percent) and a
statement identifying how the measurements are metrologically traceable.

Accredited calibration laboratories shall report the measurement uncertainty, in

compliance with the requirements in 6.2 to 6.5 of this section.

6.2. The measurement result shall normally include the measured quantity value y and the
associated expanded uncertainty U. In calibration certificates the measurement result
should be reported as y ± U associated with the units of y and U. Tabular presentation of
the measurement result may be used and the relative expanded uncertainty U / |y| may
also be provided if appropriate. The coverage factor and the coverage probability shall be
stated on the calibration certificate. To this an explanatory note shall be added, which may
have the following content:

“The reported expanded uncertainty of measurement is stated as the standard uncertainty

of measurement multiplied by the coverage factor k such that the coverage probability
corresponds to approximately 95 %.”
Note: The expression of uncertainty shall be in line with ISO Guide 98 -3 (GUM). A symbol
± shall not be used when uncertainty is independently stated.

6.3. The numerical value of the expanded uncertainty shall be given to, at most, two significant
digits. Further the following applies:
6.3.1. The numerical value of the measurement result shall in the final statement be rounded to
the least significant digit in the value of the expanded uncertainty assigned to the
measurement result.
6.3.2. For the process of rounding, the usual rules for rounding of numbers shall be used,
subject to the guidance on rounding provided i.e. in ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008 -
Uncertainty of measurement - Part 3: Guide to the expression of uncertainty in
measurement (GUM: 1995).
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories
Doc. No.: NABL 143 Policy on Calibration and Measurement Capability (CMC) and Uncertainty in Calibration
Issue No.: 03 Issue Date: 06-Feb-2020 Amend. No.: -- Amend. Date: -- Page No: 8 of 9
6.4. Contributions to the uncertainty stated on the calibration certificate shall include relevant
short-term contributions during calibration and contributions that can reasonably be
attributed to the customer’s device. Where applicable the uncertainty shall cover the same
contributions to uncertainty that were included in evaluation of the CMC uncertainty
component, except that uncertainty components evaluated for the best existing device
shall be replaced with those of the customer’s device. Therefore, reported uncertainties
tend to be larger than the uncertainty covered by the CMC. Random contributions that
cannot be known by the laboratory, such as transport uncertainties, should normally be
excluded in the uncertainty statement. If, however, a laboratory anticipates that such
contributions will have significant impact on the uncertainties attributed by the laboratory,
the customer should be notified according to the general clauses regarding tenders and
reviews of contracts in ISO/IEC 17025.

6.5. As the definition of CMC implies, accredited calibration laboratories shall not report a
smaller uncertainty of measurement than the uncertainty of the CMC for which the
laboratory is accredited. It is further emphasized that the uncertainty smaller than CMC
shall not be reported in any form.
Note: As far as practicable, the SI units of measurements shall be used in the calibration
certificates / reports.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Doc. No.: NABL 143 Policy on Calibration and Measurement Capability (CMC) and Uncertainty in Calibration
Issue No.: 03 Issue Date: 06-Feb-2020 Amend. No.: -- Amend. Date: -- Page No: 9 of 9
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)
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