Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 35 - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry › Chapter 25 - Laboratories › Subchapter 3 - Metrology › Part 3 - LICENSING OF METROLOGY LABORATORIES › Section 35:25-3-7 - Calibration system requirements

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a)
Calibration policies.
Applicants will make available to the State
				  Department of Agriculture written policies for his calibration system. The
				  policies dealing with measuring and test equipment shall prescribe calibration
				  intervals and sources and define his inspection operations.
(b)
Adequacy of standards.
Standards established by the laboratory for calibrating the measuring and test
				  equipment used in controlling product quality shall have the capabilities for
				  accuracy, stability, and range required for the intended use.
(c)
Environmental controls.
Measuring and test equipment and measurement standards shall be calibrated and
				  utilized in an environment controlled to the extent necessary to assure
				  continued measurements of required accuracy giving due consideration to
				  temperature, humidity, vibration, cleanliness, and other controllable factors
				  affecting precision measurement. When applicable, compensating corrections
				  shall be applied to calibration results obtained in an environment which
				  departs from standard conditions.
(d)
Intervals of calibration.
Measuring and test equipment and measurement standards shall be calibrated at
				  established periodic intervals on the basis of stability, purpose, and degree
				  of usage. Intervals shall be shortened as required to assure continued accuracy
				  as evidenced by the results of preceding calibrations and may be lengthened
				  only when the results of previous calibrations provide definite indications
				  that such action will not adversely affect the accuracy of the
				  system.
(e)
Calibration
				  procedures.
Written procedures shall be prepared or provided and
				  utilized for calibration of all measuring and test equipment and measurement
				  standards used to assure the accuracy of measurements involved in establishing
				  product conformance. The procedures may be a compilation of published standard
				  practices or manufacturer's written instructions and need not be rewritten to
				  satisfy the requirements of this regulation. The procedures shall require that
				  calibration be performed by comparison with higher accuracy level standards. A
				  description of calibration standards shall be included in the procedures and
				  shall consist essentially of a listing of the applicable measurement standards,
				  both reference and transfer, and shall provide nomenclature, identification
				  number, calibration interval and source, and environmental conditions under
				  which the measurement standards will be applied and calibrated.
(f)
Calibration source.
Measuring and test equipment shall be calibrated by the laboratory or a
				  commercial facility utilizing reference standards (or transfer standards) whose
				  calibration is certified as being traceable to the National Bureau of
				  Standards, has been derived from accepted values of natural physical constants,
				  or has been derived by the ratio type of self-calibration techniques. Reference
				  standards requiring calibration by a higher level standards laboratory shall be
				  calibrated by a commercial facility capable of providing the required service,
				  a government laboratory, or by the National Bureau of Standards. All reference
				  standards used in the calibration system shall be supported by certificates,
				  reports, or data sheets attesting to the date, accuracy, and conditions under
				  which the results furnished were obtained. All subordinate standards and
				  measuring and test equipment shall be supported by like data when such
				  information is essential to achieving the accuracy control required by this
				  specification. In those cases where no data is required, a suitably annotated
				  calibration label on the item shall be sufficient to satisfy the support data
				  requirements of this subsection. Certificates or reports from other than the
				  National Bureau of Standards or government laboratory shall attest to the fact
				  that the standards used in obtaining the results have been compared at planned
				  intervals with the National Standard either directly or through a controlled
				  system utilizing the methods outlined above. The laboratory shall be
				  responsible for assuring that the sources providing calibration services, other
				  than the National Bureau of Standards or a government laboratory, are in fact
				  capable of performing the required service to the satisfaction of this
				  specification. All certificates and reports shall be available for
				  inspection.
(g)
Foreign
				  contracts.
The provisions in subsection (e) shall apply with the
				  exception that the National Standards Laboratories of countries whose standards
				  are compared with International or U.S. National Standards may be utilized in
				  lieu of the U. S. National Bureau of Standards.
(h)
Maintenance of records.
The
				  application of the requirements in (a) through (g) of this section will be
				  supported by records designed to assure that established schedules and
				  procedures are followed to maintain the accuracy of all measuring and test
				  equipment, and supporting standards. The records shall include a suitably
				  identified individual record of calibration or other means of control for each
				  item of measuring and test equipment and measurement standards, providing
				  calibration interval and date of certification of results of last calibration.
				  In addition, the individual record of any item whose accuracy must be reported
				  via a calibration report or certificate will quote the report or certificate
				  number for ready reference. Records of equipment and its disposal shall be
				  maintained for a period of three (3) years. These records shall be available
				  for review by authorized State Department of Agriculture personnel.
(i)
Calibration labeling.
Measuring and test equipment and measurement standards shall be labelled to
				  indicate the date of last calibration, by whom it was calibrated, and when the
				  next calibration is due. When the size or functional characteristics limit the
				  application of label, an identifying code shall be applied to the item to
				  reflect serviceability and due date for next calibration. When neither
				  labelling or coding is practical, the system shall provide suitable procedures
				  for monitoring of recall records to assure adherence to calibration schedules.
				  Label, codes, or recall records for items which are not required to be used to
				  their full capabilities, or items which require functional check only shall
				  indicate the applicable condition.