ACLASS

Traceability & Measurement Uncertainty

Document Number 10

ACLASS

Traceability & Measurement Uncertainty

Document Number 10

October 22, 2003

REVISION HISTORY
Date
November 24, 2000
November 27, 2000
November 27, 2000
July 23, 2001
August 1, 2002

February 20, 2003

June 10, 2003

October 22, 2003

Description/Author
Draft. R. Nappier
Review/input/corrections. C. Shillito
Initial Release. R. Nappier
Review/update in response to NACLA Pre-Eval Report
findings/recommendations.
Re-Formatted Document; changed spacing, font, alignment, margins, and
added registered trademark to ACLASS throughout document. Changed
Distribution and Approval page. J. Warren
Re-formatted document K. Greenaway
Updated document in response to NACLA input from NACLA
Accreditation Body Recognition Procedure Requirements K.
Greenaway
Updated document in responds to NACLA guidelines K. Greenaway

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ACLASS

0.0

Traceability & Measurement Uncertainty

Document Number 10

October 22, 2003

PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to establish guidance on traceability and measurement

uncertainty requirements for all laboratories accredited by ACLASS.
1.0

DEFINITIONS

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 standards, through an unbroken
chain of comparisons all having stated uncertainties. (VIM 6.10 1993)
Measurand: Particular quantity subject to measurement. (VIM 2.6)
Uncertainty of Measurement: Parameter, associated with the result of a measurement that
characterizes the dispersion of the values that could reasonably be attributed to the measured.
(VIM 3.9) (Also referred to as measurement uncertainty).
2.0

TRACEABILITY

The term traceability means a process whereby the indication of a measuring instrument (or a
material measure) can be compared with a national standard for the measured in question in one
or more stages.
2.1 Traceability is characterized by a number of essential elements (ILAC-G2:1994):
2.1.1 An unbroken chain of comparisons going back to a standard acceptable to the parties,
usually a national or international standard and ending with laboratory working reference
standards used in a metrology laboratory;
2.1.2 Measurement uncertainty; the measurement uncertainty for each step in the traceability
chain must be calculated according to defined methods and must be stated so that an overall
uncertainty for the whole chain may be calculated;
2.1.3 Documentation; each step in the chain must be performed according to documented and
generally acknowledged procedures; the results must be equally documented (calibration
certificate or test report);
2.1.4 Competence; the laboratories performing one or more steps in the chain must supply
evidence for their technical competence (demonstrating they are accredited);
2.1.5 Reference to SI units; the appropriate standards must be primary standards (national,
international or intrinsic) for the realization of the SI units
2.1.6 Recalibrations; calibrations must be repeated at appropriate intervals; the length of these
intervals depends on a number of variables (uncertainty required, frequency of use, type of use,
stability of equipment); it is imperative the traceability of the standard is preserved.
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2.2

Traceability & Measurement Uncertainty

Document Number 10

October 22, 2003

CALIBRATION CERTIFICATES/TEST REPORTS

2.2.1 To demonstrate measurement traceability, calibration certificates shall, whenever

applicable, indicate traceability to national/international standards of measurement and provide
the result of the measurement and the associated uncertainty of measurement.
2.2.2 Whenever applicable, and if suitable for customer requirements, a statement of compliance
with an identified metrological specification may be accepted in lieu of measurement results and
associated uncertainties.
2.2.3 Calibration certificates/test reports shall be accompanied by a recognized accreditation
body logo, or otherwise make reference to accredited status, to be considered satisfactory for
traceability purposes. Recognized bodies include bodies recognized by ILAC, APLAC, NACLA,
and IAAC. Additionally, recognized bodies are those accredited by ACLASS or an accreditation
body that is in the process of gaining recognition by the above mentioned regional bodies and is
found acceptable by ACLASS. Certificates/reports will contain a statement of measurement
results and/or a statement of compliance with an identified metrological specification
accompanied by a sufficiently defined uncertainty statement and an appropriate statement of
traceability. The traceability statement shall affirm the calibration was performed using standards
traceable to an appropriate national, international, intrinsic, or mutual consent standard.
Calibration certificates which refer only to NIST report of test numbers as evidence of
traceability are not considered sufficient demonstration of measurement traceability. NIST report
of test numbers do not in and of themselves provide a statement of uncertainty associated with
the farthest link in the chain from NIST (the last facility providing the measurement value).
3.0

MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY

3.1 Measurement uncertainty, and the calculation thereof, is one of a number of essential
elements contributing to the concept of traceability.
3.2 The measurement uncertainty for each step in the traceability chain must be calculated
according to defined methods and must be stated so that an overall uncertainty for the whole
chain may be calculated.
3.3 Defined methods for calculation of measurement uncertainties may be found in the following
publications:
-

ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement.

ANSI/Z540-2-1997, American National Standard for Expressing Uncertainty-U.S.
Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement
EA-4/02 Expression of the Uncertainty of Measurement in Calibration

3.4 Stated uncertainties must be supported by evidence of their calculations (uncertainty

budgets), and represented as expanded uncertainties typically using a coverage factor of k=2 to
approximate the 95% confidence level. When a calibration certificate/test report contains a
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ACLASS

Traceability & Measurement Uncertainty

Document Number 10

October 22, 2003

statement of the measurement result and the associated uncertainty, then the uncertainty
statement must be accompanied by an explanation of the meaning of the uncertainty statement.
A typical statement might be: Reported uncertainties represent expanded uncertainties
expressed at approximately the 95% confidence level using a coverage factor of k=2.
Uncertainty statements not specifying (as a minimum) the coverage factor/confidence level will
be considered incomplete and inadequate for purposes of demonstrating measurement
traceability.
3.5 In some instances, a calibration certificate will contain the statement in tolerance, along
with a statement that the measurement uncertainty does not exceed a certain fraction of the
tolerance. These fractions are often called test accuracy ratios (TARs) or uncertainty ratios
(TURs). Uncertainty statements phrased in terms of TURs can be adequate for demonstrating
measurement traceability since they are implicit statements of the uncertainty-knowing the
tolerance and accuracy ratio allows determination of the largest possible value of the
measurement uncertainty. If uncertainty statements are phrased as TURs, the TURs must be
calculated using the expanded uncertainty of the measurement, instead of the collective
uncertainty of the measurement standards. In addition, the coverage factor and confidence level
shall be stated.
4.0

SCOPES OF ACCREDITATION

4.1 A laboratorys Scope of Accreditation is a document specifically stating the

measurements/capability a laboratory is accredited to make. The scope defines the range(s) of
the accredited measurand and the best measurement capability expressed as an uncertainty for
each measurand and range.
4.2 It is important that the calibration customer (to include calibration laboratories seeking
higher echelon calibration support) ensure the laboratory providing the calibration is accredited
to perform the required measurement(s), and that the laboratorys measurement uncertainties are
adequate/suitable for their needs.

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ACLASS

Traceability & Measurement Uncertainty

Document Number 10

DISTRIBUTION AND APPROVAL

Distribute to:
Main File
CEO/President
Executive Vice President/COO
Accreditation Manager
Board of Governors
Assessors

Approvals:

\s\
Skip Greenaway
CEO/President

\s\
Keith Greenaway
Executive Vice President/COO

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October 22, 2003