Proficiency Testing for Pressure Calibration at the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)

Published

December 3, 2013

Author(s)

Douglas A. Olson, Thomas R. Hettenhouser, Robert G. Driver

Abstract

The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) has initiated a proficiency testing program for calibration laboratories accredited for pressure, designated as NVLAP code 20/T05. This program involves measurements by the laboratory on NVLAP-provided test artifacts at specific pressure points in gas, and then comparisons of the results to similar measurements by the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Thermodynamic Metrology Group. The statistical test of the value of the En parameter is used to determine whether or not the laboratory shows proficiency at each pressure point, and the entire set of En values determines whether or not the laboratory demonstrates proficiency for their declared scope in pressure. This proficiency test can evaluate both laboratories who primarily calibrate effective area of piston gauges, and laboratories who calibrate electronic pressure instruments. The test protocol, methods of data analysis, and some results to date are presented. All NVLAP calibration laboratories currently accredited for effective area of piston gauges passed the proficiency test.

Citation

Measure: The Journal of Measurement Science

Volume

8

Issue

4

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

calibration laboratory, effective area, laboratory accreditation, piston gauge, pressure, pressure standard, proficiency testing

Citation

Olson, D. , Hettenhouser, T. and Driver, R. (2013), Proficiency Testing for Pressure Calibration at the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), Measure: The Journal of Measurement Science, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=914409 (Accessed October 28, 2025)