How Often Do I Need to Calibrate My Weighing Scale?

Every scale and balance requires calibration, but it can be difficult to determine exactly when and how often to calibrate. This blog will explain the different sets of circumstances that would require immediate calibration, and how often you should calibrate in general.

Why Do I Need to Calibrate My Weighing Scale?

Calibration helps your scale or balance stay accurate and precise over time. Without calibration, your results may start drifting or jumping. If you don’t notice this immediately, you may have documented days of worthless – or even harmful – weighing results. Luckily, you can stop this deterioration before it even starts by keeping on top of calibration.

How Often Do I Need to Calibrate My Weighing Scale?

Unfortunately, there’s no one answer. Below are a sample of circumstances that would call for calibration:

1.      Before Major Weighing Sessions

Laboratories using precise semi-micro or analytical balances like Adam Equipment’s Solis perform some high stakes weighing operations. For example, formulating medications in the pharmaceutical industry. You, your company and relevant governmental agencies all need to be positive that the results produced by your balance are trustworthy and traceable — including knowing exactly when the balance was last calibrated.

Calibrating before these important weighing sessions helps ensure not only that your results are reliable, but they can also be proven reliable through calibration records.

2.      Moving to a New Environment

You would be surprised at all the environmental factors that could impact weighing results – on laboratory balances, especially. Vibrations, static electricity, air drafts, gravity, temperature and humidity all need mitigation if they’re present. Some require accessories to help neutralize them, like an anti-vibration table or an ioniser.

Once you’ve done all you can to acclimatize your balance, calibration can help “ignore” whatever’s left. However, moving your balance to a new location, whether it’s across the country or just up three floors, introduces different environmental disturbances. For example, the gravity and humidity may be lower, but the temperature has increased. Your balance will need to be calibrated to help get back to status quo.

3.      After the Scale Gets Jolted or Jostled

If your scale or balance gets knocked, dropped or jostled, it’s a good idea to recalibrate once you’ve confirmed there’s no serious damage. Components like the load cell, weighing pan or even internal calibration weights can shift out of alignment, impacting weighing results. Even Adam Equipment’s Core and Highland Precision Balances, featuring ShockProtect® technology for extra protection against bumps and bruises, should be recalibrated after particularly bad spills.

4.      After Repairs

Occasionally, your scale or balance may need some routine maintenance or repairs. Opening the housing, replacing parts or tightening fittings can change how your scale or balance distributes and measures weight. To help set it back to normal, recalibrate after routine maintenance and repairs are performed.

5.      Regularly (and Often)

Even if you’re not preparing for a major weighing session and you haven’t moved, jostled or repaired your scale or balance lately, you should still calibrate regularly. How often depends on how precise the scale or balance is, though you can never over-calibrate. Below are the bare minimum calibration requirements for common scales:

• Semi-micro & analytical balances – once a week
• Precision balances – once a month
• Bench & floor scales – every six months
• Platform and hanging scales – once a year

What You Need to Calibrate

All scales and balances can be externally calibrated using calibration weights. Calibration weights are specially designed blocks of metal that perfectly emulate a specific weight value. You can purchase single calibration weights or calibration weight sets if you own multiple different balances. After calibrating with the proper test weights (check your manual for the best type of weight for your machine) your scale or balance stays accurate over time.

Some laboratory balances offer an internal calibration option. This means there are calibration weights built in and the balance can calibrate itself at the press of a button. It takes only a few minutes and can even be pre-scheduled to calibrate during downtime, or overnight. This is an excellent option for busy laboratories that lack the time for regular calibration.

Need help calibrating? Contact the Scaletec team, we can walk you through it!