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This article was first published on September 12, 2022, and updated on February 19, 2025. Not every application will require the same level of pressure gauge accuracy. For instance, the pressure of a home water system does not necessarily need to be as precise as a medical sterilizer. However, over time, even the highest quality pressure instruments can become less accurate due to factors such as wear and tear, environmental conditions, and mechanical stress. This gradual decline in accuracy poses can lead to inefficiencies, safety risks, and compromised operations, making it critical to periodically calibrate your instruments to ensure they provide accurate readings. During my 13 years as a precision product leader at Ashcroft, I am often asked how calibration is done. Read this article to learn what is involved in pressure gauge calibration and the instruments you can use to ensure it is done correctly. At the end of the article, you will also see links to additional resources to help deepen your knowledge on this subject and more.

This article was originally published on October 11, 2021, and updated on January 29, 2025. Did you know that your pressure gauge will lose accuracy over time? No gauge can stay completely accurate forever. That's why it is important to regularly check the instrument's accuracy to ensure it continues to provide correct readings for your application. If you don’t check, inaccurate pressure readings can cause your equipment to malfunction and break down or, even worse, result in injury to workers. All of these scenarios can impact system efficiencies and lead to downtime for your business. Ashcroft has been a leading manufacturer of pressure gauges since 1952, so the question relating to calibration frequency is one we encounter a lot. While there are no universally defined requirements for calibration, I can provide insights that can help you determine what may be the most appropriate times to check your pressure gauge accuracy.

This article was originally published on October 2, 2023, and updated on October 14, 2024. The number of industries that rely on pressure measurement equipment is expansive. The list includes manufacturing, water/wastewater, hydraulics, food and beverage, medical, and pharmaceutical, among others. If you are new to any of these markets, you need to understand the importance of monitoring and maintaining appropriate levels of pressure in the critical processes in your industry. Accurate measurement of pressure in these processes is essential for ensuring safety, control and process efficiency. However, achieving these goals requires periodic instrument calibration. With more than 12 years of specialization in precision instruments, I have witnessed first-hand the consequences of neglecting calibration. As a follow-up to my blog titled, How to Check the Calibration of a Pressure Gauge, this article examines in more detail the circumstances that necessitate this important process, focuses on the three most critical factors of calibration and discusses the considerations associated with each factor. When you finish reading, you will have a solid foundation of knowledge regarding pressure instrument calibration and be ready to dig deeper into the topic with the additional resources provided for your reference.

This article was originally published on October 30, 2023, by Rick Zarafin and was updated by Dave Dlugos. In the article “Why and When is RTD Calibration Necessary?”, we explored how Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs), such as our S81 and S50 models, offer superior performance over thermocouples for temperature process measurements due to their high accuracy and repeatability. RTDs are particularly suitable for critical applications, including chemical and refining processes, where precise temperature measurements are essential. To fully grasp the importance of RTD calibration, it is crucial to understand the fundamental working principles of an RTD. As a leader in temperature and pressure instrument solutions, Ashcroft creates articles to address common questions from our customers. Our goal is to provide you with the information and tools you need to make informed decisions about your temperature measurement solutions. In this article, you'll learn how RTDs work, gain knowledge about the different levels of accuracy achievable with RTDs, and see how to maintain and calibrate these devices to meet your specific needs. You will also receive links to additional resources to help deepen your understanding of these temperature measurement instruments.

This article was originally published on August 23, 2023, by Rick Zerafin and was updated on June 26, 2024, by Dave Dlugos. Consistently accurate temperature measurements are vital to several industrial processes in numerous industries from construction to energy to manufacturing. Although many instruments can measure the temperature of gas and liquid in these processes, thermocouples are among the most popular thanks to their simple design and versatility. Over time, however, the thermocouple’s performance may tail off for any number of reasons. Two of the most common are drift and elevated temperature. As a leading authority in temperature measurement instrumentation, we help customers understand the factors to consider when selecting instruments and the steps needed to keep systems running efficiently. If your process includes temperature measurement with a thermocouple, this article will explain why it is important to calibrate your instrument and how to do it. You will also get access to helpful resources that can help you gain deeper knowledge on the subject of temperature sensors.

This article was originally published on July 24, 2023, by Rick Zerafin and was updated on April 29, 2024, by Dave Dlugos. Maintenance, reliability, process and Health Safety Environment (HSE) teams rely on accurate and stable temperature measurements to meet their goals. Thermocouples, new out of the box, are a critical tool for these measurements that help plant personnel maintain safe and efficient operations. Today, instrument designers use a wide array of thermocouple types, such as Type K, Type E and Type T to measure temperatures in applications ranging from cryogenic temperatures of -196 °C to the extremes of 1700 °C. This article will discuss how thermocouple calibration offers added benefits that promote process improvements and support compliance requirements. When you are done reading, you will also find additional related resources that can help you gain more insight into these important instruments.