Scale Calibrations
Sorry if this has been asked before, but I am looking for clarification.
We are currently SQF Certified. We do not sell our product by weight. We only use our scales to measure ingredients for recipes, using generic scales you could find at your local Big box store. I have checked the manufactures recommendations on calibration but there's no option for calibration on these scales, just "zero/tare". I have certified weight standards on order to do regular verification of the scales to ensure they are accurate. With all that said is calibration by a 3rd party necessary? What about the certified weight standards? Would they need to be certified annually if they are well maintained?
Fridays are the worst for research, Thanks for the help!
We just purchased some inexpensive scales off Amazon. They came with instructions and weights to calibrate them. Our QCI got them calibrated and will check them daily. All of our scales are checked by a certified company annually. And of course, we have records of all daily checks and annual certifications.
You may not NEED it, but I would have it available.
At my last job, we had a digital thermometer that was used maybe 2-3 months out of the year (temping fresh fish), but auditors wanted to see records of it being checked weekly. (They WANTED daily, agreed on weekly)
Interesting. The fact you're already certified means whatever you're doing was good enough, so kudos in that regard. Does your scale program call for discarding a scale that stops reading accurately?
On your certified weights, you should have them checked at least annually. Any local scale company should be able to perform this service for you at your site: they bring a calibrated scale, check your weights, and issue a certificate stating they were the proper weight on that date with all the information on their scale's certification. They should be checked for damage (cracks, missing pieces, etc) before each use, and not used if they are damaged until they can be recertified.
For my own amusement, which brand of big box store scale do you find to me most accurate? I'm always skeptical of store bought home scales, especially since my doctor's scale always reads heavier hahahaha.
Sorry if this has been asked before, but I am looking for clarification.
We are currently SQF Certified. We do not sell our product by weight. We only use our scales to measure ingredients for recipes, using generic scales you could find at your local Big box store. I have checked the manufactures recommendations on calibration but there's no option for calibration on these scales, just "zero/tare". I have certified weight standards on order to do regular verification of the scales to ensure they are accurate. With all that said is calibration by a 3rd party necessary? What about the certified weight standards? Would they need to be certified annually if they are well maintained?
Fridays are the worst for research, Thanks for the help!
Hi CIM,
Long-term accuracy can depend on the quality of yr "Standard" weights. Stainless steel ones are expensive, particularly for higher values, but should maintain accuracy longer than the more common brass ones.
Personally IMEX it is easiest, on a routine basis, to have one set of, annually, externally certified, carefully stored, Master weights and use these to create sub-Masters for distributed, internal use. Similar to thermometers.
Scale usage Procedures for routine use may also vary depending on the specific application / piece sizes involved.
Sorry if this has been asked before, but I am looking for clarification.
We are currently SQF Certified. We do not sell our product by weight. We only use our scales to measure ingredients for recipes, using generic scales you could find at your local Big box store. I have checked the manufactures recommendations on calibration but there's no option for calibration on these scales, just "zero/tare". I have certified weight standards on order to do regular verification of the scales to ensure they are accurate. With all that said is calibration by a 3rd party necessary? What about the certified weight standards? Would they need to be certified annually if they are well maintained?
Fridays are the worst for research, Thanks for the help!
Is the ingredient measurement a CCP or QCP? If so it would be necessary to challenge calibration daily to a known reference standard. The actual laws governing this are usually state->municipality in the US, not sure about Canada.
SQF prescribes you need to calibrate the scale according to regulatory requirements and/or manufacturers recommended schedule:
11.2.3.3 Calibration shall be performed according to regulatory requirements and/or to the equipment manufacturers’ recommended schedule.
You need to get the scale verified (SQF calls this calibration, Measurement Canada calls this verification) and certified (sounds like you already did) at a Measurement Canada Authorized Service Provider, found here: https://ised-isde.ca.../aspSearch.html
I think you need to get the scale certified every 5 years, at least that's what my certification says.
And just to be clear, this is all aside from the verification activities you already do with check weights yourself.