Calibration

AcSoft’s dedicated calibration laboratory works on many makes and models of sound and vibration instrumentation and transducers. Offering a fast turnaround and convenient returns service. Talk to us about your calibration needs.

Home Calibration

Calibration

When you are measuring something accurately, you need to know that the results are really what they say they are. Therefore, it is necessary to compare your measurement capability to some reference.

A calibration will allow you to check this and have confidence going forward. Think of it as a kind of MOT test for your instrument!

All our kit is housed in an air conditioned, purpose-built laboratory and is calibrated to nationally traceable standards. Return shipping starts from £20, within the UK, and we can arrange collection of your kit, if required, for a small fee.

What Do We Calibrate?

  • Sound Level Meters
  •  

  • Noise & Vibration Analysers
  •  

  • Microphones/Microphone Sets/Preamplifiers
  •  

  • Accelerometers
  •  

  • Geophones
  •  

  • Acoustical Calibrators & Pistonphones
  •  

  • Vibration Calibrators
  •  

  • Impact Hammers
  •  

  • Ear Simulators
  •  

  • Noise Dosimeters*
  •  

  • Vibration Dosimeters*
  •  

  • DAQs/Data Analysers**

*Svantek equipment only
** Dependent on software availability

We Guarantee:

  • Quick turnaround
  •  

  • Calibration certificates issued with every instrument calibrated
  •  

  • State of the art calibration equipment used in the lab
  •  

  • Integrity, impartiality and confidentiality
  •  

  • Competitive pricing
  •  

  • Convenient returns service

Calibration FAQs

  • What is calibration?

    When you are measuring something accurately, you need to know that the results are really what they say they are. Therefore, it’s necessary to compare your measurement capability to some reference. This might be a simple hand-held calibrator, or reference to an absolute standard in a National laboratory. The choice depends on the purpose for which your measurements are to be used.

  • Why should you calibrate your equipment?

    Modern instrumentation is very accurate and reliable. But it’s not perfect and can go wrong, sometimes in ways which are not completely obvious. This is exacerbated by the fact that precision instrumentation is used in hostile environments, such as building sites, where rain, dust, handling and corrosive substances can affect your measurements. For example, dropping an accelerometer on the ground may break a crystal – the device will still have an output, but it may not be as linear as it was when delivered. A calibration will allow you to check this and have confidence going forward. Think of it as a kind of MOT test for your instrument.

  • Where are calibrations performed?

    There are many laboratories around the UK which can offer calibration of sound & vibration measurement equipment, and the calibration will be performed in a laboratory under climatically controlled conditions, using equipment which is itself traceable to national laboratories. Of course, calibration can also be performed in the field, using portable calibrators, but the uncertainties will be larger than a laboratory calibration.

  • How long does calibration take?

    This depends on what is being calibrated. A four-channel instrument will take longer than a single channel one. A complete sound level meter will take longer than a microphone. Also, a lot of time is spent in the laboratory setting up for a specific instrument type. You can minimise the turnaround time by planning with the laboratory in advance – for example, if several sound level meters of a particular type are to be done, the tests are set up just once, saving time. Also, let the laboratory know the timescales – there’s no point sending in a meter if their input shelf is already full.

  • How often should I get my equipment calibrated?

    The standards are not proscriptive on this, but as a rule of thumb, instruments should be re-calibrated every two years, and calibrators annually. For example, the recommendation in BS 4142:2014 follows this approach for industrial noise measurement. However, if your measurements are really critical, you may wish to calibrate more frequently.

  • What is a calibration standard?

    Most measurement instrumentation will be built to a national or international standard – for example, BS EN 61672-1 defines the characteristics of sound level meters. A ‘calibration standard’ will define how that instrument is calibrated, so in this case, BS EN 61672-3 documents the procedures for calibration. Very often, calibration standards don’t exist for some types of instruments, so laboratories will perform a series of tests, using their own procedures, to check conformance with the instrument standard.

  • What is a traceable calibration?

    When a device is calibrated, you need to know that the reference equipment is also correct within certain tolerances. This sets up a hierarchy of calibration, where you can trace your measurements up to a higher standard. The reference equipment will itself be calibrated behind the scenes, and the documentation allows you to follow that hierarchy typically to a national standard. In practice, all calibrations will have some form of traceability.

  • What is UKAS calibration

    UKAS is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service which is a body which audits the procedures and performance of calibration laboratories. UKAS accreditation therefore ensures the laboratory meets minimum standards, often laid out in instrumentation standards. Note that a UKAS calibration may be no better than a well-documented traceable calibration, but it will certainly be more expensive. However, it will often be required if there are legal implications for your measurements.

NOISE, VIBRATION AND AIR QUALITY MONITORING

Rent our products

We rent a wide range of noise, vibration and air quality monitoring equipment. Get in touch to find out how we can help.

Knowledge Hub

Win a Free Calibration for your 307A

March 21, 2024

The SV 307A Class 1 noise monitoring station is an all-in-one environmental noise monitoring station based on a patented MEMS microphone technology. Over the years, it has become a staple of the acoustic monitoring world for its exceptional reputation, versatile uses, durable design, and weatherproof case. With an operating temperature…

read more

The IOA’s Good Practice in Building Acoustic Measurements Event

March 13, 2024

We headed up to the Building Performance Hub for The Good Practice in Building Acoustic Measurements Event Hosted by the Institute of Acoustics. We had a fantastic time where John Shelton conducted stability and DODEC directionality training using the DL103 speaker and the 971A. Aidan attended with John and Sibo,…

read more

SvanPC++ Masterclass – Harnessing the Power of Svantek Equipment

March 12, 2024

SvanPC++ is a powerful PC software that compliments the Svantek measurement ecosystem, including SV 10x, and SVAN97x series. It supports a wide range of functionality, such as downloading measurement data, creating setups, presenting results and more. The best part? It is completely free with any piece of Svantek equipment, with…

read more

Building Compliance Testers Association AGM 2024

March 11, 2024

On the 29th of Feb, We returned to the building performance hub for the annual AGM meeting where George attended with Aidan, speaking to people about the DODEC, 971A and the power of the BA Assistant Building Acoustics App. The BA Assistant Building Acoustics App is the smartphone application created…

read more

Common Calibration Issues and How We’re Solving Them

March 7, 2024

We’ve spoken to thousands of business owners in noise & vibration monitoring over the years, and one common issue that they talk about is the problems they’ve had using 3rd party calibration providers. Issues such as slow turnarounds causing delays to projects and unreliable calibrations that mean their equipment is…

read more

AcSoft Launches Brand New 10 Year Extended Warranty Programme

February 26, 2024

When you purchase a Svantek product and register it (within three months of purchase), you receive a 36 month warranty as standard. Here at AcSoft we are so confident in the Svantek equipment, that we are now extending the standard warranty by 7 years! Yes you read that correctly, 7…

read more

Sensidyne Launches Gilian Go-Cal Pro Air Flow Calibrator

February 16, 2024

A global leader in industrial health and safety solutions, Sensidyne proudly announces the official launch of the Gilian® Go-CalTM Pro, an advanced portable air flow calibrator designed to revolutionise precision calibration on the jobsite. The Gilian Go-Cal Pro stands out in its category for its superior features, including its distinction…

read more

Silica Exposure, Assessment and Prevention

February 13, 2024

We had the pleasure of collaborating with Sensidyne on our hugely successful Silica Webinar. Founded in 1983, Sensidyne was established as a manufacturer and distributor of gas detection and air sampling instrumentation and a major supplier of gas detection tubes. The company vision is “to be the leading provider of trusted air…

read more

Can You Trust Your Supplier?

February 5, 2024

Have you ever felt the frustration of losing a big job? Losing an opportunity that you have been relying on and forecasting for some time? Put simply, it really hurts!   Do you then analyse why you lost that opportunity? So that you can try to make some changes, try…

read more

Vibration on Construction Sites in the City of London

January 25, 2024

We had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the most influential people in this space, Anthony Robinson, Principal Officer Noise & Acoustics at City of Westminster Council. We wanted to hear directly from Anthony what you need to do to make sure you are compliant and to find…

read more

Are You Measuring and Visualising Your Data Down to 20Hz?

January 18, 2024

Are you testing object sizes anywhere from a toothbrush to a large compressor or even up to the size of a full room? Then Scan&Paint 3D could be the solution you need! A common issue often faced by engineers is the environment where the testing needs to take place, for…

read more

How to Select a Calibration Laboratory

January 11, 2024

In the process of selecting a calibration lab, it’s crucial to weigh several factors to make an informed decision. Start by examining the lab’s experience and track record, ensuring they possess the expertise to handle instruments similar to yours. This history serves as a reliable indicator of their proficiency and…

read more