How often do you wonder if you are getting the correct amounts of what you pay for? Whether it’s fuel at the pump by litres, plantains from the market by kilograms, or fabric from the store by metres, the process of determining the accuracy of measuring instruments used in these trade transactions is verification.
Meanwhile, for those non-trade transactions conducted during manufacturing and laboratory testing for quality assurance and safety, calibration is conducted to determine the accuracy of measuring instruments used. It is important for stakeholders involved in measurements to understand which of these measurement services is relevant to the activities of their businesses.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), as the National Measurement Institute (NMI) provides verification and calibration services. Through its Legal Metrology Department, GNBS plays a crucial role in providing verification services. By law, under the 1981 Weights and Measures Act, all measuring instruments used in trade must be verified by GNBS. These include scales, petrol pumps, flow meters, electricity meters, fuel tanks and measuring rules. Verification is carried out twice annually at GNBS Offices countrywide, and at offsite locations including markets and supermarkets, manufacturing plants, hospitals, shipping companies, and on fuel vessels.
Verification ensures that these instruments are accurate, approved for trade and fit for use. Once verified, approval seals and stamps are affixed to instruments to prove compliance. The process protects both consumers who expect to receive what they pay for and businesses, which could suffer losses from faulty or inaccurate instruments.
Calibration, on the other hand, is a more technical process that ensures precision of measurements in industrial and scientific settings. The process involves comparing the readings of a measuring instrument with a known, traceable standard. Environmental controls during calibration are considerably more stringent than during verification.
GNBS offers accredited calibration services to sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, construction, and oil and gas. Instruments such as thermometers, pipettes, balances, pressure gauges and calipers are routinely calibrated to ensure accurate, repeatable results. The Bureau uses standards traceable to highly respected international institutions, such as NIST (USA) and PTB (Germany).
Inaccurate measurements, whether due to unverified or uncalibrated instruments, can lead to significant consequences including customer dissatisfaction, safety hazards, loss of revenue, and damaged reputations. Verification helps keep retail transactions honest, while calibration helps industries maintain product quality, meet regulatory requirements, and ensure operational safety.
Whether you’re running a corner shop, a hospital laboratory, or a production facility, accurate measurements are essential; and so is knowing the difference between calibration and verification.
With its nationwide services and commitment to international standards, GNBS continues to be a reliable partner in ensuring accuracy, fairness, and trust in Guyanese products and services.
For further information on this subject, contact GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0064 or 219-0065, WhatsApp us on 692-4627 or visit our website www.gnbsgy.org
