You wouldn’t invest in a temperature monitoring system or temperature monitoring sensors if they weren’t important to your application and process. Your temperature monitoring system and sensors are only useful when they are properly calibrated, so regular temperature calibration should be scheduled and completed by a trusted calibration expert, like us at Global Sensors.
The exact interval between necessary temperature calibrations varies depending on many factors, including the following:
- Manufacturer’s recommendations
- Requirements of relevant regulatory agencies
- Industry norms and other relevant recommendations
- Frequency and severity of use
- Parameters of use, including the temperature at which the instrument is stored and used
Keep in mind that many factors can move the timeline for temperature calibration as well. If your instrument or sensor experiences shocks, unusual exposure to extreme temperatures, exposure to dangerous fluids or vapors, sudden cooling or heating, or some types of mechanical stress, it is better to err on the side of caution and go ahead and recalibrate it before continuing to rely on a device that may or may not be giving accurate readings.
Another important consideration is that every temperature monitoring unit or sensor is an individual unit. You can’t assume that two sensors will perform similarly and need calibration at the same time just because they are the same make and model. If they are used in different applications and environments, or used with a different frequency, they may perform very differently. Regular maintenance and temperature calibration are key to accuracy over time. The age of your equipment can also affect how quickly it needs to be recalibrated.