In this article, we will explore the difference between UKAS, Cal-Trac, and Free Issue Calibration - helping you to decide on the best option for the instruments at your site.

Klipspringer’s in-house laboratory supports thousands of food and beverage production sites with the ongoing calibration of their equipment.

Our laboratory is UKAS-accredited, with our team of fully qualified technicians able to complete Free Issue, Cal-Trac, and UKAS Calibrations.

But what is the difference between these three types of calibration and how do you pick the right process for the instruments at your site?

The following article provides the answers you need, covering the three forms of calibration, explaining when they are relevant, and even providing example certificates for you to review.

Jump ahead to our helpful Comparison Table

What is Free Issue Calibration?

At Klipspringer, we supply a Free Issue Calibration Certificate with most of our technical equipment.

Our in-house Laboratory Team will only ever carry out this process before a new piece of equipment is despatched to a site for the first time. All following calibrations will need to be Cal-Trac or UKAS.

A Free Issue Calibration Certificate confirms that your instrument has been checked for calibration conformity against the relevant testing points. This will be recorded as a simple pass or fail result.

The procedure behind Free Issue Calibrations is not audited by UKAS. Additionally, the certificate does not list the details of the reference equipment used to carry out the calibration. This means that there is no traceability to UKAS / national standards.

Depending on the expectations of your customers and auditing body, your Free Issue Certificate may provide sufficient evidence of calibration for the first year. However, this won’t always be the case, especially not for high-stakes equipment like reference probes and loggers used at Critical Control Points.

  • Supplied at the point of manufacture or distribution.
  • Free Issue Calibration Certificates will not include your company name or site address.
  • Recorded as a simple pass or fail result.
  • No traceability to UKAS or national standards.

What is Cal-Trac Calibration?

The Klipspringer Laboratory carries out both UKAS and Cal-Trac Equipment Calibration.

Cal-Trac Calibration is similar to UKAS Calibration in many ways; however, it is recorded differently and works to a different certainty of measurement. This form of calibration is completed in accordance with our own in-house standards, but the procedure is not audited by UKAS.

Although the Cal-Trac Calibration procedure hasn’t been audited by UKAS, our Laboratory Team uses reference equipment that has been calibrated and issued with a UKAS Calibration certificate. The full details of this reference equipment will be included on your Cal-Trac certificate.

This is where the term “traceable to UKAS standards” comes from, as you can use this certificate to prove that your instrument has been tested against equipment that has received a UKAS Calibration – tracing the process back to the point of compliance.

What type of equipment / situation requires Cal-Trac Calibration? 

UKAS Calibrations require a higher grade of reference equipment and additional training for laboratory team members, this is reflected in the slightly higher price point.

In comparison, Cal-Trac Calibrations are less stringent, and therefore, less expensive. This makes them a popular choice for low-cost equipment that is more likely to be lost or damaged than say a robust and static instrument like the LazaPort8.

Due to our industry-leading turnaround times (2-3 days) there shouldn’t be any difference in the time it takes for you to get your equipment back from a UKAS or Cal-Trac Calibration. So, time pressures are rarely a factor when it comes to deciding between UKAS and Cal-Trac.

Instead, it usually comes down to the expectations of a site’s customers or auditing body. If UKAS isn’t a requirement, a site may prioritise cost savings, especially for the calibration of non-CCP sensors or working thermometers. Cal-Trac is also commonly associated with equipment used for quality checks, rather than food safety measures.

Arrange the calibration of your equipment
  • Certificate is printed at the time of calibration.
  • Cal-Trac Calibration Certificates will always include your company name and site address.
  • Reference Equipment has been calibrated and issued with a UKAS Calibration Certificate. 
  • Calibration procedure is not audited by UKAS.

What is UKAS Calibration?

UKAS calibration can only be performed by laboratories that are accredited by UKAS under ISO/IEC 17025. This accreditation confirms that the laboratory has successfully passed rigorous audits covering factors such as: 

  • Technical competence of staff 
  • Quality/suitability of testing environment 
  • Traceability and accuracy of equipment 
  • Robustness of calibration procedures 

The Klipspringer In-House Laboratory is UKAS accredited. Our fully qualified technicians are authorised UKAS signatories and are able to calibrate most major brands and models of relevant instruments. This is done to a level of certainty that is not provided by Cal-Trac Calibrations.

If your equipment receives a UKAS calibration, the procedure and records will be fully audited by UKAS. The reference equipment will have also received a UKAS Calibration – sent away to an external centre to ensure an even higher standard of accuracy (2 decimal places).

What type of equipment / situation requires UKAS Calibration? 

In the interest of ensuring the highest levels of accuracy, reliability, and compliance, it is expected that your on-site reference equipment will undergo a UKAS Calibration. Common examples include master probes, reference probes, and dry block temperature calibrators like the LazaPort8.

Equipment used at Critical Control Points (e.g. data loggers) is also likely to be calibrated in accordance with UKAS, as is the equipment used for the validation of your machinery or processes (e.g. in-process validation loggers).

Although UKAS Calibrations sit at a slightly higher price point than Cal-Trac Calibrations, sites will often opt for this top level of calibration as a means of simplifying their audit preparations. Instead of dedicating time to finding additional evidence that proves compliance, they will have the highest level of proof available in the form of their up-to-date UKAS certification.

Arrange the calibration of your equipment
  • Certificate is printed at the time of calibration.
  • UKAS Calibration Certificates will always include your company name and site address.
  • Reference Equipment has been calibrated and issued with a UKAS calibration Certificate. 
  • The calibration procedure has been fully audited by UKAS.

Free Issue, Cal-Trac, UKAS: Comparison Table

Free Issue Calibration Cal-Trac Calibration UKAS Calibration
Calibration can be completed at the Klipspringer Laboratory Yes Yes Yes
Customer details Customer details and full site address are not included on the calibration certificate Customer details and full site address are included on the calibration certificate Customer details and full site address are included on the calibration certificate
Reference equipment has been issued with a UKAS calibration certificate Details of the reference equipment are not included on Free Issue Certificates Yes Yes
Calibration procedure is fully audited by UKAS No No Yes

That brings us to the end of our Calibration Help Guide. We hope it has left you with a clear understanding of the key differences between UKAS, Cal-Trac, and Free Issue Calibrations.

If you have any further questions about the instrumentation at your site or the calibrations carried out here at the Klipspringer Laboratory, you are welcome to reach out to our Technical Team.

You can contact us directly on 01473 461 800 or sales@klipspringer.com. Alternatively, you can complete the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.

If you would like further guidance relating to the calibration of your instruments, our on-site Technical Team would be happy to help. Simply share your details below.