In layman's terms, you can say it is similar to how a Michelin-star restaurant is recognized for its exceptional food quality and service, similarly a flow meter which is NABL accredited is identified in the market.
What is NABL Accreditation?
The NABL is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India, which aims to provide government-recognized accreditation to testing and calibration laboratories.
The purpose of this accreditation is to ensure that the laboratories adhere to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard, which specifies the general requirements for the competence to carry out tests and calibrations, including sampling.
For flow meters, obtaining NABL accreditation means their calibration and testing meet rigorous standards for accuracy and reliability.
For instance, if you have a water flow meter installed for tracking water usage and it’s NABL-accredited, this would mean that the meter has undergone specific criteria and evaluation processes to ascertain its accuracy.
Therefore, when you check readings on the meter, you can rest assured that they are credible—all thanks to the NABL accreditation laboratory that calibrated the water flow meter.
Importance of NABL Accreditation for Flow Meters
NABL accreditation for flow meters is vital because of the following reasons:
Ensures Credibility
In water utilities, precise and accurate flow measurements backed by NABL accreditation play a huge role in ensuring accurate and fair billing which helps in building the trust between utility and consumers. NABL accreditation requires that the equipment used for calibrating flow meters is traceable to national or international standards, which ensures high precision in flow measurements.
Boosts Efficiency
With NABL accreditation, industries become capable of minimizing waste, optimizing water operations, and ensuring overall efficiency. This additionally supports accurate flow meter calibration.
Ensures Compliance with Industry Regulations
When processes happen in compliance with industry standards and regulations, it increases the credibility of the brand. With NABL accreditation comes assurance for users that install flow meters to measure oil, gas, and water utilities that the measurements are accurate and reliable.
Globally Accepted
Since NABL accreditation is globally recognized, it facilitates acceptance of calibration results by industry stakeholders and regulatory authorities worldwide.
Mitigates Risks
NABL accreditation helps mitigate risks associated with incorrect measurements, customer dissatisfaction, and potential liabilities while safeguarding the integrity of the flow meter calibration process.
NABL Accreditation Process for Flow Meters
The NABL accreditation process for flow meters isn’t a cakewalk. There’s an extensive assessment of documents, facilities, and personnel that happens in compliance with industry standards in various stages as described below:
In short, the flow meter calibration laboratories need to undergo an extensive calibration process to meet the industry's stringent quality standards for flow meters.
Is NABL Accreditation for Flow Meters Necessary?
Yes, NABL accreditation is vital to ensure the accuracy and reliability of measurements of flow meters in various industries. For example, in the oil and gas sector, precise and accurate flow meter readings are important to monitor production levels for optimizing operations.
Without NABL accreditation, it becomes risky in terms of credibility. There can be a danger of inaccurate measurements leading to errors in billing, potential safety hazards, and/or inefficient processes.
Simply put, NABL accreditation instills confidence in regulatory bodies and users, demonstrating compliance as per the set industry benchmark. To maintain quality and trustworthiness in the measurement process which is beneficial for both businesses and users, NABL accreditation is a must!
NABL vs ISO Certification
NABL stands for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories and ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. NABL accreditation focuses largely on technical competence in testing and calibration, while ISO certification focuses on quality management principles applicable across varied industries.
Let’s understand the difference between the two as represented in a tabular form below:
How to Get NABL Certified?
To get NABL certified, a few simple steps need to be followed:
Prepare
Gather important documents and resources needed for the calibration process.
Submit Application
Apply, complete, and submit your application to NABL for accreditation.
Document Review
NABL reviews the documents to ensure compliance with the accreditation requirements.
On-site Assessment
Later an on-site assessment of the flow meter calibration lab takes place.
Proficiency Testing
The testing phase includes clearing the proficiency testing programs to meet the reliability and credibility standards.
Evaluation
Based on document review, proficiency testing, and on-site assessment, NABL evaluates the lab’s performance for further processes. Upon successful completion of the evaluation process, NABL grants accreditation to the laboratory.
Following the above steps for NABL certification criteria helps you obtain accreditation in time.
What are NABL Accreditation Requirements?
NABL accreditation requirements vary as per the type of flow meter, specific testing, and calibration laboratories. The general list includes:
- Compliance with the international standards as per ISO/IEC 17025
- Technical competence in flow meter testing and calibration process
- Measuring traceability as per the recognized national or international standard
- Implementing a quality management system to ensure reliability, consistency, and traceability in the measurement process
- Development and documentation of standardized calibration processes for flow meters
- Regulating calibration and maintenance of equipment for flow meter testing for accurate measurements
- Maintaining records including calibration results, equipment calibration history, personnel qualification, etc.
- Proficiency testing programs to assess the lab’s performance
- Conducting regular internal audits to evaluate quality and identify areas for improvement
Recommended Read: Water Audit For Your Business - Meaning, Importance, Steps
NABL Accredited Labs
Under NABL, testing of labs is done according to ISO/ IEC 17025 ‘General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories’.
NABL grants accreditation to:
- Medical Laboratories as per ISO 15189
- Testing Laboratories as per ISO/IEC 17025
- Calibration Laboratories as per ISO/IEC 17025
- Reference material producers (RMP) as per ISO 17034
- Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP) as per ISO/IEC 17043
International recognition:
- ILAC - International Laboratory Accreditation Corporation
- APAC - Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation
With NABL Accreditation, you get to join the elite ranks of laboratories accredited by NABL which is an esteemed board of quality council in India.
NABL aims to ensure top-tier quality and technical competence in calibration and testing. NABL’s accreditation services are impartial and adhere to ISO/IEC 17011 standards to provide your equipment with industry-wide recognition of quality standards and excellence.
Check out the link to the directory here.
Kritsnam’s Water Meters are NABL Accredited!
One of the major reasons why businesses succeed with Kritsnam Technologies is that Kritsnam’s water meters are NABL accredited. Dhaara Smart Flowmeter is known for its tamperproof real-time water metering.
Kritsnam’s top priority is to address the challenges that are faced while using flow meters. Clearing the NABL accreditation process makes it a cakewalk for the users. Kritsnam makes sure to meet the highest quality benchmark with NABL accreditation.
Are you ready to choose NABL-accredited flow meters through Kritsnam?
