1. Calibration Capabilities of UNBS - NML
By Lemeriga Yasin
National Metrology Laboratory
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

2. Uganda National Bureau of Standards
Background on UNBS
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives established by the UNBS Act Cap 327 and became operational in 1989.  UNBS is also responsible for the administration of the Weights and Measures Act Cap 103.
The Mandate of UNBS is:
Formulation and promotion of the use of standards;
Enforcing standards in protection of public health and safety and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products;
Ensuring fairness in trade and precision in industry through reliable measurement systems; and
Strengthening the economy of Uganda by assuring the quality of locally manufactured products to enhance the competitiveness of exports in regional and international markets. 
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

3. Uganda National Bureau of Standards
Metrology in Uganda
In Uganda issues to do with Metrology are handled by UNBS under two departments;
National Metrology Laboratory (NML) which is responsible for Scientific and Industrial Metrology and
Legal Metrology Department (LMD) which is responsible for the verification of equipment used in trade in the country.
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

4. Uganda National Bureau of Standards
Calibration
Calibration is a set of operations that establish, under specified conditions, the relationship between the values shown by a measuring instrument, measuring system, the values represented by a material measure or by a reference material, and the corresponding values of the quantities established by the standards.
The result of a calibration permits either the assignment of values of measurands to the indications or the determination of corrections with respect to indications.
A calibration may also determine other metrological properties such as the effect of influence quantities ( e.g. drift due to aging).
The result of a calibration may be recorded in a document, sometimes called a calibration certificate or a calibration report. This is documentary proof of traceability.
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

5. The measurement Traceability chain
BIPM (Bureau International
des Poids et Mesures)
Primary laboratories
(in most countries are the National Metrology Institutes or laboratories)
Calibration laboratories, Legal metrology departments
Enterprises/ company/ testing laboratories
End users
The national metrology infrastructure (National Measurement System)
consumers
Reference Standards
Definition of the Unit
National Primary Standards
Foreign Primary Standards
Secondary Standards
Enterprise Standards
measurement standard recognized by signatories to an international agreement and intended to serve worldwide
measurement standard recognized by national authority to serve in a state or economy as the basis for assigning quantity values to other measurement standards for the kind of quantity concerned
measurement standard established through calibration with respect to a primary measurement standard for a quantity of the same kind
measurement standard designated for the calibration of other measurement standards for quantities of a given kind in a given organization or at a given location
measurement standard that is used routinely to calibrate or verify measuring instruments or measuring systems
Product/service based on the results of the measurement (e.g. medical treatment)
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National Metrology Laboratory UNBS

6. Uganda National Bureau of Standards
UNBS-NML
Uganda National Bureau of Standards National Metrology Laboratory is the custodian of the national measurement standards and is responsible for the dissemination of the SI units of measurement in the country through calibration of measurement systems and standards used in industry, testing & analytical laboratories, and for regulatory purposes.
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

7. UNBS-NML Calibration Laboratories
The UNBS-NML operates Laboratories in the following fields;
Mass Laboratory
Calibrate Mass pieces of Class E2 to Class M3, balances and weighing scales from class I to III (Analytical, top load, platform, weigh-bridges, crane- weighers as well as paint, oil, & gas fillers and concrete chutes) and any mass related equipment.
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

8. UNBS-NML Calibration Laboratories
Flow Laboratory
Calibrate bulk flow meters (2” to 4”), water meters (1” to 3”), bulk storage and blending tanks using the meter system on a mobile calibration unit. Calibration of anemometers and wind speed meters.
Viscosity & Density Laboratory
Calibrate viscometers, and density-meters and determination of viscosity and density.
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

9. UNBS-NML Calibration Laboratories
Electrical Laboratory
Calibrate Oscilloscopes, Multi-meters, Ohmmeters, Voltmeters, ammeters, TDS meters, pH, Conductivity meters, alcoholmeters, Lactoscans, moisture meters etc.
Dimensional Laboratory
Calibrate dimensional measures (micrometers, Venier calipers, dial gauges, gauge blocks, depth, thickness & height gauges, metre bars, surface texture, mandreals and other gauges and).
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

10. UNBS-NML Calibration Laboratories
Force and Torque
Force measurements (torque upto1100Nm, Force - compression 3MN.
Pressure Laboratory
Calibrate pressure balances, sensors and gauges both pneumatic and hydraulic.
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

11. UNBS-NML Calibration Laboratories
Volume Laboratory
Calibrate Single-mark-flasks, pipettes, burettes, graduated cylinders, Prover tanks, pump verification cans any volume related equipment.
Temperature Laboratory
Calibrate temperature sensors, liquid in glass thermometers, thermographs, incubator, water baths, thermocouples, cold rooms.
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Uganda National Bureau of Standards

12. Uganda National Bureau of Standards
Challenges
Staffing
Budgetary allocations
Emerging technologies
Increasing calibration demands from various sectors of the economy.
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

13. Uganda National Bureau of Standards
UNBS-NML Future plans
Accreditation of its laboratories
Improve the calibration capabilities of UNBS-NML:
Electrical laboratory
Temperature laboratory
Viscosity & Density
Flow Laboratory (air flow)
Photometry & radiometry
Acoustic & vibration
Time & frequency
Ionising radiation
Analytical Metrology Laboratories
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

14. The Devil is in the detail
The difference between the most and least successful companies lies in the detail in which they measure their processes.
“The Devil is in the detail of measurement”
R. Freeman
Optical Generics UK
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards

15. Uganda National Bureau of Standards
Thank you
25 August 2018
Uganda National Bureau of Standards