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  • To ensure optimum quality of their measurements, laboratories frequently hold in-house quality checks. However, over time deviations in the measurement equipment can occur that cannot be detected by these checks. VSL regularly organises (international) interlaboratory comparisons, through which your laboratory’s measurement results are compared anonymously to those from VSL as primary standards laboratory and with those from other participating laboratories.

    VSL organises such comparisons, also called proficiency testing schemes (PTs) annually in the chemistry field for matters including:

    Need for a different interlaboratory comparison?
    Do you require another type of proficiency testing? Then please let us know. We can assess the demand. Possibly there are other laboratories that would like to participate and then we can organise a interlaboratory comparison. It is also possible to organise a bilateral comparison with VSL.

    Click here for more information about interlaboratory comparisons.

  • More information?

    Sabine Snijder
    Department Sales & Planning

    Direct contact

    Thanks to our many years of experience and knowledge in the field of measurement in chemistry, we can supply calibrations with a very small measurement uncertainty. VSL’s certificates are internationally renowned and guarantee worldwide acceptance of your products.

    Calibration of analytical equipment
    To allow accurate determination of chemical properties, accurate and precise measurement data are needed. Analytical equipment and gas monitors must be calibrated regularly to prevent deviations. VSL is the place for the calibration of all types of gas analysers.

    Calibration gases
    VSL calibrates against the highest standards (Primary Standard Materials), resulting in the lowest uncertainties as well as traceability to the SI units. The calibration certificates are accepted worldwide and form a proper underpinning of your quality system and accreditation.

  • In the (process) industry and energy sector, accurate measurements have great impact on obtaining high-quality products such as foods, medicines, solvents, polymers and gaseous or liquid fuels. The product or process can be optimised using an efficient (automated) measurement strategy and validation method.

    With our specialised knowledge of measurements and interpretation of measurement data, VSL can provide you with services including:

    • Advice and construction of gas analysis facilities. From the design of measurement setups, including traceability aspects, to to the construction and validation.
    • Development and validation of measurement methods to allow specific analytes to be accurately measured. A final report describing the method and its validation  is provided, including the calculation of the methodsuncertainty.
    • Advice for accreditations. In order to obtain an accreditation, a laboratory must fulfil various requirements. VSL helps you by evaluating  the measurement systems, methods and data against the requiremenst and by looking at the traceability of your results and at your claimed uncertainties.
    • Support of process optimisation and automation of industrial chemical processes in which measurements play an essential role in the quality and efficiency of the production.
    • Development of and advice on measurement methods to allow government bodies to enforce legislation.

    Of course each situation is unique. Would you like to know what we can do for you? Please contact us.

  • More information?

    Sabine Snijder
    Department Sales & Planning

    Direct contact

    To conduct traceable chemical measurements, analytical equipment is calibrated using standards (Certified Reference Materials). Renowned suppliers of special gases, environmental monitoring services and end-users, particularly in the energy sector, have been relying on VSL for years as supplier of gas reference materials (PRMs).

    PRMs
    In the field of gas standards, VSL supplies almost any desired composition of for example environmental and energy gases. These accredited gas mixtures (Primary Reference Materials) are manually prepared according to ISO Guide 34 and ISO 17025 and are then verified against the primary standards. These reference materials form an undisputed foundation for your quality system (quality assurance/quality control) and ensure international traceability.

    Click here for an overview of the reference materials.

    CGMs
    VSL can also analyse and calibrate gas mixtures from third parties (Calibrated Gas Mixtures). Here you can find more information about our calibrations.

    Transfer standards in adsorption tubes
    For the quality control of gas chromatographs (GCs), VSL supplies a wide range of Volatile Organic Components (VOCs) at different concentrations. They are supplied in sorption tubes for thermal or liquid desorption.

    NIST Declaration of Equivalence (United States)
    As well as the MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement) among metrology institutes worldwide, VSL has a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) and a Declaration of Equivalence (DoE) with the American National Institute of Standards (NIST). Both documents are of great importance to our service provision in the field of traceable gas mixtures (EPA protocol gases) in the US.

  • Would you like to know more about the accurate measurement of gas compositions, the carrying out of gas analyses or the calculation of uncertainty in chemical measurements? VSL offers open training courses and consultancy training courses that are adapted to your specific knowledge needs.

    VSL training courses are always presented by specialists in their field of work. Theory is always combined with practice.

    After the course ends, you receive proof of participation.

    Chemistry course
    In the Chemistry field, VSL offers courses including one on ‘Measurement Uncertainty in Chemistry’. During this course, the subjects including the following are covered:

    • Estimation of measurement uncertainty (general Introduction)
    • Use of quality control cards, certified reference materials and method validation data
    • Traceability of measurements in relation to measurement uncertainty
    • Sample-taking, sample pretreatment and homogeneity

    For a complete overview of the courses planned and in order to register, please click here.

  • Accurate measurement of chemical (gas) compositions is important in many different sectors. Consider for example environment-related issues and public health. What is a ‘normal’ air composition, and at what point does a gas become harmful to human health? Therefore accurate measurements of both background and emission levels are deemed necessary.

    In order to be able to determine the quality of natural gas, besides the amount of gas, the calorific value (the quantity of energy per amount of material) is established by means of accurate analysis of the gas composition. Such an analysis is essential in, for example, the production or development of biofuels.

    VSL provides various services in the area of traceable measurements and gas compositions for (the process) industry, government bodies and accredited calibration laboratories. Also, VSL works in a European context on different research projects.

    VSL’s specialists participate in various standardisation committees. Examples are CEN TC 264 ‘Air quality’, NEN NC 310 408 ‘Biomethane’ and ISO TC 158 ‘Gas analysis’.