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  • Humidity is an important factor for quality in many processes. In the manufacture of medicines and foodstuffs for example, the humidity content must be checked continuously and accurately to guarantee quality. Too much humidity can in the worst case lead to the development of bacteria and mould.

    In the natural gas industry, the control of the humidity content is particularly important to prevent damage. Water vapour in the pipes causes corrosion and, in combination with methane, hydrates can form, which can lead to blockages in the flow of gas and damage to the pipes.

    Humidity also affects human comfort. An over-humid room is unpleasant and can moreover cause mould formation. A too-dry room is at least as unpleasant and can cause headache and irritated eyes among other things. Furthermore, dry air depresses the natural immune system, so we become more susceptible to infections.

    VSL supplies various services in the field of traceable measurements to clients including the food, medicine and process industries and accredited calibration laboratories.

    Humidity laboratory

    Our Moisture Laboratory is open again. This specifically concerns relative humidity under atmospheric conditions. Due to the developments in regards to the coronavirus,our lead time is longer than you have expected from us in the past, but you can now request calibrations again.

    In consultation with the Dutch Accreditation Council, we have voluntarily suspended part of our Moisture scope. An RvA audit to resume the main part of our scope is scheduled for August this year.

    If you would like to contact VSL, please mail us at info@vsl.nl.

    VSL management, 10 June 2020

  • More information?

    Michel Brakel
    Department Sales & Planning

    Direct contact

    Humidity is important for the improvement of products, the reduction of costs and the increase in human comfort. In these, humidity (and temperature) often play(s) a direct or indirect role in various processes. Examples of these maybe found in the petrochemical industry, in energy production, health care and in environmentally-related subjects. VSL also supplies its services to manufacturers of sensors and to calibration laboratories.

    VSL calibrates dew-point meters directly against the primary humidity generator and humidity sensors in a climate chamber containing a primary calibrated dew-point meter and temperature sensors.

    The entire calibration process, including the analysis of the results, uncertainty calculations and preparing the certificates, is automated, so that the turnaround times can be kept short.

    Humidity Laboratory

    Our new metrologist is making good progress in obtaining his qualification. We expect to be able to provide our humidity calibrations around April 2020.

    In consultation with the Dutch Accreditation council RvA we have voluntarily retracted part of our Humidity scope in line with our current capabilities. As we scale back up, we will keep you informed. We will be able to offer a broader range of calibrations again soon.

    If you would like to contact VSL, please mail us at info@vsl.nl.

    VSL management, 27 January 2020

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

    • Development of and advice on measurement methods for moisture
    • Validation of moisture measurement systems
    • Preparing and reducing an uncertainty budget
    • Guidance in the setting up and accreditation of quality systems

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

  • 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 those from other participating laboratories.

    VSL organises such interlaboratory comparisons annually in the humidity field for matters including:

    • Data logger (relative humidity & temperature)
    • Dew-point meter

    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 loop comparison. It is also possible to organise a bilateral comparison with VSL.

    Click here for more information about interlaboratory comparisons.

  • Would you like to know more about the accurate measurement of humidity? VSL offers bespoke 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.

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

  • Various manufacturers of measurement instruments calibrate these in their own calibration facilities. They do this to check that the newly-produced instruments comply with the requirements, to check stability, or for periodic recalibration. Of course, the purchaser of the measurement instrument must have faith in the facility and so the measurement uncertainty is important.

    Click here for more information.