Spring is in the air – so what does that have to do with your manometer calibration? Probably nothing, except Spring means new beginnings and we need to make sure that our equipment is up to the task ahead.
Question: Why do I need to have my manometer calibrated?
Simply answer – RESNET Standard dictates it and I quote from the standard:
802.9 Equipment Accuracy and Requirements
Blower door fans used for building air leakage testing shall measure airflow (after making any necessary air density corrections) with an accuracy of +/- 5%. Pressure gauges shall measure pressure differences with a resolution of 0.1 Pa and have an accuracy of +/- 1% of reading or 0.5Pa, whichever is greater.Blower door and associated pressure testing instruments shall be tested annually for calibration by the HERS Rating Provider or Certified Rater. The provider shall use a standard for field testing of calibration provided by the equipment manufacturer. Magnehelic Gauges cannot be field tested and shall be recalibrated by the Blower Door manufacturer annually. Field check the fan and flow measuring systems for defects and maintain them according to manufacturers recommendations. The HERS Rating Provider or Certified Rater shall maintain a written log of the annual calibration check to verify all equipment accuracy for a period of three (3) years. These records shall be made available within 3 business days to the RESNET Quality Assurance Administrator upon request.
Therefore you have 3 options for compliance…
- Send your meter(s) to the manufacturer for calibration on a yearly basis. This is the most expensive method, but has the advantage of having your meter calibrated and brought into factory specifications. (Click on the manufacturer link to go to their site).
- The Energy Conservatory – TEC recommends that all of it’s digital pressure gauges be recalibrated once per year in order to maintain the instrument’s accuracy specifications of 1% of reading (or 0.15 Pa, whichever is greater). Calibration is performed at our facility in Minneapolis, MN. The cost to calibrate a digital pressure gauge is $75. This price includes return ground shipping within the continental 48 states and Canada (expedited or air shipments will cost more). Turn around time at our facility for calibration is typically 2-3 days following receipt of the instrument (assuming no repairs are necessary). We will provide a NIST traceable calibration certificate which includes “as found” as well as “current condition” pressure data.
- Retrotec – Our recommendation for manufacturer calibration is: – Every two years for DM-2 pressure gauges – Every five years for the entire flow measurement system. You will need to send in or call to get a price quote.
- Send or bring in your meter to us at FSEC. We will do a field calibration check on your meter(s). We do not modify, adjust or certify the meter – only verify whether it is within factory specifications. If your meter is not in spec, we will let you know and it needs to be sent out for repair/factory calibration. Our cost – FREE to our raters.
- Make an appointment with Jimmy Williams (jwilliams@fsec.ucf.edu) if you are bringing them by (it takes about 30 minutes to do the check)
- Send them in to:
Jimmy Williams, Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Rd, Cocoa, FL 32922
- You prepay for the shipping both directions.
- We are not responsible for any loss or damage done through shipping.
- Perform a field calibration per the manufacturer as done by a certified RESNET Rater (Class 1 rater in Florida).
- Energy Conservatory field calibration and manual
- Retrotec field calibration and manual
Now, one more thing – if FSEC is your rating provider, we need a copy of the field calibration for each meter you use.
Send us a copy (pdf format to: Jimmy Williams (jwilliams@fsec.ucf.edu) or by mail to Jimmy Williams, Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Rd, Cocoa, FL 32922). The nice thing about option #2 is that not only is the calibration check free – but all the paperwork we need is done.