Measurements and Standards
Standards allow technology to work seamlessly and help commerce happen fairly.
As the National Measurement Institute (NMI) for the United States, NIST provides the basis of all measurements in the U.S. and supports many standards.
Learn more below about our roles in measurements and standards.
Measurements
Calibration
Calibration is the process of ensuring that a measurement device is taking accurate measurements. NIST calibration services allow customers to know they are getting high-quality measurements, whether they’re taking ozone measurements or working with GPS satellite receivers.
Traceability
Traceability means that in comparison to precise standards calibrated at NIST, a measurement can be traced through a chain of calibration – or all the steps it took to check that machine or measurement. The very small amount of radiation in mammograms, for example, is traced back to a lab at NIST, to make sure the provider knows how much radiation their patients receive. NIST measurements provide the basis for traceability.
Weights and Measures
Many things you buy — cereal, propane, mulch and the list goes on — go through a state weights and measures system to make sure you’re getting what you pay for. Legal metrology and weights and measures efforts at NIST and elsewhere help to ensure fairness in trade and commerce.
The Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) provides a range of products and services, including legal metrology documentary standards, technical guidance and resources related to weights and measures applications, promotion of the metric system, metric system (SI) use and traceability, and metrology training for industry, state laboratory metrologists, and weights and measures officials. Resources include a training and events calendar, publications, e-learning resources, and programs.
Legal Metrology
Legal metrology is the application of legal requirements to measurement and measurement instruments. These measurements typically involve safety, health, the environment and commerce.
Quality
NIST’s quality system ensures NIST measurement services are accepted by U.S. trading partners. When labs are doing research to benefit everyone, NIST’s Quality Assurance Program helps make sure they have the best possible measurements. Our quality efforts are used in research in ocean quality, food and nutrition, dietary supplements and more.
Accreditation
Accreditation is the validation of a laboratory’s capabilities by a third party. The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) provides third-party accreditation to testing and calibration laboratories.
Conformity Assessment
Conformity assessments give consumers and sellers confidence that products purchased worldwide meet specific safety and other requirements. NIST also evaluates conformity assessment accreditation bodies to ensure adherence to international standards.
Standards
Documentary Standards
Documentary standards are documents that provide an agreed-upon way to carry out a technical process, from measuring the radiation dose to a cancer patient and establishing food safety management procedures. NIST issues recommendations that many organizations adopt as voluntary standards.
Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)
SRMs are well-characterized materials that others purchase from NIST to make sure their measurements are correct. Labs and manufacturers use SRMs to ensure their equipment is making accurate measurements or to perform other quality control tests. That’s why they are sometimes called “truth in a bottle.” SRMs help make sure your food nutrition labels, medical tests and other measurements we rely on every day are as accurate as possible.
Standard Reference Data
NIST produces the nation’s Standard Reference Data (SRD). People use NIST data with confidence and make significant decisions based on it. From data to characterize the properties of structural steel to a comprehensive chemistry database, NIST data is used in many aspects of research.
Standard Reference Instruments
NIST’s Standard Reference Instruments (SRIs) are well-characterized instruments that others purchase to serve as a basis for their measurements. From a device that measures ozone to standards for voltage, our SRIs make sure crucial measurements are as accurate as possible.