Applies to
Calibration Services
Question
Does EXFO offer ANSI/NCSL Z540 or ISO/IEC 17025 calibration services?
Answer
No. EXFO calibration laboratories are not accredited to ANSI/NCSL Z540 or ISO/IEC 17025.
As the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), EXFO designs, develops, manufactures, verifies, calibrates, and supports its own test and measurement instruments. All EXFO instruments are calibrated and verified prior to shipment to ensure compliance with published product specifications.
Why is EXFO not accredited to ANSI/NCSL Z540 or ISO/IEC 17025?
ANSI/NCSL Z540 and ISO/IEC 17025 are internationally recognized standards used by calibration laboratories to demonstrate technical competence, measurement traceability, uncertainty evaluation, and calibration quality.
As the OEM of its products, EXFO maintains direct control over the complete product lifecycle, including:
- Product design and development
- Manufacturing processes
- Verification and validation activities
- Calibration procedures
- Quality assurance processes
- Product specifications and performance requirements
Because EXFO is the manufacturer of the equipment it calibrates, the company performs calibration and certification of its own products using internally controlled processes and traceable standards.
While many independent calibration laboratories pursue ANSI/NCSL Z540 or ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation through an independent accreditation body, such accreditation is not required for EXFO to calibrate and certify the products it designs and manufactures.
How does EXFO ensure measurement traceability?
EXFO calibration processes utilize standards and reference equipment that are traceable to recognized National Metrology Institutes (NMIs), including:
- NIST – National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)
- NPL – National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom)
- NRC – National Research Council Canada
- METAS – Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (Switzerland)
- Other internationally recognized National Metrology Institutes
Traceability may also be established through recognized physical constants or ratio measurement techniques where applicable.
This traceability provides confidence that measurements performed by EXFO instruments are linked to internationally recognized measurement standards.
Are EXFO calibrations based on ISO/IEC 17025?
Yes.
As stated on EXFO calibration certificates:
"Calibration is based on the ISO/IEC 17025 standard."
EXFO calibration activities incorporate recognized metrology practices, measurement traceability principles, uncertainty evaluation methods, and controlled calibration procedures designed to ensure measurement accuracy and repeatability.
However, EXFO calibration laboratories are not formally accredited to ISO/IEC 17025.
How are measurement uncertainties reported?
As stated on EXFO calibration certificates:
"All uncertainties are reported with a level of confidence of 95%."
Measurement uncertainties associated with EXFO calibration activities are determined and documented in accordance with EXFO calibration practices.
What is included with a new EXFO instrument?
Each new EXFO instrument is delivered with a manufacturer-issued calibration certificate confirming that:
- The instrument has been calibrated using standards traceable to recognized National Metrology Institutes, natural physical constants, or ratio measurement techniques, as applicable.
- Calibration results have been recorded according to EXFO procedures.
- Measurement uncertainties are reported where applicable.
- The instrument meets applicable product specifications at the time of shipment.
What if a customer requires an ANSI/NCSL Z540 or ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration certificate?
Some customers may have internal quality requirements, contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, or procurement policies that specifically require an ANSI/NCSL Z540 or ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration certificate.
Customers with such requirements should contact their EXFO representative prior to placing an order so that available options and potential alternatives can be reviewed.
Summary
EXFO does not offer ANSI/NCSL Z540 or ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration services.
As the OEM, EXFO calibrates and certifies the products it manufactures using controlled calibration processes and standards traceable to internationally recognized National Metrology Institutes.
All instruments are calibrated and verified prior to shipment, and EXFO calibration certificates document traceability, calibration results, applicable measurement uncertainties, and conformity to published product specifications.