ISO/IEC 17043 accredited · Mass flow (PJLA L24-898)

Flow meter proficiency testing

Two gas flow PT programs for labs that calibrate mass flow meters: 100 SLPM in air and 2 SLPM in nitrogen. We send a characterized Alicat flow meter with operating instructions. Your technician connects it to your flow standard, sets each flow, and reports the reading with its expanded uncertainty. We score every point with an En number against our reference value.

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2 programs

100 SLPM Flow proficiency test

Proficiency test for flow meter calibration at 100 SLPM.

Kit: Alicat 100 SLPM mass flow meter (MBS-100SLPM-D)
Test points: 25 SLPM, 50 SLPM, 75 SLPM, 100 SLPM, 50 SLPM
You'll need: A flow standard set to mass flow in slpm and an air gas supply
Note: Air supply; standard conditions on your flow standard set to 1 atm and 21.11 °C. The last point repeats 50 SLPM.
Price: $695 for one participant, +$100 each additional participant

Program details →Request this PT →

Sample instructions

Connect the flow meter marked FLOW-115 to your flow standard and air supply.
Set flow conditions on your flow standard to 1 atm and 21.11 °C.
Set flow to 25 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Set flow to 50 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Set flow to 75 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Set flow to 100 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Set flow to 50 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Email results and your uncertainty budget to proficiency@lakebalance.com
After you've received your completed test results return to Lake Balance Calibration Solutions.

Kit barcodes in these sample instructions are examples; the kit you receive may differ.

2 SLPM Flow Meter proficiency test

Proficiency test for low-flow nitrogen flow meters at 2 SLPM.

Kit: Alicat 2 SLPM mass flow meter (MW-2SLPM-D/5M)
Test points: 0.5000 SLPM, 1.0000 SLPM, 1.5000 SLPM, 2.0000 SLPM, 1.0000 SLPM
You'll need: A flow standard set to mass flow in slpm and a nitrogen gas supply
Note: Nitrogen supply; standard conditions on your flow standard set to 1 atm and 25.00 °C. The last point repeats 1 SLPM.
Price: $695 for one participant, +$100 each additional participant

Program details →Request this PT →

Sample instructions

Connect the flow meter marked FLOW-116 to your flow standard and air supply.
Set flow conditions on your flow standard to 1 atm and 25.00 °C.
Set flow to 0.5000 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Set flow to 1.0000 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Set flow to 1.5000 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Set flow to 2.0000 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Set flow to 1.0000 slpm and record reading. Report reading and uncertainty on the Data Reporting Sheet.
Email results and your uncertainty budget to proficiency@lakebalance.com
After you've received your completed test results return to Lake Balance Calibration Solutions.

Kit barcodes in these sample instructions are examples; the kit you receive may differ.

What a flow PT tests

Mass flow results depend on the gas, the standard conditions both instruments use, and the stability of the supply as much as on the flow standard. Each kit states the gas and the standard temperature and pressure to set, so differences in your result come from your process rather than a units mismatch.

Each program has four rising points and a repeat of a mid-range point at the end. The repeat shows whether your setup returns to the same value, which helps separate drift or leaks from a calibration offset.

Getting a satisfactory result

Let the flow meter acclimate for 24 hours before testing.
Set the gas type on the PT meter as the kit's operating instructions describe.
Leak-check connections before the first point.
Report expanded uncertainty at the coverage factor you use on customer certificates.

How it's scored

Each reported value is compared with the Lake Balance reference value using the En number, which accounts for both your expanded uncertainty and ours. An |En| below 1 is satisfactory. Your report is released in the customer portal.

Accreditation

Lake Balance is accredited by PJLA to ISO/IEC 17043:2023 as a proficiency testing provider (certificate L24-898). The scope supplement lists the Mass flow scheme: flow meters.

View certificate and scope

Flow PT questions

What equipment do we need for the flow PT?

A flow standard set to mass flow in SLPM, plus an air supply for the 100 SLPM program or a nitrogen supply for the 2 SLPM program.

Which flows are tested?

The 100 SLPM program is tested at 25, 50, 75 and 100 SLPM, then 50 SLPM again. The 2 SLPM program is tested at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 SLPM, then 1.0 SLPM again.

Is flow PT within your ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation?

Yes. The PJLA L24-898 scope supplement lists a Mass Flow scheme for the calibration of flow meters. The certificate and scope are on our accreditation page.

Other PT disciplines

Compare every discipline, pricing and the PT process on the calibration proficiency testing page.

Plan your flow PT

Choose a program, the number of participants and a preferred test date. We'll match a kit, confirm the schedule and price, and invite you to the portal.

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