Calibration Resources
Temperature Calibration Explained: Thermocouples, RTDs and Data Loggers
Temperature calibration verifies a sensor's reading against a traceable reference at known temperatures, so thermocouples, RTDs, thermometers and data loggers report the true temperature — not a drifted one. A 12-month interval suits most temperature instruments, tightened for critical processes such as pharma, food and heat treatment.
Why temperature sensors drift
Thermocouples degrade chemically with repeated heating and cooling; RTDs shift with mechanical stress and contamination; loggers drift with battery and electronics ageing. Because temperature often controls a process directly, an undetected drift can quietly push you out of specification.
How temperature calibration is done
The sensor is compared against a traceable reference — typically in a stable temperature source such as a dry-block, liquid bath or fixed-point cell — at several points across its working range. The engineer records the error and uncertainty at each point and issues a certificate. Explore our temperature calibration service for the full range of sensors we handle.
What we calibrate
- Thermocouples and RTDs (PT100 etc.)
- Digital and liquid-in-glass thermometers
- Temperature data loggers
- Reference probes and indicators
Calibrating an instrument vs mapping a space
Calibration verifies one sensor. If you need to qualify a whole environment — a cold room, warehouse, chamber or incubator — that's temperature & humidity mapping, which profiles the temperature (and humidity) across the entire space using a grid of loggers. The two are often done together: calibrate the sensors, then map the space.
How often to calibrate
Default to 12 months and tighten for critical processes — see our calibration-interval guide.
Get temperature calibration in Singapore
Accredited, in-lab or on-site. Request a temperature calibration quote.
Frequently asked questions
How is a thermocouple or RTD calibrated?+
The sensor is compared against a traceable reference in a stable temperature source — such as a dry-block, liquid bath or fixed-point cell — at several points across its range. The error and measurement uncertainty are recorded at each point and a certificate is issued.
How often should temperature sensors be calibrated?+
Every 12 months suits most temperature instruments. Tighten the interval for critical processes such as pharmaceutical, food and heat-treatment applications, or where the sensor is exposed to harsh cycling.
What is the difference between temperature calibration and temperature mapping?+
Calibration verifies a single sensor's reading. Temperature (and humidity) mapping qualifies an entire space — a cold room, warehouse or chamber — by recording conditions across a grid of calibrated loggers over time. They are different services and are often performed together.
Can temperature data loggers be calibrated?+
Yes. Data loggers drift as their electronics and batteries age, so they should be calibrated on a schedule like any other temperature instrument, against a traceable reference across the range you use.