1. The institution responsible for measurement standards and scientific metrology is Physikalisch -Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB).

 

It is the national metrology institute providing scientific and technical services.

PTB´s responsibilities are achieving progress and ensuring reliability in the field of metrology for the benefit of society, economy and science with main activities research, measurement and consulting.

 

            Areas of PTB´s work are:

-       realisation, reproduction and dissemination of the SI units,

-       development of national measurement standards,

-       determination of fundamental constants and exploitation of quantum effects for realising the units,

-       provision of traceable reference materials and determination of material properties,

-       development of accurate and reliable measurement procedures,

-       contributions to standardization and technology transfer by consulting and seminars,

-       pattern evaluations, approvals and consulting,

-       metrology in commercial transactions, environmental, labour and radiation protection, medicine and safety engineering,

-       cooperation in European and international metrology organizations as well as with other metrology institutes,

-       technical cooperation with developing and newly industrialised countries

 

 

Management:	Prof. Dr. Ernst-O. Göbel, President of the PTB                   Prof. Dr. Manfred Peters, Vice president Prof. Dr. Michael Kühne, Member of Presidential Board
Address:	Bundesallee 100, D-38116 Braunschweig , Germany
Telephone:	+ 49 531 592 0
Fax:	+ 49 531 592 9292
E-mail:	Ernst.O.Goebel@ptb.de Manfred.Peters@ptb.de Michael.Kuehne@ptb.de

 

 

 

 

2. Institutions responsible for legal metrology

 

The basic principles of legal metrology have been stipulated by the Units Act and the Verification Act, including the relevant implementing ordinances and additional regulations.

The physical and technical basis of the units to be applied in official and commercial transaction is today’s International System of Units (SI).

The tasks of legal metrology are distributed between the federal and the state authorities. PTB is responsible for pattern approval of measuring instruments and traceability to national standards used by the verification authorities.

The verification authorities of the sixteen states and the officially approved test centres for measuring instruments in the field of electricity, gas, water and heat are responsible for the individual testing of measuring instruments subject to mandatory verification.

 

Ständiges Sekretariat der AG ME Hessische Eichdirektion
	Address:	Holzhofallee 3  64283 Darmstadt, Germany
	Telephone:	+ 49 6151 125553
	Fax:	+ 49 6151 125923
	E-mail:	Hessische-Eichdirektion@t-online.de

 

3. Institutions responsible for calibration service

 

Calibrations are performed by the laboratories of the "Deutscher Kalibrierdienst (DKD)" founded and operated by the German Government - represented by the Accreditation Body of DKD - and industry. The basis of DKD accredited calibration laboratories is the traceability of their measurands to the national standards provided by the National Metrology Institute, the PTB.

Industrial laboratories and other institutes which, due to their trained personnel and equipment, are able to perform measurements with the required uncertainty and whose standards are traceable to the national standards of the PTB, are accredited as calibration laboratories. Accreditation is granted by the Accreditation Body of DKD after assessment of the laboratories in accordance with the standard DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025.

Membership of DKD within the "European co-operation for Accreditation (EA)" and the "International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)" ensure the recognition of the calibration certificates in all membership countries worldwide. At present there are about 400 accredited calibration laboratories for electrical, magnetic, dimensional, mechanical, acoustical, fluid and optical quantities, as well as for chemical analysis, reference materials, time and frequency, ionising radiation and radioactivity, temperature and humidity.

 

Management:	Mr. Wolfgang Bosch Head of DKD Accreditation Body
Address:	Post Box 3345 38023 Braunschweig,   Germany
Telephone:	+ 49 531 592 19 00
Fax:	+ 49 531 592 19 05
E-mail:	Wolfgang.Bosch@ptb.de