A label applied to an instrument after calibration, typically showing the asset ID, calibration date, due date, technician initials and status, such as a standard sticker, a limited calibration sticker or a do-not-use tag. Operators and auditors read it first, since a gauge with an expired or missing sticker is not fit for use however well it works. Some labs color-code stickers by quarter so overdue items stand out from across the room.
No cal sticker on that micrometer, pull it from the line until we find its record.
Also heard as
- cal label
- cal tag
- calibration label
Related terms
Cal due
The date by which an instrument must be calibrated again, printed on its sticker and tracked by the recall system.
Limited cal
A calibration covering only some ranges or functions of an instrument, flagged with a special sticker.
Red tag
A reject tag marking an instrument as unfit for use, or the act of pulling one from service with it.
Out of cal
Past its calibration due date, so the instrument is not approved for use regardless of how well it performs.
Recall
The system that schedules instruments back for calibration before their due date, and the act of calling them in.