Torque tool calibration

[thecarter]

So, I've talked to my boss about calibrating our torque wrenches in house. We have a 2-4 week wait if we send them to the calibration company. We are an API 4F facility and I'm not sure where to start with this endeavor.

I've found two digital torque testers (same as the cal labs) and I've gotten the green light to order them. I know I'll need a procedure but I have huge holes in my plan. Will I need to write this procedure and have it verified by a third party? Should I outsource that step? What would I use to reference in writing this procedure (iso, nist)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Welcome thecarter!

Does your torque wrench manufacturer(s) have instructions for how to calibrate them?

I don't think you need to conjure up a calibration procedure. There are lots out there to review and learn from. But whatever it is need to be correct for your specific tools and suitable to deliver the sensitivity you need for your processes.

 

[Dhaval Chitre]

No, You don't need to verify it from third party. Just add it in your procedure of Control of TMME's (API Q1 clause 5.8). Specify the steps/methods in the same procedure that how you are going to calibrate torque wrench in-house. (API Q1 5.8e calibration or verification method). Also, you need standard copy also and add it into the external origin documents list. This is what we have added in our procedure.

 

[lanley liao]

Hi, I agree with Dhaval and Jen. You really don`t need to verify it, but you need to control, measure, and manage it in order to meet your product process requirements.

 

[thecarter]

Hey wow, thank you all for the information. I really appreciate it and will now stop pulling my hair out.

 

[dwperron]

Hey wow, thank you all for the information. I really appreciate it and will now stop pulling my hair out.

But it's never just that simple.....

You take over the calibration program and you now own the process covered in API Specification Q1 - Quality Management System Requirements, Section 5.8 "Control of Testing, Measuring, and Monitoring Equipment". I'm not sure how much of that you might already have in place, but basically they are requiring you to become a calibration lab, including maintaining the registry of test equipment, maintaining calibration records, maintaining environmental conditions, etc.