Calibrations are performed by the calibration laboratories accredited by the "Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS)" founded by the German Government in Cooperation with the German Federation of Industry (BDI). The basis of the DAkkS (former DKD accreditation body) accredited calibration laboratories is the traceability of their reference standards to the national standards provided by the National Metrology Institute, the PTB or other National Metrology Institutes. 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 DAkkS after assessment of the laboratories in accordance with the standard DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. Membership of DAkkS in the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) ensures the recognition of the calibration certificates in all member countries worldwide. At present there are about 470 accredited calibration laboratories for electrical, magnetic, dimensional, mechanical, acoustical, fluid and optical quantities, as well as for chemical analysis, reference materials, time and frequency, ionizing radiation and radioactivity, temperature and humidity.

As PTB is responsible by law for the uniformity of measurement in Germany, the DKD (Deutsche Kalibrierdienst) was reestablished in May 2011 to represent a forum for information exchange and the elaboration of harmonized calibration guides. About 500 laboratories and individuals are members of the DKD, which is subdivided into 13 technical committees. DKD is a member of the EUROCAL, the European association of national associations of calibration laboratories. DKD closely cooperates with DAkkS to support the German calibration system.

Head of the department "Metrology | Constructions | Transport | Renewable Energy" of DAkkS: Dr. Heike Manke

Address:          Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany

Telephone:      +49 531 592 1900

Fax:                 +49 531 592 1905

E-mail:             heike.manke@dakks.de

Chairperson of DKD: Dr. Wolfgang Schmid

Address:          Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany

Telephone:      +49 531 592 9100

Fax:                 +49 531 592 699100

E-mail:             dkd(at)ptb.de