Metrology, the science of Measurement, has always played a key role in the development of society, economy and trade. Establishing a National Measurement System , inline with Global Measurement System, is one of the essential requirements, to enable Global trade, by which , the measurements, quality system and product certification made in a country will be acceptable to other country and thereby remove technical barrier to trade. Bahrain Standards and Metrology Directorate, constitutes the Bahrain National Measurement System. It ensures a consistent and internationally recognized basis for measurement and metrological task is solved according to the same criteria worldwide i.e. the same physical units (SI) , internationally accepted standards and measurement procedures.
Metrology section is one of the core component of the National Measurement System under the umbrella of BSMD. The Directorate is the national body committed to enforce legal Metrology in the country and it seeks to strengthen and widen its scope of activities to cover all aspects of Metrology say Legal, Scientific and Industrial. The main responsibilities and activities of the Metrology Section are the following.
1) Custodian of Measurement Standards: Responsible for keeping and maintaining the National Measurement standards of physical parameters with international traceability , in line with SI system of units. And disseminates them to lower level , by establishing hierarchy of standards and traceability in measurement , to suit the legal and industrial metrology requirement of the country. Presently maintaining the National Standards of 'Mass, Length and Volume.
2) Legal Metrology Activities: All measurements related to trade and consumer protection, safety and health care, environmental protection and law and order , comes under the purview of legal metrology. Legal metrology ensures that all measurements made for the purpose of exchanging products as part of trade are fair and credible. The activities of the group is presently covers periodic verification of weights and measures ( scale, weights, balances and volumetric measures) , used in the markets and commercial stores, Jewelries, textiles traders, etc. The inspection and verification is carried out annually , by qualified inspectors of the section.
3) Industrial Calibrations : With traceability to the National and International standards, the laboratory presently provides calibration of industrial weights, balances, weighing bridges, precision electronic weighing machines etc., to meet the quality system requirements of Bahrain industries , laboratories and quality concerned organizations. All calibrations are performed as per established procedures and calibration certificates are issued as per the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 standard. The laboratory is also equipped with capabilities for calibration of pressure, volume and temperature measuring instruments.
The directorate is now seeks to strengthen and widen its scope of activities which includes the following.
1) National Metrology Laboratory : Great emphasis is now focused towards establishing the National Metrology Laboratory, with highest level calibration and testing facilities in the whole country. It is expected to be functioning at the end of year 2006. The National Metrology Laboratory would be accommodated by state-of art reference standard instruments, operated by well trained metrologists, and the laboratory would be functioned in line with International laboratory standards, ISO/IEC 17025 and with international traceability and established uncertainty levels . This would provide instrumentation support to the government and non-governmental organizations and industries and commerce as needed, by performing testing and calibration of equipments, that measures a wide range of parameters say (1) in calibration: pressure, mass, volume, length, time, electrical parameters, temperature etc. and (2) in testing: Chemical testing, electrical testing, Paint testing, Mechanical testing, etc.
2) Training programs: The Metrology Section is Planning to conduct regular and tailor- made training programs, awareness programs and workshops in the field of metrology and calibration, for the benefits of industries, laboratories, educational institutes, and the government organizations of the country. For any further information on our training programs or any consultation or advice required on the services we provide , please do not hesitate to contact us on the following Phone: 17574890, email: mkutty@commerce.gov.bh .