SASOSASOSASO SectorsCalibration and MeasurementAbout Center
خلفية العنوان

 About Center

​​The Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO) is one of the most significant institutions prioritizing the field of measurement and calibration due to its pivotal role. The National Center for Measurement and Calibration was established in 1406 Hijri, corresponding to 1986 AD, as a national entity responsible for developing, maintaining, and applying national measurement standards while ensuring metrological traceability to measurement results in the Kingdom according to the International System of Units (SI). The Center encompasses thirty specialized national laboratories that contribute to supporting scientific, legal, and industrial metrology in both the public and private sectors. It distinguishes itself with primary and secondary measurement standards and advanced measurement systems managed by highly experienced national competencies in various fields of measurement and calibration to ensure traceability of measurement results to the International Sy​stem of Units (SI).

The National Center for Measurement and Calibration provides technical consultancy services in establishing and developing calibration laboratories and designing and manufacturing calibration systems in collaboration with industrial companies. Additionally, it offers calibration services and proficiency testing (PT) to accredited and advanced laboratories seeking accreditation, as well as to authorities and factories to support production lines and enhance their efficiency to achieve the quality of Saudi products through reliance on accurate measurements. Furthermore, the Center contributes to environmental protection, health, and safety, in addition to providing training services to enhance the technical capabilities of employees in carrying out calibration and testing activities and preparing certification and test reports in accordance with international standards (ISO/IEC 17025).

Center's Tasks:

  • Establishment and Maintenance of Measurement Standards: We work on establishing and maintaining national measurement standards while maintaining alignment with the international system of units.
  • Calibration of Devices and Instruments: We calibrate devices and instruments to the highest levels of accuracy for governmental and private entities, as well as for member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
  • Provision of Technical Consultancy: We offer technical consultancy in the development of Saudi measurement standard projects, in addition to providing advisory services to governmental, public, and private instit​utions in the field of metrology.
  • Calibration and Quality Control Services: We provide calibration services for reference standards in national calibration laboratories and metrological verification laboratories, as well as quality control and assurance for industrial devices across various industrial sectors.
  • Research and Educational Activities: We conduct research in the field of metrology and organize awareness seminars, workshops, and training courses in various metrology fields.
  • Participation in International Programs: We participate in primary and supplementary inter-regional and international comparison programs.
  • International Representation: We represent the Kingdom in activities related to national metrology centers at both regional and international levels.

The National Measurement and Calibration Center (NMCC) is considered the national sector that is responsible for maintaining all the national measurement standards and achieving the reference principle by linking the basic international units with the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). 
The second (s)​:​

The metre (m)​:

The kilogram (Kg)​:​

KGEN.png

The ampere (A)​:


The kelvin​ (K)​:


The mole (mol)​​:


The candela​ (cd):

 

  • Executive Regulation of ​Measurement and Calibration Law, (Click for More​).
  • Cost Regulation of  Measurement and Calibration Services , (Click for More).
  • ​Appendix (1) of the Ex​​ecutive Regulation of Measurement and Calibration Law "Technical Requirements for Fuel Pumps", (Click for More).
  • Appendix (2) ​​​​​​of the Executive Regulation of Measurement and Calibration Law "Technical Requirements for Non - Automatic Weighing Instruments", (Click for More).
  • Annex (3) of the Executive Regulation for Metrology and Calibration System "Technical Provisions for Effective Electric Energy Meters", (Click for More).
  • Annex (4) of the Executive Regulation for Metrology and Calibration System "Technical requirements for water meters", (Click for More).​
  • Controls of qualifying inspection and maintenance bodies for measuring devices and issuing the attached type approval certificate, (Click for More).​

International recognition is one of the most important tools in international metrology. It helps ensure the accuracy and dependability of reading measuring devices, supports industrial activities and the national economic system, ensures products quality, and enhances competitiveness and accessibility to global markets.

The importance of international recognition:

  1. It is the technical basis for countries' recognition (signatories of the agreement) of the capabilities of measurement and calibration in the member states of the agreement, which was made public on the website of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures 'BIPM'. International recognition also means that calibration certificates issued by a national calibration body are internationally recognized in all countries of the world.
  2. Achieving fair trade, improving production, enhancing consumer and business sector confidence in products, developing technologies and innovations, and contributing to scientific research to support the redefinition of international units and providing basic technical support for technological development.
  3. Industrial Production: through measurement and calibration activities under the controls of the 'international recognition' agreement, the components and parts manufactured at a different time and in a different location are compatible. 
  4. Health and food safety: The application of international recognition ensures that society is protected from hazardous and unsafe products. 

The National Measurement and Calibration Center (NMCC) is one of the most advanced regional and global centers, and KSA has achieved international recognition in  technical capacity to provide a range of technical services in a variety of areas, including:

Radio frequency measurements , Scattering parameters: Reflection coefficient in coaxials (real and imaginary): -1 to 1​​

Passive device: type N

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 7.0E-3 to 5.9E-2

Vector network analyser (VNA)

Frequency range : 100 kHz to 18 GHz

Connector type : type N

Information on resultts in "10.1051/metrology/201707008"


AC power , AC power and energy: three phase (frequency <= 400 Hz), reactive power: 0.6 var to 2.30E4 var

Power meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 6.0E1 µvar/VA

Comparison with reference standard

Voltage : 60 V to 230 V

Current  : 0.01 A to 100 A

Phase : 0.5 to 1,  inductive or capacitive; 

Frequency : 53 Hz and 60 Hz

The given range is "per phase"


Linear dimensions , End standards: 0.5 mm to 100 mm

Gauge block: central length L

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 3.0E1 nm to 4.0E1 nm

Q[30nm, 0.27e-6L] L in mm, values range from 30 nm to 40 nm
The uncertainty is expressed in nm

Interferometry, exact fractions

ISO 3650:1998(E)

central length : L


Electric and magnetic fields , Electromagnetic fields above 50 kHz: magnetic field strength: 0.01 A/m to 80 A/m

Magnetic flux density meter, magnetic field strength meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 2 dB

TEM cell

IEEE std. 1309- 2013

Frequency : 50 kHz to 1 MHz


Electric and magnetic fields , Electromagnetic fields above 50 kHz: magnetic field strength: 0.01 A/m to 80 A/m

Field probe

Relative expanded uncertainty: 2 dB

TEM cell

IEEE std. 1309- 2013

Frequency : 1 MHz to 400 MHz


Electric and magnetic fields , Electromagnetic fields above 50 kHz: electric field strength: 1 V/m to 200 V/m

Field probe

Relative expanded uncertainty: 2 dB

TEM-cell

IEEE std. 1309- 2013

Frequency : 100 kHz - 400 MHz


Linear dimensions , End standards: 125 mm to 1000 mm

Gauge block: central length L

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 6.0E1 nm to 2.8E2 nm

Q[49nm; 0.28e-6L] L in mm, values range from 60 nm to 284 nm
The uncertainty is expressed in nm

Interferometry exact fractions


AC power , AC power and energy: three phase (frequency <= 400 Hz), reactive power: 0.6 W to 2.30E4 W

Power meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 6.0E1 µW/VA

Comparison with reference standard

Voltage  : 60 V to 230 V

Current  : 0.01 A to 100 A

Phase : 0.5 to 1,  inductive or capacitive; 

Frequency : 53 Hz and 60 Hz

The given range is "per phase"

 

Electric and magnetic fields , Magnetic fields below 50 kHz: magnetic field strength: 0.01 A/m to 80 A/m

Magnetic flux density meter, magnetic field strength meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 1.4 dB

Helmholtz coil

IEEE std. 1309- 2013

Frequency  : 1 kHz to 50kHz

 

Radiations of the mise en pratique , Absolute frequency: 474 THz

Frequency stabilized laser

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 2.4E1 kHz

Frequency stabilized laser

 

Impedance (up to the MHz range) , Inductance: self inductance,intermediate values: 1.00E-3 H to 1 H

Fixed inductor

Relative expanded uncertainty: 8.2E1 µH/H to 2.5E2 µH/H

STANDARD INDUCTOR CALIBRATION
WITH MAXWELL-WIEN BRIDGE

Frequency : 100 Hz to 10 kHz

temperature : 23 °C ± 1 °C

 

Impedance (up to the MHz range) , Inductance: self inductance, low values: 100 µH

Fixed inductor

Relative expanded uncertainty: 3.2E2 µH/H

STANDARD INDUCTOR CALIBRATION
WITH MAXWELL-WIEN BRIDGE

Frequency : 100 Hz to 10 kHz

temperature : 23 °C ± 1 °C

 

AC power , AC power and energy: three phase (frequency <= 400 Hz), reactive energy: 0.6 var s to 2.30E4 var s

Energy meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 6.0E1 µvar s (var s)-1

Comparison with reference standard

Voltage : 60 V to 230 V

Current : 0.01 A to 100 A

Phase : 0.5 to 1,  inductive or capacitive; 

Frequency : 53 Hz and 60 Hz

Time : 1 s to 100 s

The given range is "per phase"

 

Radio frequency measurements , RF power: absolute power in coaxials: 0.01 mW to 100 mW

Power source, power meter: type N

Relative expanded uncertainty: 8.6 mW/W to 1.1E1 mW/W

Direct measurement

Frequency range : 100 kHz to 18 GHz

Connector type : type N

 

Frequency , Frequency: 1 MHz to 10 MHz

Local frequency standard

Relative expanded uncertainty: 4.6E-13 Hz/Hz

Phase measurement

 

AC power , AC power and energy: single phase (frequency <= 400 Hz), reactive power: 0.6 var to 2.30E4 var

Power meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 6.0E1 µvar/VA

Comparison with reference standard

Voltage : 60 V to 230 V

Current  : 0.01 A to 100 A

Phase : 0.5 to 1,  inductive or capacitive; 

Frequency : 53 Hz and 60 Hz

 

AC power , AC power and energy: three phase (frequency <= 400 Hz), active power: 18 W to 1200 W

Power meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 4.0E1 µW/VA

Comparison with reference standard

Voltage  : 30 V to 240 V

Current : 0.6 A to 5 A

Phase  : 0 to 1,  inductive or capacitive; 

Frequency : 53 Hz to 60 Hz

The given range is "per phase"

 

AC power , AC power and energy: single phase (frequency <= 400 Hz), active power: 0.6 W to 2.30E4 W

Power meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 6.0E1 µW/VA

Comparison with reference standard

Voltage : 60 V to 230 V

Current  : 0.01 A to 100 A

Phase : 0.5 to 1,  inductive or capacitive; 

Frequency : 53 Hz and 60 Hz


Electric and magnetic fields , Electromagnetic fields above 50 kHz: magnetic field strength: 0.01 A/m to 80 A/m

Field probe

Relative expanded uncertainty: 2.5 dB

Fully-anechoic chamber

IEEE std. 1309- 2013

Frequency  : 500 MHz to 1 GHz

 

AC power , AC power and energy: three phase (frequency <= 400 Hz), active energy: 0.6 Ws to 2.30E4 Ws

Energy meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 6.0E1 µWs (VAs)-1

Comparison with reference standard

Voltage : 60 V to 230 V

Current : 0.01 A to 100 A

Phase : 0.5 to 1,  inductive or capacitive; 

Frequency : 53 Hz and 60 Hz

Time : 1 s to 100 s

the given range is "per phase"

 

Impedance (up to the MHz range) , Inductance: self inductance,high values: 10 H

Fixed inductor

Relative expanded uncertainty: 2.1E2 µH/H

Maxwell-Wien bridge

Frequency : 100 Hz to 1 kHz

temperature : 23 °C ± 1 °C


Radiations of the mise en pratique , Vacuum wavelength: 633 nm

Frequency stabilized laser

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 3.0E-2 fm

Frequency stabilized laser

 

Electric and magnetic fields , Electromagnetic fields above 50 kHz: electric field strength: 1 V/m to 200 V/m

Field probe

Relative expanded uncertainty: 2.5 dB

Fully-anechoic chamber

IEEE std. 1309- 2013

Frequency  : 500 MHz - 18 GHz


Radio frequency measurements , Scattering parameters: Transmission coefficient in coaxials (real and imaginary): -1 to 1

Passive device: type N

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 1.1E-5 to 1.0E-2

Vector network analyzer (VNA)

Frequency range : 100 kHz to 18 GHz

Connector type : type N

Information on resultts in "10.1051/metrology/201707008"

 

Radio frequency measurements , RF power: calibration factor in coaxial: 0.8 to 1

Thermistor, power sensor: type N

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 9.4 mW/W to 1.9E1 mW/W

Direct comparison

Power level  : 1 mW      

Frequency range : 100 kHz to 18 GHz

Connector : type N

 

Gravity , Gravitational acceleration: 9.78 m/s2 to 9.83 m/s2

Absolute gravity

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 4.8E-8 m/s2

Absolute gravity FG5-X

 

AC power , AC power and energy: single phase (frequency <= 400 Hz), active power: 18 W to 1200 W

Power meter

Relative expanded uncertainty: 4.0E1 µW/VA

Comparison with reference standard

Voltage : 30 V to 240 V

Current : 0.6 A to 5 A

Phase  : 0 to 1,  inductive or capacitive; 

Frequency : 53 Hz to 60 Hz

 

Time interval , Time interval: 2.00E-9 s to 1.00E5 s

Pulse width source

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 3.0E2 ps

Wide band-width oscilloscope

 

Time interval , Time interval​: 2.00E-9 s to 1.00E5 s

Rise/fall time source

Absolute expanded uncertainty: 3.0E2 ps

Wide band-width oscilloscope


For more, click (here).

Scientific research requires communication and dissemination of results. It occupies a valuable position in our daily lives because it is a tool for building knowledge, facilitating learning and is a way to understand issues, increase public awareness.
In the field of metrology, which is one of the high-level scientific research fields because of the importance that it entails for the progress of societies, so the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization has initiated the development of the National Center for Measurement and Calibration (NMCC) as the body charged with establishing Saudi measurement standards and disseminating traceability of the measurement results produced by the laboratories in KSA to the SI units. As an important step  the NMCC management established program to build the research capabilities of staff in Measurement and uncertainty are the two main pillars of research work in the metrological field  which included an adequate explanation of all the details related to the production and publication of scientific research, starting from the development of the research hypothesis and conducting a literature survey on the subject to find out what was published before and benefit from in order to direct research from where the others ended. The program also addressed the development of the research plan, conducting experiments and analyzing data statistically. It ended with the methods of writing a research paper with: title, summary, keywords, introduction and practical experiments, then discussing the results, formulating conclusions, and preparing a list of scientific references supporting the research paper.
List of research published with the participation of laboratories NMCC:

  1. “Development of a new linearly variable edge filter (LVEF)-based compact slitless mini-spectrometer,” K Mahmoud, S. Park and D-H lee, IOP: Journal of Phys.: Conf. Ser. 972 (2018) 012026.
  2. “Design of a new compact spectrometer based on linearly variable edge filter,”  K Mahmoud, S. Park and D-H Lee, Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on New Developments and Applications in Optical Radiometry (NEWRAD 2017) NMIJ, Tokyo, Japan, pp. 222-223.
  3. “Realization of pulse energy measurement traceability by linking of pulse and CW reference standards,” O BAZKIR, S CENAK and K Mahmoud, IOP: Journal of Phys.: Conf. Ser. 972 (2018) 012013.
  4. “Realization of pulse energy measurement traceability by linking of pulse and CW reference standards,” O BAZKIR, S CENAK and K Mahmoud, Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on New Developments and Applications in Optical Radiometry (NEWRAD 2017) NMIJ, Tokyo, Japan, pp. 160-161.
  5. “Instrumentation for 2D distribution measurement of spectral reflectance based on spectral imaging in the NIR-SWIR region,” Woohyun Jung, K Mahmoud, S Park, JK Yoo, KH Oh and D-H Lee, Proceedings of Optical Society of Korea (OSK) Winter-2018 Conference.
  6. “Performance evaluation of imaging spectrophotometer in the visible and infrared region,” Jung W, Mahmoud K, Lee D-H, Park S, Yoo J-K, Hwang J, Jeong K-L, Kim S-K and Oh K., Proceedings of CIE-2017 International Conference.
  7. “New Laser-Driven Light Source (LDLS)-based DSR measurement facility or calibration of reference solar cells,” K Mahmoud, J-K Yoo, N Al-Qahtani and H-G Lee, Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on New Developments and Applications in Optical Radiometry (NEWRAD 2021) NIST, Boulder, USA, pp. 217-218.
  8. "New facility for primary calibration of differential spectral responsivity of solar cells using LDLS-based monochromatic source,” K Mahmoud, I Alfaleh and J-K Yoo, IOP: 2022 Journal of Phys.: Conf. Ser. 2149 – 012003
  9. Bilateral Comparison of Radiation Temperature Measurements from -20 to 1600 ◦C Between TUBITAK-UME (Turkey) and SASO-NMCC (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia),” Ozlem Pehlivan et al., MAPAN 37, 59-69 (2022).
  10. Certification of sodium benzoate solution reference material by HPLC-UV, LC-MS/MS and UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometry for food and drug analysis, A. B. Shehata et al.,  J. Chem. Metrol. 14:2 (2020) 88-105.
  11. Difference between calibration and practical force proving instruments, S. M. Osman et al., Universitas Scientiarum (Javeriana), 26(1): 67-77 2021.
  12. Uncertainty of Multipoint Calibration of Ph-ETERS WITH Glass Electrode Used for Routine pH Measurements in the pH-mode, A. B. Shehata et al., International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering (IJAREEIE), Volume 10, Issue 12, 7470-7476, December 20​21.





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Last modified 07 Oct 2024
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