British Glass | UKAS Temperature Calibration

Date: 29^th July 2026

Don Whitley Scientific (DWS) has completed a programme of UKAS-accredited temperature calibration at the British Glass site in Sheffield, covering a variety of specialist laboratory equipment operating across a range of 20°C to 300°C.

Claire Coles, Laboratory Manager at the Sheffield site, is responsible for UKAS-accredited testing activities including thermal shock endurance, loss on drying (LOD), loss on emissions, stability testing, and testing for lead and cadmium content.

For Claire and her team, accurate temperature calibration is essential to maintaining compliance with relevant standards and confidence in their results.

“It is key that our equipment is accurate and reliable for compliance with standards and for confidence in results,” Claire explained.

Calibration from 20°C to 300°C

DWS carried out calibration on seven pieces of equipment at the Sheffield laboratory, including incubators, water baths, laboratory ovens and a high-temperature furnace. Calibration points ranged from 20°C to 300°C, allowing British Glass to use one provider for equipment with a variety of operating requirements. The programme covered incubators, water baths, laboratory ovens and a high-temperature furnace, allowing British Glass to use one calibration provider for equipment with a variety of operating requirements.

DWS already serviced the laboratory’s autoclave annually. Following a positive experience with Service Engineer Martin, Claire was encouraged to explore how the UKAS team could support the site’s wider calibration requirements.

Clear communication and responsive planning helped the work proceed smoothly, even when changes were needed.

“Scheduling in the calibrations themselves was easy, the communication was fantastic, and even our changes were well received and acted upon quickly. The team were all very professional and knowledgeable. We also received the reports in a very timely manner, and everything complies with our internal quality systems, which is a must.”

Consistent certification across multiple equipment types

Working with a provider capable of calibrating several types of equipment across a broad temperature range was particularly important to Claire and her team.

British Glass aims to keep its list of key suppliers as streamlined as possible. Receiving consistent calibration certificates across multiple pieces of equipment of a similar nature also makes it easier for the laboratory team to calculate budgets and manage its internal quality processes.

Following completion of the work, the equipment is now validated for another year, allowing the laboratory to continue providing a reliable service to its customers.

Although the laboratory’s previous calibration supplier had also provided a good service, Claire particularly noticed the speed of delivery from DWS.

“The service with DWS was very good. Our previous supplier was also good, but DWS noticeably delivered the service quicker. We had good, clear communication with the team and the certificates were also delivered very quickly.”

Claire said she would recommend DWS’s UKAS-accredited calibration services to other organisations seeking reliable technical expertise and responsive customer support:

“Yes – a very reliable, knowledgeable and friendly service.”

Claire Coles
Laboratory Manager
British Glass