Does calibration measure up

The UK highway maintenance code of practice, winter service supplement recommends the annual calibration of all de-icing equipment and that all spreaders should conform to BS 1622 1989 and be road speed related. Global positioning system (GPS) has been adopted by nearly all UK fleets, increasing the importance of calibration. The current EU draft proposal recommends two types of test. The first spreader or prototype test would be carried out by the manufacturer and form part of its CE marking obligations. The second test would be a customer test. The effects of salt storage, salt purity and grade on calibration are considered. Econ has completed a series of 64 tests involving different material being spread by a range of spreaders and compiled charts with setting details for all salt types. It also has several contracts to carry out dynamic calibrations. Details are given of the spreader tests.