Proposal for the

Establishment of the
Department of
Metrology
1.0 Introduction
Metrology is one of the elements of NQI whose primary purpose is to bring about significant
and sustainable positive impacts on economic competitiveness, increased protection of
consumers and national environments, towards customer-oriented quality infrastructure.

The SQCC has plan to structure metrology department which is needed to provide traceability
chain to field laboratories where measurement data are produced for trading purpose as well as
for guaranteeing the quality of life of the people this can be done by leadership commitment.

2.0 Establishment of the department of metrology

Establishing a department of Metrology under the structure of Somaliland quality control
commission is important. And it is essential for traceability used in industry, commerce and
services, and its standards should in turn be linked to international measuring standards. Such
department assures the accuracy of measuring instruments, allowing more trust in human
activities that use such devices in production processes, tests, trade, health, justice, sports and
many other sectors.
Although, the existence of this department not yet fully authorized (i.e., metrology) but its
importance still viable and necessary in Somaliland, since the all quality infra-structures are all
relies on metrology. For that reason, the Somaliland quality control commission would like to set
up the metrology department and its laboratory which at final will facilitate the commerce and
promote Somaliland’s local production commodities. And in conclusion the general purpose of
metrology is to enhance the reliability of measurements in trade, industry, health, safety,
environment protection and law enforcement in order to facilitate national economic and social
development and consumer protection.
Metrology department will assist both industry and society. It will provide services such as
calibration, research and development of new measurement techniques, measurement references
or specialized measurement instruments.
3.0 Reason’s for establishment
The aim of establishing this respective department is because of the following two reasons:
A. The Somaliland quality control act in article 7 and 31 and 32 suggests the principles,
functions of the commission related to metrology and the purpose of metrology:

Article 7, The General Principle of the SQCC shall be –

(1) To promote standardization, metrology and quality assurance in industry and commerce,
(2) To make arrangements for, or provide facilities for, the testing and calibration of
equipment for the determination of their degree of accuracy by comparison with
standards approved by the Commission, and for the issue of certificates with regard
thereto;
(6) to encourage or undertake educational work in connection with standardization,
metrology and quality assurance.
Article 31 The purpose of metrology
(1) The purpose of metrology is:
i. To ensure national traceability of measurement to the International System of Units
(SI).
ii. To be the national reference point for measurements and the link to the international
measurement system.
iii. To strengthen and upgrade the national measurement system which supports the
national economic and social development agenda and also complies with international
best practices.
iv. To enhance the reliability of measurements in trade, industry, health, safety,
environment protection and law enforcement in order to facilitate national economic
and social development and consumer protection.
v. To enhance research and development in metrology so as to increase opportunities for
organizations to participate in technology transfer through metrology.
Article 32 The principals of Metrology
(1) Metrology programmes and activities shall be carried out on the basis of the following
principles:
a) Measurements performed once and accepted everywhere;
b) Access to quality, traceable and cost-effective calibration and measurement services;
c) Universal access to calibration and measurement capabilities information
B. There was study conducted by our partner metrology institute of Ethiopia (I.e., National
Metrology Institute of Ethiopia). The study suggested that: for the Establishment of a
department of metrology and a calibration laboratory that can provide the calibration service
and technical trainings that can fill the gap. In addition they pointed that This Lab will be
administered by the national metrology institute/department of metrology in Somaliland
Quality Control Commission.
4.0 Organizational structure

Director

Deputy
director

Section Section Section

head head head

5.0 Prioritized work plan activities in the department of metrology

In order the SQCC department fully operate there has been number of activities formulated.
These activities are the most important tasks that are necessary for the department and has been
derived from the assessment done by our partner Ethiopian national metrology institute (NMIE)
as well local assessment done by SQCC team. These activities are included:
a) The setting up of the department’s structure. The structure will consist number of
hierarchies. These hierarchies are all administered by the Head of the department (i.e.,
director of the department). Under the director there will be two or three head sections
which will manage daily issues commencing inside the department. Under the section
head there will be units
b) Establishment of the metrology laboratory. This laboratory will do calibration and
adjusting the units and measurement of the equipment’s and machines in Somaliland
laboratories and measurement equipment.
In addition, there will be a number of laboratories that may come under the metrology
department. These laboratories will public and private sectors and may have due on
collaboration agreement under the Somaliland quality control commission.
c) Area of interest (Based on Somaliland’s need)
 Based on feasibility assessment done by the national metrology institute there were
number of areas identified and it was based on the need existing in the current situation of
Somaliland.
The areas that are identified including:
i. Physical Or Mechanical
ii. Electrical
iii. Chemical
These are the areas in which there is an urgent need of calibration and re correction.
d) Identification of human resource (skilled technicians in metrology)
These activities are included for the identification, selection and recruitment for the staff
whom will focus the correction and calibration of instruments concerned the
measurement and result production. After selection these personnel there will be training
provided this technicians.
6.0 Metrology laboratory
The demand in the Somaliland requires to establish a metrology/ calibration laboratory in a
limited scope in the areas of mass metrology, volume metrology, temperature metrology, Which
will be extended to other measurement areas based on the demand of the manufacturing and
service giving industries, the demand in the legal metrology area, trade and other priority areas
of Somaliland. The scope (in accuracy) of the laboratory in the selected measurement area
should be closely analysed with the demand, as it also dictates accuracy of instruments and
environmental conditions required.
Here are the detailed list of equipment, cost and specification for the agreed accuracy, overall
design and laboratory environment, including utilities and facilities, environmental condition
control equipment.
Recommended standards, equipment and relevant accessories
a) Mechanical Measurements

Mass and Weighing instruments

For the calibration of weights and weighing instruments, the following minimum measurement
laboratory facilities are required.
 Well-conditioned calibration laboratory
  Calibration benches
 National reference standard weights of oiml accuracy class E2
 Reference/working standard weights of oiml accuracy class F1, F2, M1
 Mass comparator balances
 Susceptometer for the determination of magnetic property of weights
 Data logger for environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity) monitoring
 Other accessories:
o Water distiller for production of distilled water to be used in cleaning
weights
o Alcohol to be used in cleaning weights
Volume and Flow metres
For the calibration of volumetric glassware, volumetric provers and flow meters, the following
minimum measurement laboratory facilities are required.
 Well-conditioned calibration laboratory
 Calibration benches
 Reference standard weights of OIML accuracy class E2 or F1
 Mass comparator balances for gravimetric determination of volume
 Data logger for environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity) monitoring
 Digital thermometer for measuring water temperature
 Set of different types and sizes of glassware (beakers, graduated measuring cylinders,
flasks, pipettes, burettes, density bottles or pyknometers)
 Conductivity meters
 Digital pipette controllers or plastic suckers
 Drying ovens for drying wet glassware
 Water distiller for production of distilled water to be used in cleaning weights
 Glass or Metal provers
 Master flowmeters
Pressure
For the calibration of pressure measuring instruments, especially pressure gauges the following
minimum measurement laboratory facilities are required.
 Master or reference standard pressure gauges
  Hydraulic and pneumatic Pressure balance
 Working standard pressure gauges
 Hydraulic Comparator
 Pneumatic Comparator
 Calibration benches
 Data logger for environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity) monitoring
 Vertical Height Gauge for height measurement
 Leveling device
 Other accessories and consumables;
o Appropriate specific density of hydraulic oil
o Adaptors for fitting of the gauges to be calibrated on the pressure balance or
comparator
o Gloves for handling of the dead weights.
o Hand tools, adjustable wrench, etc.
o Teflon tape
o Thread sealing compound
o Seals
o Syringe to drain the pressure medium from the gauges
o Distilled water
o clocks and so on
Thermodynamic Measurements
Temperature
For the calibration of temperature measuring instruments like a climatic chamber (oven,
incubators), water baths, furnaces and similar temperature medium the following laboratory
facilities are required.
 Standard temperature probs PRT or SPRT
 Thermocouples Type S, K or N
 TC/Pt-100 Digital temperature indicator/readers
For the calibration of temperature sensors in addition to the measurement standards mentioned
above, the following items are also required.
  Temperature mediums
o Alcohol bath for lower temperature range blow 0 oC to 30 oC
o Water bath low & medium temperature range 30 oC to 80 oC
o Oil bath medium temperature range 80 oC to 200 oC
o Fluidized bath high temperature range 200 oC to 600 oC
o Furnace very high temperature range 600 oC to 1200 oC
 Environmental Data Loggers
 Other accessories and consumables
o Thermometer stand
o Ethanol
o Eye goggle
o Ruler
o Fibre glass
o Gloves
o Tool box
o Copper wires
o Tissues
o Towel/textile
o Black paint /Exhaust spray
Instead of the temperature mediums mentioned above for the calibration of temperature sensors
appropriate dry block calibrators can be also used.