Mesa Laboratories, Inc. has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary standard calibration technology through its DryCal product line, as workplace safety professionals face growing regulatory pressure and workforce turnover. The company warns that a shift toward secondary calibration methods may compromise the accuracy of exposure monitoring across industries such as pharmaceuticals and construction.
Accurate calibration of air sampling pumps is essential to comply with standards set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which require ±1% accuracy. However, many secondary standard devices can experience significantly higher error rates at low flow conditions—precisely where precise measurement is most critical.
Mesa’s DryCal system operates as a primary standard using a piston prover that directly measures gas flow based on fundamental SI units of volume and time. Unlike secondary systems that rely on indirect calculations influenced by environmental factors, DryCal maintains consistent accuracy across operating ranges. It also includes a fail-safe mechanism that prevents inaccurate readings if contamination is detected.
The importance of primary standards has gained attention as OSHA adopted Mesa’s Defender series calibrators for field enforcement, purchasing more than 120 units in 2025, with additional acquisitions planned. Company leaders emphasize that reliable calibration is fundamental to protecting workers from hazardous exposures.
In addition to product innovation, Mesa is investing in professional education. The company has partnered with the American Industrial Hygiene Association to deliver a webinar on flow calibration essentials, focusing on regulatory requirements and best practices.
Through continued innovation and training initiatives, Mesa aims to uphold the integrity of occupational exposure monitoring and reinforce its mission of safeguarding vulnerable workers worldwide.
