NIST-Traceable Sensors

ISO calibration refers to calibration procedures conforming to ISO quality management standards (such as ISO 9001:2015), ensuring processes are documented and repeatable. NIST calibration or traceability means measurements are validated against the U.S. national measurement standards maintained by NIST. OSI sensors carry both — ISO 9001:2015 quality certification for manufacturing processes and a NIST-certified measurement algorithm for sensor accuracy.

NIST stands for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a U.S. federal agency under the Department of Commerce. NIST establishes and maintains measurement standards used across science, industry, and technology. When a sensor's algorithm or calibration is described as NIST-certified or NIST-traceable, it means the measurement method has been validated against these authoritative national standards.

No. OSI's NIST-traceable optical flow sensors are factory pre-calibrated and feature drift-free measurement technology. The sensors include a built-in automatic calibration check and continuous self-test diagnostics, meaning no field calibration is ever required. This eliminates ongoing calibration costs and minimizes operational downtime throughout the sensor's service life.

Yes. All sensors in OSI's OFS-2000 series are designed and certified for EPA 40 CFR Part 75 compliance. They are used extensively for stack gas flow monitoring at power plants, refineries, and industrial facilities where continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) must meet federal regulatory requirements for accuracy and traceability.

NIST-traceable optical flow sensors are used across power generation, petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing, waste-to-energy, and environmental compliance sectors. Specific applications include flare stack monitoring, wet scrubber and bag house flow measurement, carbon capture systems, incinerators, and thermal oxidizers — anywhere accurate, regulatory-compliant gas flow measurement is critical.

OSI's NIST-traceable sensor lineup covers a broad range of velocities. The standard OFS-2000 and OFS-2000W measure 0–100 m/sec, suitable for most industrial stacks and ducts. The OFS-2000F, designed specifically for flare stacks, extends this range to 0.03–170 m/sec, enabling accurate measurement even at extremely low flow conditions common during flare operations.