What are best practices for sensor calibration drift management?

Every sensor drifts over time. Here are the practices we recommend to keep it under control:

• Start with a margin: choose a sensor whose accuracy is well above your critical requirement, since drift never really stops.
• Don't take the datasheet drift as a guarantee: it is measured in near ideal conditions. Heat, humidity, chemicals or frequent thermal cycles accelerate it, so apply a safety multiplier.
• Set your first recalibration date according to your accuracy needs and the risk level of your application.
• Compare each new certificate with the previous ones to measure your real drift, then adjust your interval.
• Prefer calibratable instruments (-CAL option): you can correct the drift instead of replacing the sensor (see the advantages).

All the details are in How often should Dracal sensors be recalibrated? and in our FAQ on calibration and recalibration.