BNSI preparing for changes to temperature guns

The handheld digital infrared thermometers being used across Barbados to test the temperature of individuals will need to be recalibrated in a matter of months.

And local officials are giving the assurance that the necessary steps were already being taken to ensure this was done when the time comes.

Fabian Scott, Chief Technical Officer of Specification at the Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI), said the temperature guns would need annual recalibration.

“The instruments they buy would have been calibrated by the manufacturer in-house or overseen by a regulator in the country that they ordered it from. But they only last for one year, so coming up very shortly then will be a point where these guns need to be recalibrated, so we are beginning work to design the programme to put in place for that,” said Scott.

“We are hoping to, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, roll it out hopefully before the end of the year. So before the recalibration period comes up, the service will be there at a nominal cost so we can have these guns recalibrated in time,” he assured.

The BNSI has also developed a Safe Business Verification certification for presentation to organisations which are adhering to certain COVID-19 related health and safety measures.

Unicomer Barbados, the company which trades as Courts, was the first to receive this certification on Tuesday for its Bridgetown location.

The blue sticker certification, which was developed by the BNSI’s technical team, is intended to give greater confidence to consumers and other stakeholders.

Scott said so far, the interest among the business community has been “great”.

He was responding to questions from local journalists during a virtual media sensitization session on the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) technical barriers to trade programme on Tuesday.

The €4.5 million programme, which is being implemented in CARIFORUM by CROSQ in association with the Dominican Republic Institute for Quality (INDOCAL), is being managed by the German National Metrology Institute.

It was launched at the beginning of this year and is intended to, among other things, assist CARIFORUM states in closing gaps relating to quality and standards; improving and promoting quality infrastructure; providing training in several related areas; strengthening the regional framework in standards development, metrology, accreditation, conformity, assessment and awareness. (MM)