The laboratory is equipped with automatic mass comparators and realizes the mass scale starting from the national 1 kg platinum-iridium standard.
The NMI activities mainly consist in the calibration of mass standards and weights in the range from 1 mg to 500 kg and precision balances.
The best expanded uncertainties of mass standards are less than 1/5 of the maximum permissible error for class E1, according to OIML document R 111. Measurements of the magnetic properties of mass standards are also performed, verifying the limits prescribed by OIML document R 111.
The laboratory also calibrates the volume and density of class E1 standards using the hydrostatic weighing method for standards up to 50 kg.
The measurement of the centre of gravity of mass standards and artefacts of any shape is also performed, with best uncertainty equal to 1 µm.
Periodic inter-laboratory comparisons are organised for mass standards and balances calibration. Advanced courses are organized for laboratory technicians, metrologists, and quality managers.
The laboratory is involved in scientific research applied to mass metrology, in particular aimed at:
- Improving calculation models;
- Developing methods for the uncertainty evaluation;
- Validating new statistical approaches for processing calibration data and propagating uncertainties in the realization of the mass scale.