What Are Calibrating Units for Breath Alcohol Testers?

Calibrating units provide known concentrations of ethanol vapor for the calibration or calibration checks of instruments that measure breath alcohol, according to NHTSA's October 22, 2012 Federal Register notice (77 FR 64588) updating the Conforming Products List of Calibrating Units for Breath Alcohol Testers.

The 2012 update added wet bath units and dry gas units. For the dry gas units, the notice explains that the naming convention shows the ethanol concentration in the volume of nitrogen dry gas, with concentration expressed in parts per million (ppm) or as breath alcohol concentrations and volume expressed in liters. The notice also removed units whose products were discontinued or no longer sold or supported by the manufacturer. ODAPC links the 2012 list from its Conforming Product List for Calibrating Units for Breath Alcohol Testers page.

Under 49 CFR 40.233(c), the user of an EBT, such as an employer or service agent:

• Follows the manufacturer's instructions, including external calibration checks at the intervals the instructions specify
• Uses only calibration devices appearing on NHTSA's CPL for Calibrating Units for Breath Alcohol Tests when conducting external calibration checks
• Takes an EBT that fails an external calibration check out of service and does not use it again for DOT alcohol testing until it is repaired and passes an external calibration check
• Ensures that inspection, maintenance and calibration of the EBT are performed by its manufacturer or a maintenance representative certified either by the manufacturer or by a state health agency or other appropriate state agency

Under 49 CFR 40.333(a)(3), records of the inspection, maintenance and calibration of EBTs are kept for two years. The EBT quality assurance plan is covered in What Devices Can Be Used for DOT Alcohol Tests?, and calibration check failures that cancel a test are covered in When Is a DOT Alcohol Test Cancelled?.

Learn Laws® offers DOT Breath Alcohol Technician Training, with Model BAT Course training, EBT device training and seven live mock tests under 49 CFR 40.213.

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