Every year millions tons of steel are produced worldwide from recycled scrap loads.Although the detection systems in the steelworks prevent most orphan radioactive sourcesfrom entering the furnace, there is still the possibility of accidentally melting aradioactive source. The MetroMetal project, carried out in the frame of the EuropeanMetrology Research Programme (EMRP), addresses this problem by studying the existingmeasurement systems, developing sets of reference sources in various matrices (cast steel,slag, fume dust) and proposing new detection instruments. This paper presents the keylines of the project and describes the preparation of radioactive sources as well as theintercomparison exercises used to test the calibration and correction methods proposedwithin the project.

The main target of this paper is to determine the seasonal features of the wind speed inthe northwestern of Senegal and to assess the cost of annual energy output using windturbines provided from several manufactures. The wind data used for this study werecollected in four sites located in the northwestern coast of Senegal and cover the periodof one year. The seasonal mean wind speed and the annual distribution curves were obtainedby using the Weibull distribution function. A technical assessment of electricitygeneration from five big wind turbines which power is between 640 kW and 2000 kW and fromsix small wind turbines which power is between 250 W and 10 kW were carried out. Theresults obtained show that the lower cost (0.0265 €/kWh in Sokhar) was observed for thewind turbine Ecotècnia 62. The highest cost was 0.5103 €/kWh (in Gandon) observed for thetechnology of Alize. All wind turbines was better suited to the site of Sokhar with thehighest capacity factor and the lowest cost of output energy.

The National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) Gas Flow Laboratory providestraceability to the South African Industry for gas flow measurements. A new primarystandard for gas flow calibrations was purchased and commissioned. With three flow cells,a flow range of 0.5 mL/min to 50 000 mL/min is covered. The main features of this standardare accuracy, speed and convenience. This paper describes the activities of the NMISA GasFlow Laboratory – a discussion of the primary standard, the validation thereof,calibration methods for client instrumentation, analysis of measurement results and thecalculation of measurement uncertainties.

This article presents the development of a system used by the Brazilian Network of LegalMetrology and Quality – INMETRO and its delegated public bodies to increase the coverageof mandatory periodic verification on measuring instruments in Brazil, especially nonautomatic weighing instruments. Based on a governmental database of active establishmentsthat allowed the choice of an specific economic activity, the system provides a list ofestablishments where measuring instruments are used to commercial transitions and,therefore, subject to periodic mandatory verification. As a result, the use of systemincreased the number of measuring instruments controlled in Brazil, revealed areas forimprovement and provided references to set goals.

All French medical biology laboratories must be accredited according to ISO 15189 for alltests conducted. Metrology is therefore critical and covers a wide variety of areas. Thispresentation will focus on the metrology manager’s role which is tailored to the medicalbiology laboratory: human resources in place, methods used, parameters followed, equipmentused and strategies implemented when using equipment which is not connected to theInternational System of Units. It will be illustrated by examples of in vitroand in vivo clinical biochemistry, biological haematology, humantoxicology and radiotoxicology. The presentation will cover the exploitation of results ofinternal controls and interlaboratory comparisons in order to calculate uncertainties andprovide doctors with a result along with an interpretation or opinion to ensure optimumpatient care. The conclusion will present the steps carried out at the LaboratoireNational d’Essai (French National Testing Laboratory) to provide medicalbiology laboratories with certified clinical biology standards.