Referenznorm

Referenznorm is a term used in German-speaking contexts to denote a reference standard or benchmark that serves as the basis for calibration, verification and comparison of measurements or values. It represents a stable, well characterized quantity or artifact whose value is accepted as a reference within a given measurement system or domain.

In metrology, a Referenznorm provides traceability to SI units. It is used to ensure that instruments and methods yield compatible results across laboratories, times, and locations. Referenznorms can take the form of physical artifacts (such as calibrated weights, gauge blocks, or voltage and resistance standards) or well-defined quantities used for calibration and validation. The use of a Referenznorm is usually accompanied by documented uncertainty, environmental conditions, and lot or series information to support proper metrological traceability.

The term is often distinguished from a broader normative standard (Norm) or specification. A Norm prescribes requirements, while a Referenznorm serves as a concrete value or artifact against which measurements are compared and adjusted. Referenznorms are typically issued or endorsed by national or international metrology institutes and distributed through reference materials, calibration services, or standard artifacts. They enable consistent measurement results, quality assurance, and compliance with industry or regulatory expectations.

In practice, organizations rely on Referenznorms for instrument calibration, method validation, and data normalization, ensuring that results remain comparable over time and across systems. See also: Norm, Standard, Calibration, Traceability, Reference material, SI units.