A lot of our work here at GBW Associates, LLC involves system testing and troubleshooting. For all of that work we only use calibrated and certified test gauges because accuracy is important to our final product. Selecting the right gauge for the job is important; this begins with purchasing good quality gauges, maintaining them in good condition, and having them calibrated and certified on a regular basis. We use a broad range of pressure gauges to measure both positive and negative pressures.

When choosing a pressure gauge for a job, one of the pieces of info that we want to know is the expected pressure range of the flow/operation because most bourdon-type gauges are most accurate when the pressure needle falls in the 25%-75% range of the gauge. So...if we are flow testing a hydrant for sprinkler system design and the expected operating pressure is 90 psi then we want to use a gauge graduated 0-200 psi, not 0-100 psi. This provides a better opportunity for an accurate pressure reading.