Why so many uncertainty documents?

Measurement has been necessary ever since man first started to fashion artifacts and construct buildings, and with measurement comes measurement uncertainty. In modern times measurements play a vital part in all aspects of life and the study of measurement uncertainty has become a time consuming and often difficult area for the providers of measurement services. It is shown that the move towards a more harmonised approach to the treatment of uncertainty will mean that those who only require an approximate or “safe” uncertainty will not have the option to simplify the calculation process and be able to claim compliance with the Guide documents. However, there are some steps that can be taken that will minimise the need for the more exotic equations given in these documents and these are summarised