Errors in Chaining
Every measurement made with a mechanical device is subject to any error that could possibly be caused by the condition of the device or by the procedure used in taking the measurement. Some of the more common sources of errors are the standards to which the chain was manufactured, any damage to the chain, sag in the chain, variation in the tension on the chain, and changes in the temperature of the chain. With proper care of the chain and reasonable effort made with each use, the effects of these errors can be kept within acceptable tolerances for all but the most precise measurements. When necessary, however, each of these conditions can be compensated for mathematically if they are monitored and compared to a known standard.