Tighten exact numeric and condition handling

Author: moonweave

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Versioning follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 - Fixed composite scientific units such as `MV/m` being misread as numerator-only units.
 - Added numeric claim support for common physical-science units such as `eV`, `Ω·cm`, `S/m`, and `MPa`.
 - Treated `estimated to be <value>` as a reported numeric value while keeping predictive `estimated to exceed` frames conservative.
+- Prevented comparative evidence such as `>220 °C` from accepting an exact `220 °C` claim.
+- Allowed physical measurement conditions such as `1.7 eV in the temperature range` and `5 S/m at 1 kHz` without relaxing count-claim scope guards.
 
 ## [1.1.2] — 2026-06-08
 

src/ref_verify/numeric_claim.py

@@ -119,6 +119,50 @@
     "within",
 }
 
+_PHYSICAL_MEASUREMENT_UNITS = {
+    "ev",
+    "kev",
+    "mev",
+    "ohm-cm",
+    "gohm-cm",
+    "mohm-cm",
+    "kohm-cm",
+    "s/m",
+    "ms/m",
+    "ks/m",
+    "pa",
+    "kpa",
+    "mpa",
+    "gpa",
+    "v/m",
+    "mv/m",
+    "kv/m",
+    "v/cm",
+    "mv/cm",
+    "kv/cm",
+    "v/mm",
+    "mv/mm",
+    "kv/mm",
+}
+
+_MEASUREMENT_CONDITION_TERMS = {
+    "bias",
+    "field",
+    "frequency",
+    "humidity",
+    "hz",
+    "k",
+    "khz",
+    "mhz",
+    "pressure",
+    "range",
+    "ranges",
+    "relative",
+    "rh",
+    "temperature",
+    "voltage",
+}
+
 _UNIT_TERMS = {
     "a",
     "c",
@@ -423,12 +467,28 @@ def _has_unsupported_frame(value: str) -> bool:
             token
             for token in re.findall(r"[a-zA-Z]+", value[match.end() :].lower())
         ]
-        if any(token in _SCOPE_OR_COMPARATIVE_SUFFIX_TERMS for token in suffix_tokens):
+        if _has_disqualifying_suffix(match.group("unit"), suffix_tokens):
             return True
     prefix_tokens = re.findall(r"[a-zA-Z]+", value.lower())[:2]
     return any(token in {"after", "before", "under", "in"} for token in prefix_tokens)
 
 
+def _has_disqualifying_suffix(unit: str, suffix_tokens: list[str]) -> bool:
+    if not any(token in _SCOPE_OR_COMPARATIVE_SUFFIX_TERMS for token in suffix_tokens):
+        return False
+    normalized_unit = _normalize_unit(unit)
+    if (
+        normalized_unit in _PHYSICAL_MEASUREMENT_UNITS
+        and _looks_like_measurement_condition(suffix_tokens)
+    ):
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def _looks_like_measurement_condition(tokens: list[str]) -> bool:
+    return any(token in _MEASUREMENT_CONDITION_TERMS for token in tokens)
+
+
 def _evidence_entails_claim(
     evidence_value: float,
     evidence_comparator: str,
@@ -445,4 +505,4 @@ def _evidence_entails_claim(
         return evidence_value < claim_value
     if claim_comparator == "lte":
         return evidence_value <= claim_value
-    return evidence_value == claim_value
+    return evidence_comparator == "exact" and evidence_value == claim_value

tests/test_numeric_claim.py

@@ -42,6 +42,22 @@ def test_accepts_temperature_claim(self):
         self.assertEqual(result.status, "SUPPORTED")
         self.assertIn("37 °C", result.evidence)
 
+    def test_rejects_comparative_evidence_for_exact_claim(self):
+        cases = (
+            "The polymer provided high thermal resistance (>220 °C).",
+            "The polymer provided high thermal resistance at least 220 °C.",
+            "The polymer provided high thermal resistance up to 220 °C.",
+        )
+
+        for abstract in cases:
+            with self.subTest(abstract=abstract):
+                result = check_numeric_claim_support(
+                    abstract,
+                    "polymer thermal resistance 220 °C",
+                )
+
+                self.assertEqual(result.status, "PARTIAL")
+
     def test_accepts_concentration_claim(self):
         result = check_numeric_claim_support(
             "Cells were treated with 10 mg/mL polymer.",
@@ -111,6 +127,39 @@ def test_accepts_physical_science_units(self):
 
                 self.assertEqual(result.status, "SUPPORTED")
 
+    def test_accepts_physical_measurement_condition_suffixes(self):
+        cases = (
+            (
+                (
+                    "The effective work function for aluminum-polyimide is estimated "
+                    "to be 1.7 eV in the temperature range between 100 and 270 °C."
+                ),
+                "effective work function for aluminum-polyimide is 1.7 eV",
+            ),
+            (
+                "The conductivity reached 5 S/m at 1 kHz.",
+                "conductivity reached 5 S/m",
+            ),
+            (
+                "The stress reached 120 MPa at 300 K.",
+                "stress reached 120 MPa",
+            ),
+        )
+
+        for abstract, claim in cases:
+            with self.subTest(claim=claim):
+                result = check_numeric_claim_support(abstract, claim)
+
+                self.assertEqual(result.status, "SUPPORTED")
+
+    def test_rejects_count_claim_condition_suffixes(self):
+        result = check_numeric_claim_support(
+            "The device lifetime was 5000 cycles at 5 V.",
+            "device lifetime was 5000 cycles",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(result.status, "PARTIAL")
+
     def test_rejects_missing_subject_binding(self):
         result = check_numeric_claim_support(
             "The device was tested extensively. A 95% response rate was observed.",