The Weighing Equipment (Non-automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations 1988

• (c) for each of the indicating, printing and tare devices, the value of test load at which the prescribed limits of error change in value, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 4 to these Regulations; and

• (d) the maximum loads of all the weight and load receptors and combinations of load receptors.

7

Where feasible, the inspector may combine tests or carry out several tests concurrently.

PART II — ACCURACY TESTING

8

Weight indicating and weight printing devices

• (a) Subject to paragraph 5 of this Schedule, the inspector shall first balance the machine with the load and weight receptors empty and all the tare, weight indicating and printing devices set to zero.

• (b) For each weighing mode of the machine, each of the weight indicating and printing devices which are operable in that mode shall be tested for accuracy unless, in the inspector’s opinion, a lesser number of tests on any device is sufficient to establish or re-establish its fitness for use. During accuracy testing each device shall be tested at least once with increasing and decreasing loads unless it is described in the published particulars of the approved pattern as not to be so tested.

• (c) For each weight reading the error must not exceed the appropriate prescribed limit of error.

PART III — OTHER TESTING

9

Interpretation In this Part of this Schedule, “absolute value” means the range of the limit of error from the maximum plus to the maximum minus allowed.

10

Comparison testing

• (a) Machines having a weighing mode in which it is possible to obtain more than one determination of any test load by means of more than one tare, weight indicating or printing devices shall, for each such weighing mode, be tested as described in subparagraphs (b) and (c) below.

• (b) Testing shall be carried out for at least three different values of test load.

• (c) The inspector shall compare each reading with all the other readings of the same test load, the other readings being obtained from different weight indicating, printing and tare devices. The difference between any two of these readings must not exceed—

• (i) zero, where the two readings are obtained from two digital devices having the same scale interval;

• (ii) the larger of the scale intervals, where the two readings are obtained from digital devices having different scale intervals;

• (iii) the smaller of the absolute values of the appropriate prescribed limits of error where the two readings are obtained from two analogue devices; or

• (iv) either the absolute value of the appropriate prescribed limits of error of the analogue device or the scale interval of the digital device whichever is the greater, where one of the two readings is obtained from an analogue device and the other is obtained from a digital device.

11

Alternative load balancing arrangement testing

• (a) Machines having a weighing mode in which it is possible to obtain more than one determination of a single load by means of alternative load balancing arrangements shall, for each such weighing mode, be tested as described in subparagraphs (b) and (c) below.

• (b) If feasible, testing of each alternative load balancing arrangement shall be carried out for at least three different values of test load.

• (c) For each test load the inspector shall compare the two readings obtained from the alternative load balancing arrangements. The difference between these readings must not exceed the absolute value (or the smaller of the absolute values) of the appropriate prescribed limits of error for the load applied.

12

Repeatability testing

• (a) Repeatability testing shall be carried out as appropriate to the machine under test, with the test load being removed and then re-deposited as nearly as practicable in the same position.

• (b) The readings for each test load shall be compared. The difference between the highest and the lowest of them must not exceed half the absolute value of the appropriate prescribed limits of error for the load applied. All readings must also fall within the prescribed limits of error.

• (c) Additional repeatability testing may be carried out on machines having other weight indicating or printing devices associated with the load receptor under test.

13

Price-to-pay testing

• (a) By checking with several different weights and unit prices, the inspector shall satisfy himself that the machine computes the price-to-pay correctly.

• (b) In the case of a machine with digital indication or printing of price-to-pay, the price computation shall be deemed to be correct if the difference between any indicated or printed price-to-pay and the product of its associated unit price and indicated or printed weight is not greater than half the value of the smallest monetary unit.

14

Discrimination testing

• (a) Discrimination testing shall not be carried out on accelerating machines.

• (b) Subject to (a) above, discrimination testing shall be carried out with the machine loaded to the approved minimum load and maximum capacity, or as near as practicable thereto, using each load and weight receptor, or combination of receptors, separately with the associated indicating or printing device which has the smallest prescribed limit of error for the value of load used in the testing.

• (c) For non-self indicating machines, while balanced to give an indication of the load as at (b) above, an additional load equal to 0.4 times the absolute value of the prescribed limit of error added gently to the loaded receptor shall always produce:—

• (i) an appreciable movement of the beam, in the case of a simple equal-arm beam;

• (ii) a rise or fall to the limits of the range of movement of the beam or indicating element, in the case of a machine which is not a simple equal-arm beam.

• (d) For self or semi-self indicating machines, while loaded as at (b) above, the additional load placed gently on the loaded receptor shall:—

• (i) in the case of analogue indication or printing be equivalent to the absolute value of the prescribed limit of error for the load on the receptor and shall always cause a permanent displacement of the indicating element corresponding to at least 0.7 times its value;

• (ii) in the case of a digital indication or printing, be equivalent to 1.4 times the digital scale interval and shall always cause an increase in the reading of the initial indication.

15

Level indicator testing

• (a) The sensitivity of the level indicating devices shall be such that, in the case of Class I and Class II machines, for a longitudinal or transverse tilt not exceeding 2 parts in 1000, the moving part of the indicator is displaced by at least 2 mm;

• (b) In the case of Class III and Class IIII machines, when a machine is tilted longitudinally or transversely until the moving part of the indicator shows a displacement of at least 2 mm, the zero load reading of the associated indicating or printing device does not change by more than two verification scale intervals.

• (c) In the case of Class II, Class III and Class IIII machines additionally, for all loads, the variation between the indicated or printed results obtained in the reference position and the tilted position shall not exceed the value of the prescribed limit of error for the test load, the machine having been adjusted to zero or balanced in the no-load condition for both the reference and tilted positions.

16

Tilt testing

• (a) Tilt testing shall not be carried out on any machines which are permanently installed, freeely suspended or Class I machines provided with adjustable levelling devices and one or more level indicating devices.

• (b) Machines subject to tilt testing which are submitted with a view to being passed for the first time as fit for use for trade shall be tested as described in subparagraphs (c) to (e) below. An inspector may, at his discretion, carry out tilt testing at other times on machines which are subject to such testing.

• (c) The machines shall be tested using each load and weight receptor, where feasible, in association with the indicating or printing device which has the smallest verification scale interval of these devices capable of registering the maximum capacity.

• (d) Subject to paragraph 5 of this Schedule, for a Class III or Class IIII machine, having first been adjusted to zero or balanced at no-load in its untilted reference position with all the tare, weight indicating and printing devices set to zero, the indication shall not vary by more than two verification scale intervals when tilted longitudinally and transversely to—

• (i) 2 parts in 1000; or

• (ii) 50 parts in 1000, for a machine without any level indicating devices.

• (e) Subject to paragraph 5 of this Schedule, for a Class II, Class III or Class IIII machine, having first been adjusted to zero or balanced at no-load in the tilted position with all the tare, weight indicating and printing devices set to zero, the indication shall not vary by more than one verification scale interval when, with the maximum load applied, the machine is tilted longitudinally and transversely to—

• (i) 1 part in 1000 for a Class II machine;

• (ii) 2 parts in 1000 for a Class III or Class IIII machine;

• (iii) 50 parts in 1000 for a machine without any level indicating devices.

17

Eccentric load testing

• (a) Machines shall be subjected to eccentric load testing using each load and weight receptor, or combination of receptors, separately in association with the indicating or printing device which has the smallest prescribed limits of error for the value of load used in the testing.

• (b) Subject to paragraph 5 of this Schedule, the inspector shall first balance the machine with the load and weight receptors empty and all the tare, weight indicating and printing devices set to zero.

• (c) The receptor shall then be loaded as specified in subparagraph (d) below. The weight reading shall be noted for each specified position of the test load. For each weight reading the error must not exceed the appropriate prescribed limit of error.

• (d) In the case of—

• (i) a receptor freely suspended from one or two supports, a test load equal to half of the maximum load shall be distributed as nearly as practicable over half of the receptor without excessive stacking or overlapping of the edges. The test load shall then be moved to and distributed over the other half of the receptor;

• (ii) a receptor other than that described in subparagraph (i) above and having a maximum capacity of 30 kg or less, a test load equal to one-third of the maximum load shall be placed in several positions on (or as close as is practicable to) the edges of the receptor without excessive stacking or overlapping of the edges;

• (iii) a receptor other than that described in subparagraph (i) above, having not more than four supports and a maximum capacity of more than 30 kg, a test load equal to one-third of the maximum load shall be distributed successively and individually along each edge of the load receptor in turn, each area of distribution not exceeding one-quarter of the total area of the receptor;

• (iv) a receptor having more than four supports and a maximum capacity of more than 30 kg, a test load equal to the fraction 1/(n−1) of the maximum load (where n is the number of supports) shall be distributed successively and individually about each support to cover an area of approximately 1/(n+1) of the surface area of the receptor. If this is not possible because the points of support are transversely too close together, a test load equal to 2/(n−1) of the maximum load shall be distributed successively and individually about each transverse line joining two supports to cover an area of approximately 2/(n+1) of the surface area of the receptor;

• (v) a combination of receptors, a test load equal to one-third of the total maximum load for the combination shall be distributed as described in subparagraph (iii) above along those edges normally crossed by a load during loading and unloading of the combination of receptors.

18

Locking or relieving gear testing

19

Backbalance testing

• (a) Backbalance testing shall be carried out only on accelerating machines.

• (b) In backbalance testing the maximum load shall first be placed on the load receptor and the machine balanced so that the beam or indicating element only just maintains its horizontal position on its stop or carrier. The beam or indicating element shall then be moved to its position of greatest displacement from the horizontal position, after which the load on the load receptor shall be reduced by the minimum amount which is required to restore the beam or indicating element to its horizontal position.

• (c) The minimum amount which is required to be removed from the load receptor must not exceed three times the verification scale interval of the machine.

SCHEDULE 4 — PRESCRIBED LIMITS OF ERROR

1

Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3 below, the prescribed limits of error expressed in terms of “e”, the relevant verification scale interval of the device under test, shall be those set out in the Table below.

2

An indicating or printing device which, in any single weighing mode, has more than one verification scale interval, each of which relates exclusively to a particular part of the weighing range, shall have, for each particular part, those error allowances which would apply if the complete weighing range had the verification scale interval which relates to that particular part.

3

In the case where—

• (a) a machine has had its stamp obliterated under Regulation 41(1) of these Regulations because of an alteration or adjustment involving only the replacement or addition of a dial, chart or pointer, and

• (b) the purpose of the alteration or adjustment was to modify an imperial machine to indicate weight in metric units, and

• (c) the appropriate prescribed limits of error upon the first retesting of such a machine with a view to its being passed as fit for use for trade shall be those set out in the Table in paragraph 1 above as being applicable in relation to the obliteration of stamps.

• (i) within the period of fifteen days following the making of the alteration or adjustment the requirements of paragraph 4 below were complied with, or

• (ii) the period for complying with those requirements has not yet expired,

4

The requirements referred to in paragraph 3(c)(i) above are that the chief inspector of weights and measures for the area in which the machine will first be used for trade after it has been altered or adjusted, or, if the address at which it will be so used is not known, for the area in which the alteration or adjustment is carried out, is furnished by the person carrying out the alteration or adjustment with the following particulars, namely—

• (a) his name and address;

• (b) particulars by which the machine may be identified;

• (c) the name and address of the person who will first use the machine for trade after its alteration or adjustment and the address at which it will be so used or, if those particulars are not known, an address at which the machine will be available for inspection;

• (d) confirmation that the modification consisted only of the replacement or addition of a chart, dial or pointer.

SCHEDULE 5

Signed

John Butcher — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, — Department of Trade and Industry — 12th May 1988

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1 These Regulations prescribe non-automatic weighing machines for the purposes of section 11(1) of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 and exclude them from the application of the Weights and Measures Regulations 1963 (where they were formerly prescribed as individual types or classes of weighing equipment). The effect of prescription is to make it unlawful to use such machines for trade purposes, unless they have been tested, passed as fit for such use and stamped by an inspector of weights and measures. (These requirements of prescription are also satisfied by a non-automatic weighing machine complying with Council Directive No. 73/360/EEC as amended and bearing the mark of EEC initial verification and, where appropriate, the sign of EEC pattern approval. This mark and sign are described in Schedule 1 to the Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1988, S.I. 1988/186.)

2 The Regulations make provision as to: a the purposes for which such non-automatic weighing machines may be used for trade (Regulation 4); b the materials and principles of construction of them and their marking (Regulations 5 to 20); c the manner of erection and use of them for trade (Regulations 21 to 30); d their testing, passing as fit for use for trade and stamping and the obliteration of such stamps (Regulations 31 to 35 and 37 to 44 and Schedule 3); and e the prescribed limits of error (Regulation 36 and Schedule 4).

3 The Regulations make the following changes of substance:— a the particular requirements relating to person-weighing machines are revoked (Regulation 1(2) and Schedule 5); b machines for use only for weighing paint (other than paste paint) or for use only as vehicle check weighing machines are no longer prescribed (Regulation 3(2)); c there are new requirements on the purpose of use for trade of machines (Regulation 4); d there are new requirements for the principles of construction of machines, in particular: i each machine is to be designated as of one of four classes of accuracy with an approved minimum load, as defined in Schedule 2 (Regulations 9 and 13) (formerly only beam scales were divided into classes); ii subject to exceptions, each machine is to be made in accordance with a pattern in respect of which a certificate of approval is in force (Regulation 11) (formerly only patterns of machines with particular features needed to be approved); iii the class of accuracy and other relevant legends are to be marked on each machine, mainly in symbol form (Regulation 15(2)) (formerly markings were restricted to the name of the maker and the capacity); iv for those machines used by prospective buyers of goods (Regulation 19); e there are new requirements for the manner of erection and use for trade of machines (Regulations 21 to 30); f a requirement has been included to ensure that the inspector testing any machine must, if he so requests, be provided with appropriate test or operating material (Regulations 31(2) and 34); g a requirement has been included specifying the weights to be used in testing machines of the different classes of accuracy and requiring a minimum of 5 tonnes of weights to be used where the maximum load exceeds this amount (Regulation 33) (formerly a minimum of 2240 pounds of weights was required); h the test requirements for all machines are set out in more detail (Regulation 35 and Schedule 3); i new prescribed limits of error are included which vary throughout the weighing range for each of the four classes of accuracy (with modification for machines first passed as fit for use for trade before 1st November 1988) (Regulations 36, 37(4), 40(3) and Schedule 4) (formerly the limits of error were only expressed in relation to fully loaded machines and varied according to the type of machine); and j the grounds on which an inspector may obliterate the stamp on machines have been widened (Regulations 41 to 43).

4 In general the Regulations come into force on 1st November 1988, but the following transitional arrangements are made:— a as from 1st September 1991 it will be an offence, subject to exceptions for tariff machines, to use any machine outside its stated weighing range (Regulation 4(1) and (2)); b as from 1st September 1991 it will be an offence to use a machine for the purpose of multiple weighing (Regulation 4(7)); c until 4th April 1989 machines, which under the Weights and Measures Regulations 1963 did not need to be made in accordance with a pattern in respect of which a certificate of approval is in force, may continue to be so made, passed as fit for use for trade and stamped (Regulation 11(3)); d as from 1st May 1989 machines submitted for passing as fit for use for trade must be marked with their class of accuracy and other relevant legends (Regulation 15(2)); e as from 1st September 1989 the price/weight base of machines first submitted for passing as fit for use for trade is restricted (Regulation 18); f as from 1st September 1991 the prescribed limits of error do not apply to test loads less than the approved minimum load, where this is marked on the machine (Regulation 35(2)); and g until 1st March 1990 a machine marked Class III or IIII which was first passed as fit for use for trade before 1st September 1988 may continue to be so passed even if not bearing a legend about use on a level surface, provided it meets certain tilt testing requirements (Regulation 37(3)).

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1985 c. 72; section 94(1) contains a definition of “prescribed”.

[^f00002]: S.I. 1988/186.

[^f00003]: See S.I. 1968/1615.

[^f00004]: S.I. 1986/2049.

[^f00005]: S.I. 1963/1710; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1964/76, 1970/1370, 1972/767, 1974/1326, 1977/1932, 1979/1612, 1983/914, 1655, 1984/1446, 1986/1320, 1682.

[^f00006]: 1963 c. 31.

[^f00007]: O.J. No. L84, 28.3.1974, p.3.

[^f00008]: S.I. 1986/1685.

[^f00009]: S.I. 1964/76.

[^f00010]: S.I. 1965/123.

[^f00011]: S.I. 1972/767.

[^f00012]: S.I. 1972/1551.

[^f00013]: S.I. 1976/2061.

[^f00014]: S.I. 1977/1932.

[^f00015]: S.I. 1984/1446.

[^f00016]: S.I. 1985/1532.