The Weights and Measures (Local and Working Standard Capacity Measures and Testing Equipment) Regulations 1990

• Citation: S.I. 1990/2626
• Sections: 21

Section 1 Citation, commencement and revocation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Weights and Measures (Local and Working Standard Capacity Measures and Testing Equipment) Regulations 1990 and shall come into force on 21st January 1991.

(2) The Weights and Measures (Local and Working Standard Capacity Measures and Testing Equipment) Regulations 1987 are hereby revoked.

Section 2 Interpretation

(1) In these Regulations:—

“ the Act ” means the Weights and Measures Act 1985;

“differential pressure gauge” means an instrument used to determine the pressure loss across either a cold-water meter or a reference meter for water;

“discrimination threshold” means the smallest change which produces a perceptible change in the indication;

“linearity” means the horizontal band within which the graph of the meter error of a reference meter lies over the authorised range of flowrates;

“multifiller” means a device consisting of a number of calibrated measures, capable of dispensing simultaneously known quantities of water, used for the testing of capacity measures;

“piston prover” means a device which can deliver or accept water in quantities determined by the displacement of a piston in a cylinder;

“proving tank” does not include a proving tank for water;

“proving tank for water” means a local or working standard capacity measure which is used solely with water to test cold-water meters or reference meters for water;

“reference meter” means a meter for use in testing measuring equipment used for the measurement of liquid fuel delivered from road tankers;

“repeatability” means the ability of weighing or measuring equipment to indicate, under defined conditions of use, closely similar quantities on repeated measurings, expressed as a 95 per cent confidence interval;

“suitable weighing machine” means a weighing machine having a discrimination threshold and a repeatability in grams not exceeding one fifth of the limit of error expressed in millilitres of the standard or equipment it is being used to test; and

“95 per cent confidence interval” means the range of values within which the true value may be expected to lie with a 0.95 level of probability.

(2) The abbreviations of, and symbols for, units of measurement used in these Regulations refer to the relevant units as follows:—

Section 3

(1) Working standard capacity measures made of glass and provided pursuant to section 5(1) of the Act for use by inspectors of weights and measures shall be tested by one of the following methods:—

Section 4 Method 2

Every capacity measure—

(a) which is made of glass shall have been tested—

(i) immediately before its first use,

(ii) immediately before its first use more than 12 months after such testing, and

(iii) within 24 months before any subsequent use; or

(b) which is made of metal and

(i) is of 50 l or less or 10 gal or less shall have been tested within 6 months before use;

(ii) is of more than 50 l or more than 10 gal shall have been tested within 24 months before use.

Section 5 Reference meters

(1) Reference meters shall be tested either—

(a) by means of a local or working standard capacity measure which is of sufficient size to hold at least one minute’s delivery of the meter under test; or

(b) by means of a weighing machine, the repeatability of which shall be not more than 0.01 per cent of the weight of the liquid delivered by the water under test, and which can weigh at least one minute’s delivery of the meter under test.

(2) The capacity measure or the weighing machine used to test a reference meter shall have a discrimination threshold of not more than 0.01 per cent of the quantity delivered by the meter under test.

In a test under sub-paragraph (1)(b) above, the density of the test liquid shall be determined to an accuracy of 0.01 per cent.

Section 6 Reference meters

A reference meter shall have been tested over the range of flowrates and liquids for which it is intended to be used within 24 months before use, and the results of the test shall be such that—

(a) the range of five consecutive tests with the same liquid at the same flowrate does not exceed 0.05 per cent of the quantity delivered on each test;

(b) the linearity shall be such that the range of the means of any five consecutive tests with the same liquid within the flowrate range shall not exceed 0.1 per cent of the quantity delivered on each test; and

(c) notwithstanding the application of corrections when a reference meter is used to test meter measuring systems in accordance with the Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel delivered from Road Tankers) Regulations 1983 or the Measuring Instruments ( EEC Requirements) Regulations 1988 , the relative error of the mean of any five consecutive tests shall not exceed 0.5 per cent of the quantity delivered on any test.

Section 7 Reference meters

A reference meter shall have been tested at a single flowrate within 6 months before use, and the mean of five consecutive measurements at the same flowrate shall not differ by more than 0.05 per cent of the quantity delivered on each test from the mean quantity delivered at the same flowrate with liquid of the same viscosity when the meter was last tested in accordance with regulation 6 above.

Section 8 Reference meters for water

(1) Reference meters for water shall be tested with water either—

(a) by means of a proving tank for water which is of sufficient size to hold at least 10 l or one minute’s delivery of the meter under test whichever is the greater; or

(b) by means of a weighing machine, the repeatability of which shall be not more than 0.05 per cent of the weight of the water delivered by the meter under test, and which can weigh at least 10 kilograms or one minute’s delivery of the meter under test whichever is the greater.

(2) The proving tank for water or the weighing machine used to test a reference meter for water shall have a discrimination threshold of not more than 0.05 per cent of the quantity delivered by the meter under test.

Section 9 Reference meters for water

A reference meter for water shall have been tested over the range of flowrates for which it is intended to be used within 12 months before use, and the results of the test shall be such that—

(a) the range of five consecutive tests at the same flowrate does not exceed 0.5 per cent of the quantity delivered on each test;

(b) notwithstanding the application of corrections when a reference meter for water is used to test metered supplies the relative error, determined from the mean of five consecutive tests at any flowrate within the flowrate range, shall not exceed 2 per cent of the quantity delivered on any test.

Section 10 Multifillers

Every measure in a multifiller shall be tested in the manner in which it is to be used by discharging water into a working standard capacity measure or into a container and determining the volume of water delivered on a suitable weighing machine.

Section 11 Multifillers

Every multifiller shall have been tested within six months before use and shall have been adjusted so that the quantity delivered does not lie outside the limit of error permitted for a working standard capacity measure of the same nominal capacity.

Section 12 Burettes and pipettes

Burettes and pipettes shall have been tested within 12 months before use and shall have been adjusted so that the error in volume does not exceed the limit of error permitted for a working standard capacity measure of the same nominal capacity.

Section 13 Burettes and pipettes

A pipette shall be tested as a measure of its maximum purported capacity, and (if applicable) as a measure of at least one amount indicated by a subdivision, by filling it to the level of the graduation, discharging it, and weighing the water discharged using a suitable weighing machine.

Section 14 Burettes and pipettes

A burette shall be tested as a measure of its maximum purported capacity, and (if applicable) as a measure of at least two amounts indicated by subdivisions, by filling it to the level of the graduation, discharging it, and weighing the water discharged using a suitable weighing machine.

Section 15 Displacement plungers

A displacement plunger shall be tested either by measuring the volume or, using a suitable weighing machine, by measuring the weight of water displaced when the displacement plunger is immersed in water up to the line which indicates the nominal volume.

Section 16 Displacement plungers

A displacement plunger shall have been tested within 12 months before use and shall have been adjusted so that the error in volume does not exceed the limit of error set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

Section 17 Differential pressure gauges

(1) A differential pressure gauge shall have been tested over the range of pressures for which it is intended to be used within 12 months before use.

(2) The error on a differential pressure gauge shall not exceed the limits of error shown in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

Section 18 Piston provers

(1) A piston prover shall have been tested over its full working range within 12 months before use.

(2) The error on a piston prover shall not exceed the limits of error shown in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

Section 19

(1) Where an inspector has reasonable cause to believe that any working standard capacity measure or testing equipment referred to in these Regulations is not accurate within the relevant limits of error, he shall test it before use.

(2) Where testing reveals an error which exceeds the relevant limit shown in Schedule 1, 2 or 3 to these Regulations, the measure or testing equipment shall not be further used until it has been so adjusted that any error is within that limit.

Section 20 Prescribed limits of error

The error on local standard capacity measures shall not exceed the limits of error shown in Schedule 4 to these Regulations.

Section 21 Periods of validity of certificates of fitness of local standard capacity measures

The periods prescribed in the case of local standard capacity measures for the purposes of section 4(6) of the Act (which relates to periods of validity of certificates of fitness of local standards) shall be:

(a) ten years, in the case of a capacity measure up to and including 500 ml or 1 pint;

(b) five years, in the case of a capacity measure over 500 ml or 1 pint.