Minimum resources required for each accreditation category

The minimum resources required for verifying and/or inspecting mass, length, volume, weighing instruments and measuring instruments.

This page should be read in conjunction with the Working Standards section.

Mass, length and volume

CategoryResourcesReference/Additional Information
Traders weights M1 M2 M3 Weighing instrument as required in Table 2

Set of Reference Standards as listed in Table 1

  • Class F2 for testing traders weights Class M1
  • Class M1 (or M1 - M2) for testing traders weights Class M2 and M3
 Reg 26 – 28
  • Measures of length
  • Cubic measures
 One metre rigid length standard

Twenty metre flexible length reference standard

 Reg 29 -33
Reg 47
  • Measures of volume
  • Milk and cream bottles
  • Oil bottles
 Volume Standard(s) as listed in Table 3 Reg 34, 35
Gravimetric testing equipment as approved by Trading Standards Reg 37 - 41
Milk delivery measures

(level test only)

 Level equipment with 90 second sensitivity Reg 42, 43
Milk delivery measures

(volume test)

 Volume measures as listed in tables 3-6 Reg 42, 43
Proving meter complying with specifications and construction as approved by Trading Standards
Beer delivery measures (volume test) Volume measures as listed in tables 3-6 Reg 44 - 46
Proving meter complying with specifications and construction as approved by Trading Standards
Spirit dispensers Graduated glass measures as listed in Table 4 Reg 36
Miscellaneous weighing or measuring instruments Appropriate testing equipment as approved by Trading Standards Reg 78

Weighing Instruments (Reg 48 – 66)

Category Maximum capacity of instrument Minimum masses required Class of masses
Class I   100% of the instrument’s maximum capacity F1

Class II

 

 100% of the instrument’s maximum capacity F2

Class III and IIII, automatic catch weighing Y(a) and Y(b), automatic weighing instruments, hoppers and bins

 ≤ 300 kg 100% of the instrument’s maximum capacity

M1 and/or M2
> 300 kg to 500 kg 300 kg
> 500 kg to 1000 kg 50% of the instrument’s maximum capacity
> 1000 kg to 2500 kg 500 kg
> 2500 kg

20% of the instrument’s maximum capacity

10% of instrument’s maximum capacity for hopper/bin weighing instruments

Platform scales, weighbridges and in-motion weighers

 No max capacity

10 x 1000 kg

M1 or M2
Beltweighers - 0.5, 1, 2   Appropriate testing equipment as per Accredited Person test procedures Technical policy TS-015(external link)

Measuring Instruments (Reg 67 – 78)

Category Resources Additional information
Class 0.3 – Liquid measuring systems on pipelines Volume standards, as specified in Table 3

Reg 67, 68, 73

Technical policy TS-005(external link)
Proving meter or loop prover, which has been approved for use by Trading Standards
Class 0.5 – Liquid measuring systems for refuelling aircraft or loading ships Proving meter or loop prover, which has been approved for use by Trading Standards Reg 67, 68, 73
Class 0.5:
  • Measuring system for milk
  • Measuring system for unloading ships tanks, rail tankers, or road tankers
  • Measuring systems for liquids of low viscosity on road tankers (also known as liquid fuel measuring instruments fitted on delivery vehicles)
  • Measuring systems in fuel dispensers (other than LPG dispensers) for motor vehicles (also known as fixed liquid fuel measuring instruments)
 Measures of volume that are proportional to the flow rate approved by Trading Standards and are within the maximum permissible error (MPE) detailed in Tables 3-6

Reg 67 - 73

Technical Policy TS-005(external link)
Proving meter or loop prover, which has been approved for use by Trading Standards
Class 1.0 – Measuring systems (other than LPG dispensers) for liquefied gases under pressure measured at a temperature equal to or above -10°C, and LPG dispensers for motor vehicles Appropriate testing equipment, which has been approved for use by Trading Standards Reg 67, 68, 70, 73
LPG Master Meter
ASTM tables

Class 1.5 – Measuring systems for liquefied carbon dioxide, or liquefied gases under pressure (other than LPG) measured at a temperature below -10°C (other than cryogenic liquids)

Class 2.5 – Measuring systems for liquids at a temperature below -153°C

Reference Weighing Instrument:

A weighing instrument with a scale interval (e) ≤ 1/3rd of the MPE of the instrument under test (IUT), or

Reference Measuring instrument (master meter):

A master meter where the scale interval (e) is 1/5th of the MPE of the IUT and has a current Calibration Certificate from an ISO17025 accredited laboratory

Reg 67, 68, 73

Technical Policy TS-015(external link)

Area measuring instruments

 Standard reference area templates of suitable diameter to within an accuracy of ±0.1% of the nominal area. Reg 76
  • Length measuring instruments
  • Multidimensional measuring instruments
 One metre rigid length standard

Twenty metre flexible length reference standard

 Reg 75, 77
Direct mass flow measuring instruments

Reference Weighing Instrument:

A class III weighing instrument with a capacity that allows for the gross weight of the largest delivery taken from the mass flow meter during testing, or

Reference Measuring instrument (master meter):

A master meter where the scale interval (e) is 1/5th of the MPE of the IUT and has a current Calibration Certificate from an ISO17025 accredited laboratory

Reg 74

Technical Policy TS-015(external link)