TS–015 Using a weighing instrument as a reference instrument

Reference documents

N/A

Policy

The practicality of using a weighing instrument as a reference instrument is understood by Trading Standards and this policy outlines the procedures to be followed when using a weighing instrument to perform a verification or inspection test on another instrument, e.g. a mass flowmeter or belt weigher.

A full verification or inspection test is not required for the weighing instrument to be used as a reference instrument as long as the requirements of testing the reference instrument, as below, are met.

However, the requirements of testing the reference instrument, as below, may be incorporated into a verification or inspection test if required.

Criteria for the reference instrument

• The intrinsic error in the reference weighing instrument at any test load shall be no greater than 1/3 of the Maximum Permissible Error (MPE) allowed on the on Instrument Under Test (IUT) for that test load
• For testing belt weighers, use a weighing instrument where e ≤ 20 kg
• For testing a mass flowmeter, use a weighing instrument where e ≤ 20 kg; test loads shall be ≥ 5000 kg, for test load less than 5000 kg, a platform type weighing instrument must be used where the intrinsic error is ≤ 1/3 of MPE allowed on the IUT
• For testing other liquid measuring systems i.e. lube oil meters, a platform type weighing instrument must be used where the intrinsic weighing error is ≤ 1/3 of MPE allowed on the IUT

Testing the reference instrument

Time interval:

1. the maximum time allowed between testing the weighing instrument and using it as a reference instrument is 28 days

Repeatability tests must be performed at:

1. The minimum value tare weight, and
2. the maximum value gross weight
   1. if the instrument passes the repeatability tests, any point between the minimum value tare weight and the maximum value gross weight ,it will be deemed to have passed the repeatability test
   2. repeatability testing can be done using an unknown load. The load must be within ± 10% of the tare or gross weights being used and must be stable for the duration of the test
   3. all readings are to be determined to 1/10th of the verification scale interval (e) of the weighing instrument using the formula P = I + 0.5e - ∆L
   4. the repeatability test load is applied 3 times, the variation between any two readings for a given test load may not be > 0.3 of the weighbridge verification scale interval (e)

Error tests:

1. error tests of the weighing instrument will be performed at the lowest tare value , the largest gross value, and any other point where weight values are determined
2. errors are to be determined to 1/10th of the verification scale interval (e) of the weighing instrument using the formula P = I + 0.5e - ∆L
3. if the errors are determined by enabling expanded mode in the weighing instrument indicator, then the expanded mode must be proven as prescribed in Technical Policy TS-012 ; see Note below

Technical Policy TS-012 Using indicators in expanded or test mode on weighing instruments

Recording:

1. all results of repeatability tests, error tests, and expanded mode test (if applicable) will be recorded on, or attached to, the test report for the instrument under test

Where an Accrecdited Person (AP) is reliant on another AP’s historical data on a weighing instrument:

• The inspecting AP must request the error results at pre-determined points where the weighing instrument will be used as a reference instrument for the determination of tare and gross weights
• Results from the weighing instrument test must have been determined to 1/10 of ‘e’ of the weighing instrument verification scale interval
• The errors recorded on the weighing instrument test results must be accounted for in assessing the performance of the instrument under test.

This policy must be read in conjunction with Trading Standards Technical Policy TS-006.

Technical Policy TS-006 When is a full verification test required for weighing and measuring instruments