The Weighing Equipment (Beltweighers) Regulations 2001

PART III MANNER OF ERECTION AND USE FOR TRADE

Erection and use for trade

9.—(1) Every beltweigher shall be erected—

(a) in such a way that it is possible to carry out a material test in situ in accordance with clause A. 11 of Annex A to R 50–1, including in particular the depositing on or removal from the belt of material test loads in a reliable and easy manner, without disrupting the normal operation of the beltweigher; and

(b) in conformity with the following installation conditions contained in R 50–1, that is to say, those set out in clauses 3.8 to 3.10 relating to the installation, to the roller track, to the conveyor belt, to speed control, to weigh length, to belt tension, to overload protection, to ancillary devices and to sealing.

(2) No person shall use a beltweigher for trade unless there is sited in the vicinity of the beltweigher and available for use in conjunction with the beltweigher a suitable control instrument, that is to say, a weighing instrument which is of Class III or better.

(3) The suitable control instrument referred to in paragraph (2) above must:

(a) comply with the Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1988(1) and bear the mark of EEC initial verification as described in Schedule 1 to those Regulations; or

(b) comply with the Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2000 (2) and bear the appropriate sticker as defined in regulation 2(2) of those Regulations; or

(c) have been passed as fit for use for trade under the Weighing Equipment (Non-automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations 2000(3) and bear the stamp as defined in regulation 2(1) of those Regulations; or

(d) have been passed as fit for use for trade under the Weighing Equipment (Filling and Discontinuous Totalising Automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations 1986(4); or

(e) have been passed as fit for use for trade under the Weighing Equipment (Automatic Gravimetric Filling Instruments) Regulations 2000(5); or

(f) have been passed as fit for use for trade under these Regulations; and

be capable of determining the weight of material used in material testing and giving weight determinations such that in respect of each material test load the weight determination shall in total be accurate to within one-fifth of the limits of error prescribed for material testing whether such a load is determined in one or more weighing operations.

Manner of use – spillage and loading

10.  No person shall use a beltweigher for trade in such a manner as to cause—

(a) spillage of material from the belt; or

(b) loading of the weighing unit above its maximum capacity as defined in clause T.4.4 of R 50–1.

Manner of use – belt speed

11.  No person shall use for trade a beltweigher which is designed to operate—

(a) at only one belt speed, in such a manner that the speed of the belt varies by more than 5% of its nominal speed, that is to say, the speed at which the belt is designed to convey material; or

(b) at more than one belt speed, having a speed setting control, in such a manner that the speed of the belt varies by more than 5% of the speed at which it is set to operate, whether by the operator or automatically.

Position of operator

12.  Every beltweigher shall be erected in such a manner that the operator can readily take up a single position from which he can—

(a) read any indication of zero totalisation,

(b) operate any zero-setting control, and

(c) see whether the belt passing over the weighing unit is empty or not.

(1)

S.I. 1988/186.

(2)

S.I. 2000/3236.

(3)

S.I. 2000/932.

(4)

S.I. 1986/1320 as amended by S.I. 1994/1851, 1996/797 and 2000/387.

(5)

S.I. 2000/388.