Measuring Equipment (Measures of Length) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986

PART II GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MATERIALS, PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION AND MARKING OF MEASURES OF LENGTH

Materials of construction

4.  Subject to Regulation 5, every measure of length shall be made of—

(a) carbon steel, including matt chrome-plated carbon steel, steel protected by a clear film or rust-resisting steel;

(b) brass;

(c) aluminium alloy, including anodised and stained aluminium alloy;

(d) glass-reinforced or opaque plastics;

(e) wood; or

(f) any other material of adequate stability.

Strength and durability

5.  Every measure of length shall be sufficiently strong and resistant to abrasion to withstand the wear and teat of ordinary use in trade.

Certain measures of length to have metal tips on terminal surfaces

6.  Where an end measure or composite measure is made of wood or other material of durability equal to or less than that of wood, the terminal surfaces shall have metal tips which shall be securely fixed to the wood or other material.

Requirements in relation to terminal surfaces of end measures and composite measures

7.  The terminal surfaces-of end measures and of composite measures shall be flat and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the measure.

Rigid measures of length to be practically straight and free from flaws

8.  Every rigid measure of length, including folding measures, shall be practically straight and free from flaws.

Construction of flexible measures of length

9.  Every flexible measure of length shall be constructed so that when it is stretched out on a flat surface its edges are practically straight and parallel.

Construction of winding devices for flexible measures of length

10.  Winding devices for flexible measures of length shall be constructed so that they do not cause any permanent deformation of the measure.

Construction of measures of length marked with a reference temperature

11.  Where a measure of length is marked with a reference temperature, it shall be constructed so that a change of not more than 8 degrees Celsius above or below that temperature does not cause in normal use a variation in length exceeding the prescribed limit of error.

Construction of measures of length marked with a tractive force

12.  Where a measure of length is marked with a tractive force, it shall be constructed so that a change of 10 per cent. above or below that force does not cause a variation in length exceeding the prescribed limit of error.

Marking of graduated measures of length

13.—(1) Every measure of length which is graduated shall be graduated clearly, indelibly and, subject to paragraph "(2), regularly, so as to enable unambiguous readings to be made easily.

(2) Certain sections of a graduated measure of length may be subdivided more finely than other sections.

Marking of scale marks on measures of length

14.  Where the scale marks on a measure of length are lines these shall be straight, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the measure of length and all of the same thickness, constant throughout their length.

Numbering of graduated measures of length

15.  The numbering of graduated measures of length shall be—

(a) (i) continuous; or

(ii) partly continuous and partly repetitive; and

(b) (i) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the measure of length; or

(ii) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the measure of length,

depending on how the measure is designed to be read.

Numbering of folding graduated measures of length

16.  Where a graduated measure of length is a folding measure, some of its numbering in close proximity to the joints may be omitted.

Marking of nominal length and, where appropriate, tractive force

17.  Every measure of length shall be conspicuously, legibly and durably marked (in the case of a flexible measure, near the beginning of the measure) with the following items—

(a) on each graduated side, its nominal length expressed in one only of the following units of measurement in full or by means of one of the following abbreviations or symbols only:—

metre	m
centimetre	cm
millimetre	mm
yard	yd
foot	ft
inch	in;

and

(b) its tractive force, if it is a flexible measure with a nominal length exceeding five metres in metric units or ten feet in imperial units.

Marking of measures of length which are not graduated or subdivided

18.  Every measure of length which is not graduated or subdivided shall be marked conspicuously, legibly and durably with the words “not graduated” or “not subdivided”.