The Weighing Equipment (Automatic Gravimetric Filling Instruments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations –

(a) “filling instrument” means an instrument which –

(i) serves to determine the mass of a load by using the action of gravity on that load without the intervention of an operator;

(ii) follows a predetermined programme of automatic processes characteristic of the instrument;

(iii) systematically sub-divides material from bulk into separate loads of a predetermined and virtually constant mass; and

(iv) effects an automatic feed and weighing of those loads with the appropriate control and discharge devices; and

(b) any expression and procedure which is not defined in these Regulations and is used both in these Regulations and in OIML R 61 shall bear the same meaning as in OIML R 61.

(2) In these Regulations –

“the 1981 Order” means the Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order1981;

“accuracy class” means the accuracy class, in respect of a filling instrument, determined in accordance with the provisions of regulation 6(c); provided always that the accuracy class in respect of that filling instrument shall not be of a higher level of precision than the reference value for accuracy class in respect of that instrument;

“certificate of approval” means a certificate of approval of a pattern of a filling instrument granted or renewed by the Department under Article 10 of the 1981 Order;

“control instrument” means a weighing instrument used to determine the mass of the test fills delivered by the filling instrument;

“initial verification testing” means testing in accordance with the provisions of regulation 6(c);

“level indicator” means a device which indicates when the structure to which it is attached is tilted away from its correct operating position;

“load receptor” means a part of a filling instrument on which loads are placed for the purpose of their being weighed;

“maximum capacity” means the maximum discrete load which the filling instrument is authorised to weigh and that can be weighed automatically on a load receptor;

“minimum capacity” means the minimum discrete load which the filling instrument is authorised to weigh and that can be weighed automatically on a load receptor;

“OIML R 61” means the International Recommendation OIML R 61 of the Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Légale relating to automatic gravimetric filling instruments (Edition 1996 (E));

“prescribed limits of error” has the meaning set out in regulation 10(3);

“reference particle mass” means, in respect of a product, the mass equal to the mean of ten of the largest elementary particles or pieces of the product taken from one or more loads;

“reference value for accuracy class” means, in respect of a filling instrument, the value for accuracy class of that instrument determined by static testing of the weighing unit during influence quantity testing prior to a certificate of approval being issued and shall be stated in the certificate of approval: the reference value for accuracy class shall be equal to the best accuracy class, that is to say the class of the highest level of precision, for which that filling instrument may be tested and passed as fit for use for trade;

“the stamp” or “verification mark” means the stamp prescribed by the Weights and Measures (Prescribed Stamp) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1969(1);

“tare device” means a device for setting the weight indicating device, that is to say the device which indicates the weight of a load on a load receptor of the filling instrument, to zero when a load is placed on the load receptor –

(a)

without altering the weighing range for net loads (additive tare device); or

(b)

reducing the weighing range for net loads (subtractive tare device);

“weighing unit” means a device which provides information on the mass of the load being weighed by the filling instrument; and

“zero-setting device” means a device which allows the setting of that indicating device to zero when the load receptor is empty.

(1)

S.R.& O. 1969 No.11 as amended by S.R. 2002 No. 36