The Weighing Equipment (Non-automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

PART II MATERIALS, PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION AND MARKING OF NON-AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINES

Parts of non-automatic weighing machines

5.—(1) Where a non-automatic weighing machine has interchangeable or reversible parts, the interchange or reversal thereof shall not affect its metrological characteristics.

(2) The constituent parts of a non-automatic weighing machine shall be sufficiently strong to withstand the wear and tear of ordinary use in trade.

Monetary indications

6.—(1) A non-automatic weighing machine shall not have monetary indications in units other than decimal currency units.

(2) A price computing non-automatic weighing machine shall not—

(a) indicate in digital form during a weighing operation a part of a penny in the amount of the price to be paid by the buyer; or

(b) indicate the price in digital form and have any monetary indications in units of a part of a penny in vulgar fraction form which are capable of being used during a weighing operation to calculate the price.

Manner of construction of the load receptor

7.  The load receptor of a non-automatic weighing machine shall be so constructed as to provide for easy and practicable weighings for all test purposes not exceeding the maximum capacity of that machine, unless otherwise specified in the published particulars of the approved pattern.

Zero setting device

8.  Where a non-automatic weighing machine is fitted with a zero setting device designed to compensate for the wear and tear of ordinary use in trade, the device shall have a total range not exceeding 4 per cent. of the maximum capacity of that machine, or as specified in the published particulars of the approved pattern, as the case may be.

Accuracy classification

9.  Subject to regulation 10, every non-automatic weighing machine shall comply with the requirements in Schedule 1 for accuracy classification.

Verification scale interval

10.  In the case of a non-automatic weighing machine (being a non-graduated Class II machine with a maximum capacity of not less than 25 g and not more than 1 kg) which is used for trade in any transaction by retail in drugs or other pharmaceutical products, the verification scale interval “e” in Table 2 of Schedule 1 shall be within the range Max/2000 to Max/20000 inclusive.

Adjustable levelling and level indicating devices

11.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), every non-automatic weighing machine shall be fitted with an adjustable levelling device or devices and one or more level indicating devices to cover all directions.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall apply to a machine which is permanently installed, freely suspended, or is a Class II, Class III or Class IIII machine which meets the requirements of paragraph 16 in Part III of Schedule 2 in relation to machines without level indicating devices.

Approved patterns

12.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), every non-automatic weighing machine shall be made in accordance with a pattern in respect of which a certificate of approval is in operation.

(2) The marking of a machine in accordance with the requirements of regulation 16(2) after it has been made in accordance with such a pattern shall not in itself be a breach of paragraph (1).

(3) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall apply to a machine of the type known as “common form” which was first stamped before 1st August 1991.

Drainage

13.  Where a non-automatic weighing machine is installed in a pit which forms the base and sides of the machine, the pit shall be provided with adequate drainage.

Approved minimum load

14.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the approved minimum load for a non-automatic weighing machine shall be that specified in Schedule 1.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall apply in the case of a machine in relation to which the published particulars of the approved pattern specify the amount of the minimum load appropriate to that particular pattern.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)—

(a) in the case of a Class II, III or IIII non-automatic weighing machine used for the purpose of determining postal or other tariffs, the approved minimum load (as indicated in relation to the machine in Table 2, 3 or 4 in Schedule 1, as the case may require) shall be not less than five times the scale interval “d” (for a graduated machine) or five times the verification scale interval “e” (for a non-graduated machine) specified in relation to the machine in that Table; and

(b) in the case of a non-automatic weighing machine which is balanced otherwise than at zero, the approved minimum load shall be determined by reference to the balanced position.

Scale intervals

15.—(1) The graduated weight indicating, printing and tare devices of any non-automatic weighing machine first passed as fit for use for trade on or after 1st August 1991 shall—

(a) have scale intervals in the following form—

• 1 × 10ⁿ, 2 × 10ⁿ, or 5 × 10ⁿ, the index n being a positive or a negative whole number or zero; and

  (b)

  subject to paragraph (2), give weighing results which comply with the principle of reading by simple juxtaposition.

(2) The requirements of paragraph (1)(b) shall not apply—

(a) to semi-self indicating machines, made in accordance with an approved pattern, having mechanical weight indicating devices with a range of self indication of 500 g; or

(b) to that part of any weighing result which is obtained by adding the values of weights or poises.

Relevant markings

16.—(1) Every non-automatic weighing machine first passed as fit for use for trade before 1st February 1992 shall be legibly and durably marked either as in paragraph (2) or with—

(a) the name of the maker or supplier; and

(b) either—

(i) the maximum capacity of the weight indicating and printing devices, or

(ii) the purported capacity, where the maximum load exceeds the maximum capacity.

(2) Every non-automatic weighing machine which is passed as fit for use for trade on or after 1st February 1992 shall be legibly and durably marked with—

(a) the name of the maker or supplier;

,

,

, or

(the accuracy classification of the machine, in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 1);

(c) “Max …” (the maximum capacity of the weight indicating and weight printing devices);

(d) “Min …” (the approved minimum load);

(e) “e = …” (the verification scale interval associated with the weight indicating, printing and tare devices, which is determined by the requirements in Schedule 1);

(f) where relevant—

(i) the number of the certificate of approval or of the notice of examination in respect of the pattern in accordance with which the machine is made, preceded by the words “Certification No.”, “Cert. No.” or “Notice No.”, as the case may be;

(ii) “T = − …” if different from “Max …” or “T = + …” (the maximum range of the subtractive or additive tare device respectively);

(iii) “d = …” and “d_T = …” if different from “e = …” (the scale intervals of the graduated weight indicating and/or printing devices and graduated tare devices respectively);

(iv) in the case of a machine to which regulation 14(3) applies, “Min …” (where “ …” is the approved minimum load for the purpose of determining postal or other tariffs) and the words “for determining … tariffs” (where “ …” is the specific tariff for which the machine is used).

Units of measurement

17.—(1) Where units of measurement are marked on non-automatic weighing machines first passed as fit for use for trade—

(a) before 27th April 1978, they shall be marked, in the case of the dram, in full or by means of the abbreviation, dr, only;

(b) before 1st December 1980, they shall be marked in full though not in pounds or ounces or, except in the case of the ton or stone, by means of one of the following abbreviations or symbols only—

• cwt, qr, oz tr, gr, t, kg, kilog, g, grm, CM, mg;

(c) on or after those dates, they shall be marked in metric units or in ounce troy, in full or by means of one of the following abbreviations or symbols only—

• oz tr, t, kg, g, CM, mg;

(d) on and after 30th December 1992, they shall be marked in metric units or in ounce troy, in full or by means of one of the following abbreviations or symbols only—

• oz tr, t, kg, g, CM, ct, mg.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall authorise the use for trade of the ton, hundredweight, quarter, stone or grain in any circumstances, other than those permitted by regulations 10(2) and (4) of the Units of Measurement Regulations 1980(1) or of the dram in any circumstances other than those permitted by regulations 4(2) and (3) of the Units of Measurement Regulations 1978(2).

Supplementary indications

18.  Where a weight indicating device of a non-automatic weighing machine indicates the weight of a load in metric units of measurement that indication may also be given by means of a supplementary indication up to and including 31st December 2009.

Riders or other devices

19.  Only a non-automatic weighing machine of Class I or Class II shall be provided with—

(a) a rider;

(b) a device for interpolation of reading; or

(c) an indicating device on which the last figure is clearly differentiated from the other figures.

Unit price indications

20.  Where a non-automatic weighing machine shows price expressed as an amount of money per unit of weight, such unit of weight shall be expressed per hundred grams, per kilogram or per tonne.

Customer check weighing and self service machines

21.—(1) Every non-automatic weighing machine which is in use for trade for operation by a prospective buyer for the purpose of making known to him the weight and where appropriate the price of goods selected by him shall—

(a) be a self indicating weighing machine; and

(b) be specified as being for such use in the published particulars of the approved pattern in the case of a weighing machine having a digital indicating device.

(2) In addition, any machine which is made available as a self service weighing machine shall—

(a) be a price computing weighing machine having digital displays of weight, unit price and price to pay, together with an associated label printer;

(b) have any bag provided for the goods selected by the prospective buyer such that the goods are readily visible through it; and

(c) only be used in connection with the sale of different commodities, other than commodities having the same unit price, provided that they are readily distinguishable from each other.

Provision of sealing devices

22.  Every non-automatic weighing machine shall be provided with—

(a) either:

(i) an irremovable plug or stud made of soft metal; or

(ii) in the case of a Class I machine a special plate permanently and irremovably attached to the base of the machine; or

(b) such sealing arrangements as may be provided for the stamp as set out in the certificate of approval or the notice of examination in respect of that pattern.

(1)

S.I. 1980/1070; the relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1980/1742

(2)

S.I. 1978/484; the relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1980/1742