PART IVTESTING
Dipstick measuring systems
51.
Regulations 52 to 55 below apply to dipstick measuring systems.
52.
(1)
—
(a)
Except in the case of a dipstick tested by reference to a calibration chart as mentioned in paragraph (2) below, a dipstick associated with a compartment shall be tested by inserting into, or withdrawing from, the compartment known volumes of liquid and determining the position of the scale mark on the dipstick when the road tanker is on a level surface
(b)
The known volumes in paragraph (a) above shall be determined using—
(i)
local standards of capacity; or
(ii)
a reference meter; or
(iii)
other equipment, being measures of capacity forming part of a fixed installation or being mounted on a vehicle or trailer, which has been tested in a manner which the inspector considers suitable, and adjusted, within the last twelve months, so as not to have any apparent error.
(2)
A dipstick associated with a compartment may be tested by comparing the distance of every scale mark from the datum surface with that given on the calibration chart in respect of the compartment, unless any alteration, addition, damage or repair has been effected to the compartment which in the opinion of the inspector has invalidated the calibration chart, in which case the inspector shall not use a calibration chart to test a dipstick until a new calibration chart has been prepared.
(3)
On testing a dipstick associated with a compartment an inspector shall inspect the compartment unless the calibration chart was prepared not more than 42 days before testing, in which case testing may be carried out with the dipstick and calibration chart only being present.
(4)
Not more than two dipsticks relating to a compartment forming part of a dipstick measuring system may be passed as fit for use for trade on any one occasion.
53.
For the purposes of the performance by an inspector of his functions under the Act or these Regulations relating to inspection, testing, passing as fit for use for trade and stamping of a dipstick measuring system a person submitting such a system to an inspector or who an inspector has reasonable cause to believe has possession of such a system for use for trade shall, if requested, provide for the inspector's use such products as the inspector may reasonably require, and any products so provided shall be returned to the person in question.
54.
An inspector shall use, in testing any dimensional measurement in a dipstick measuring system—
(a)
a rigid local standard of length; or
(b)
(i)
is divided into 1 mm intervals throughout, and
(ii)
has been tested in a manner which the inspector considers suitable within the previous 10 years and found not to have errors exceeding those permitted by item 7.4 of the Annex to the said Directive; or
(c)
a rigid linear measure of appropriate length which—
(i)
is divided into 1 mm intervals throughout, and
(ii)
has been tested in a manner which the inspector considers suitable within the previous 10 years and found not to have errors in excess or in deficiency of 0.25 mm per whole metre or part of a metre; or
(d)
other equipment for measuring length of suitable form and durability which has been tested in a manner which the inspector considers suitable and found not to have any error in excess or in deficiency of 0.25 mm per whole metre or part of a metre.
55.
Tanks submitted for testing shall be clean.
F1Measuring equipment imported from F2a member State or an EEA State55A.
(1)
In relation to measuring equipment imported into Great Britain from F3a member State or from an EEA State, subject to paragraph (4) below, an inspector shall not carry out any test in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Part of these Regulations if, together with the measuring equipment being imported, he is presented with the requisite documentation.
(2)
In this Regulation and in Regulation 57(2) below—
(a)
“requisite documentation” means—
(i)
the test report of an approved body stating that the measuring equipment which is the subject of that report has been tested in accordance with the tests mentioned in this Part of these Regulations and stating which tests have been applied to that measuring equipment; and
(ii)
the test results relating to those tests; and
(b)
“EEA State” means a State which is a Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement F4...; and in this paragraph “the EEA Agreement” means the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992 as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993.
F5(3)
A body is an “approved body” for the purposes of this regulation if it is a body in a member State or in an EEA State which has responsibility in that State for metrological control of measuring equipment on road tankers or is a laboratory which has been accredited for the purposes of testing measuring equipment on road tankers in a member State or in an EEA State as being a body which conforms with the criteria set out in BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2000.
(4)
Nothing in these Regulations shall prevent an inspector testing in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Part of these Regulations where he is not satisfied—
(a)
as to the authenticity of the test report or the test results presented to him; or
(b)
that those results in fact relate to the measuring equipment being imported.