The Weights and Measures (Local and Working Standard Capacity Measures and Testing Equipment) Regulations 1987

Part IIITesting Equipment

Reference meters

5.—(1) Reference meters shall be tested either—

(a)by means of a local or working standard capacity measure which is of sufficient size to hold at least one minute’s delivery of the meter under test; or

(b)by means of a weighing machine which can weigh at least one minute’s delivery of the meter under test.

(2) The capacity measure or the weighing machine used to test a reference meter shall have a discrimination threshold of not less than 0.01 per cent. of the quantity delivered by the meter under test.

  • In a test under paragraph (1)(b) above, the density of the test liquid shall be determined to an accuracy of 0.01 per cent.

6.  A reference meter shall have been tested over the range of flowrates and liquids for which it is intended to be used within 24 months before use, and the results of the test shall be such that

(a)the repeatability shall be such that the range of five consecutive tests with the same liquid at the same flowrate does not exceed 0.05 per cent. of the quantity delivered on each test;

(b)the linearity shall be such that the range of the means of any five consecutive tests with the same liquid within the flowrate range shall not exceed 0.1 per cent. of the quantity delivered on each test; and

(c)notwithstanding the application of corrections when a reference meter is used to test meter measuring systems in accordance with the Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel delivered from Road Tankers) Regulations 193(1), the accuracy of the mean of any five consecutive tests shall not exceed 0.5 per cent. of the quantity delivered on any test.

7.  A reference meter shall have been tested at a single flowrate within 6 months before use, and the mean of five consecutive measurements at the same flowrate shall not differ by more than 0.05 per cent. of the quantity delivered on each test from the mean quantity delivered at the same flow rate with liquid of the same viscosity when the meter was last tested in accordance with Regulation 6 above.

Multifillers

8.  Every measure in a multifiller shall be tested in the manner in which it is to be used by discharging water into a working standard capacity measure into a container and determining the volume of water delivered on a suitable weighing machine.

9.  Every multifiller shall have been tested within 6 months before use and shall have been adjusted so that the quantity delivered does not lie outside the limit of error permitted for a working standard of the same nominal capacity.

Burettes and pipettes

10.  Burettes and pipettes shall have been tested within 12 months before use and shall have been adjusted so that the error in volume does not exceed the limit of error permitted for a working standard of the same nominal capacity.

11.  A pipette shall be tested as a measure of its maximum purported capacity, an (if applicable) as a measure of at least one amount indicated by a subdivision, by filling it to the level of the graduation, discharging it, and weighing the water discharged.

12.  A burette shall be tested as a measure of its maximum purported capacity, and (if applicable) as a measure of at least two amounts indicated by subdivisions, by filling it to the level of the graduation, discharging it, and weighing the water discharged.

Displacement plungers

13.  A displacement plunger shall be tested by measuring either the volume or the weight of water displaced when the displacement plunger is immersed in water up to the line which indicates the nominal volume.

14.  A displacement plunger shall have been tested within 12 months before use and shall have been adjusted so that the error in volume does not exceed the limit of error set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.