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

PART I General

1.  Non-automatic weighing machines are divided into four classes of accuracy according to specifications set out in Parts II to V. The division depends on their characteristics as well as the provisions relating to maximum capacity, the lower limit of the minimum load, the number of scale intervals and the scale interval itself.

2.  Where self and semi-self indicating machines are provided with an indicating device on which the last figure is clearly differentiated from the other figures, the classification of the machines into accuracy classes, their number of scale intervals and their minimum load shall be determined by reference to the verification scale interval.

3.  In each weighing mode of a machine each of the tare, weight indicating and printing devices operable in that mode has an associated verification scale interval. In a different weighing mode the same devices may have different verification scale intervals. When testing a machine it is therefore necessary to determine the verification scale interval for each device in each of the weighing modes in which it is operable.

4.  A weight indicating or printing device which, in any single weighing mode, has its weighing range divided into parts, each part having a different scale interval, will also have a different verification scale interval for each part. When testing in a particular weighing mode the relevant verification scale intervals are those associated with those devices in that mode.

5.  Each verification scale interval is—

(a) marked on the machine in accordance with the published particulars of the approved pattern or, if there are no such markings,

(b) specified in the relevant Table in Parts II to V.

6.  The presence of a tare device or of a verification device on the machine does not affect the classification of the machine, which depends on its own characteristics. These devices are considered as belonging to the class of accuracy of the machine to which they are attached irrespective of their own characteristics.

7.  For machines provided with several weight indicating or printing devices, each of the devices—

(a) has its own minimum load, the value of which is determined from the appropriate Table in Parts II, III, IV or V, depending on its metrological characteristics; and

(b) has the same digital scale interval, which must be at most equal to the smallest of any analogue scale interval.

8.  For machines provided with graduated tare devices the smallest scale interval of the devices must be equal to the smallest scale interval of the machine to which it is fitted. The verification scale interval of these devices shall be equal to the smallest verification scale interval of the machine.

9.  For machines fitted with a graduated verification device the scale interval of such an incorporated device must be at most equal to one-fifth of the scale interval of the machine.