Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel by Road Tanker) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984

Prospective

PART I N.I. GENERAL

Citation, commencement and revocation N.I.

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel by Road Tanker) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984 and shall come into operation as follows—

(a) all Regulations except Regulations 4, 5, 6, 14(1) and 36, on 7th May 1984;

(b) Regulations 4, 5, 14(1) and 36, on 1st July 1984; and

(c) Regulation 6, on 1st July 1987.

(2) The Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel by Road Tanker) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1980(1) and the Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel by Road Tanker) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1983(2) are hereby revoked.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 1 in operation at 7.5.1984, see reg. 1(1)(a)

Interpretation N.I.

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“approved” in the expressions “approved maximum”, “approved minimum” and “approved working conditions” means approved in accordance with a pattern in respect of which a certificate of approval is in force or, if the measuring equipment is not made in accordance with such a pattern, approved in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations;

“certificate of approval” means a certificate of approval of a pattern of measuring equipment granted or renewed by the Department of Economic Development under Article 10 of the Order or a certificate of approval of a pattern of measuring equipment deemed under Article 10(8) of the Order to have been granted and published under the provisions of the said Article 10;

“compartment” means a single container with which a dipstick forming part of a dipstick measuring system may be associated to measure quantities of liquid fuel or a container associated with a contents gauging system, but does not include associated pipework between the foot valve and the outlet valve unless specifically stated on a conspicuous notice adjacent to the outlet valve;

“compartment number” means, in the case of a multi-compartment tank, the position of the compartment relative to the front of the vehicle, numbered sequentially from the front of the vehicle;

“contents gauging system” means any measuring equipment, not being a dipstick measuring system or a meter measuring system, which determines the quantity of liquid fuel delivered from an associated compartment by measuring the height of the free surface of the liquid fuel from a reference point;

“datum face” means the flat surface of the crosspiece of a dipstick at right angles to the axis of the dipstick formed by the lower face of the crosspiece;

“datum point” means a point or area on the road tanker from which the relative height of the datum surface can readily be checked;

“datum surface” means the surface at the top of the dipstick guide tube, on which the datum face of the crosspiece rests when a measurement of liquid fuel is being made;

“dipstick measuring system” means any measuring equipment comprising a compartment with a datum surface, and an associated dipstick with a datum face;

“foot valve” means a mechanical device fitted at the junction of a compartment and its outlet pipe by means of which the contents of the compartment may be isolated from any associated pipework;

“mark of EEC initial verification” means the mark described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1980(3);

“meter measuring system” means any measuring equipment which incorporates a mechanical flowmeter device to determine the quantity of liquid fuel delivered, and comprises all parts and devices from the source, including any anti-swirl device, from which the liquid is drawn to the point of discharge and all associated mechanical, optical, electrical or pneumatic equipment;

“minimum delivery” means the smallest quantity of liquid fuel which the measuring equipment is designed to measure;

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

“pattern” means the particular pattern in accordance with which any particular measuring equipment is made;

“prescribed limits of error” relating to a contents gauging system or a meter measuring system has the meaning set out in Regulation 56(1) and relating to a dipstick measuring system has the meaning set out in Regulation 56(2);

“reference meter” means a meter for use in testing measuring equipment to which these Regulations apply provided pursuant to Article 4(1) of the Order for use by inspectors;

“registration mark” in relation to a vehicle means the registration mark assigned to it under the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971(4) or the Vehicles (Excise) Act (Northern Ireland) 1972(5);

“replacement dipstick” means a dipstick which is tested, passed as fit for use for trade and stamped to replace a dipstick which has been broken, lost or destroyed or is otherwise unserviceable;

“road tanker” means any vehicle or trailer which carries liquid fuel in a tank forming part of the vehicle or trailer other than that containing the fuel which is used to propel the vehicle, and also includes any tank with a capacity exceeding 3 m³ carried on a vehicle;

“spare dipstick” means an additional dipstick which is tested, passed as fit for use for trade and stamped at the same time as an original or replacement dipstick;

“the stamp” means the stamp prescribed by the Weights and Measures (Prescribed Stamp) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1969(6);

“tank” means a single or multiple container comprising one or more compartments; and

“tank number” means, in the case of a trailer part of a vehicle, the tank manufacturer's serial number and in the case of a rigid vehicle, either the tank manufacturer's serial number or the vehicle registration mark.

(2) In these Regulations, a “calibration chart” in relation to any tank means a table of figures which relates the volume of liquid fuel, for each of the tank's compartments, to the linear distance between the surface of the liquid and the datum surface, and which has been—

(a) prepared by inserting into, or withdrawing from, each compartment known volumes of liquid and determining the linear distance between the surface of the liquid and the datum surface when the road tanker is on a level surface; and

(b) certified as accurate by an inspector, including a chief or other inspector of weights and measures within the meaning of section 41 of the Weights and Measures Act 1963(7).

(3) The abbreviations of, and symbols for, units of measurement used in these Regulations refer to the relevant units as follows:

cubic metre	m3
millimetre	mm
square centimetre	cm2
degree celsius	°C

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 2 in operation at 7.5.1984, see reg. 1(1)(a)

Application N.I.

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), these Regulations shall apply to all measuring equipment on road tankers for use for trade in the making of any measurement of liquid fuel in a quantity dispensed from the tanker exceeding 20 gallons if the equipment is constructed to measure in imperial units, or 100 litres if it is constructed in metric units.

(2) These Regulations shall not apply to—

(a) measuring equipment for use only for the delivery of liquefied gas, lubricating oils, or fuels dispensed at other than ambient temperature; or

(b) measuring equipment for use only for the fuelling of aircraft, ships or hovercraft.

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 3 in operation at 7.5.1984, see reg. 1(1)(a)

Prescription of equipment N.I.

4.  Measuring equipment to which these Regulations apply is hereby prescribed for the purposes of Article 9(1) of the Order.

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 4 in operation at 1.7.1984, see reg. 1(1)(b)

Use for trade of contents gauging system or meter measuring system N.I.

5.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a contents gauging system or a meter measuring system shall be used for trade only for the purpose of measuring delivered quantities of liquid fuel of not less than the minimum delivery marked on or adjacent to the indicator of the system.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where a measurement is made only for the purpose of payments in respect of any customs or excise duty.

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 5 in operation at 1.7.1984, see reg. 1(1)(b)

Use for trade of dipstick measuring system N.I.

6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a dipstick measuring system shall be used for trade only for the purpose of measuring delivered quantities of liquid fuel of not less than 30% of the marked nominal capacity of the compartment with which the dipstick is associated.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where a measurement is made only for the purpose of payments in respect of any customs or excise duty.

Commencement Information

I6 Reg. 6 in operation at 1.7.1987, see reg. 1(1)(c)

(1)

S.R. 1980 No. 127

(2)

S.R. 1983 No. 138

(3)

S.I. 1980/1058

(4)

1971 c. 10

(5)

1972 c. 10 (N.I.)

(6)

S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1969 No. 11

(7)

1963 c. 31