National Measurement Amendment Regulations 2007 (No. 1)1

Select Legislative Instrument 2007 No. 147

I, PHILIP MICHAEL JEFFERY, Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Regulations under the National Measurement Act 1960.

Dated 7 June 2007

P. M. JEFFERY

Governor‑General

By His Excellency’s Command

BOB BALDWIN

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources

1 Name of Regulations

  These Regulations are the National Measurement Amendment Regulations 2007 (No. 1).

2 Commencement

  These Regulations commence on 1 July 2007.

3 Amendment of National Measurement Regulations 1999

  Schedule 1 amends the National Measurement Regulations 1999.

Schedule 1 Amendments

(regulation 3)

[1] Regulation 3, definition of certification

substitute

certification means:

 (a) for a measuring instrument (except a measuring instrument to which paragraph (b) applies) — certification of the instrument under regulation 37; and

 (b) for a measuring instrument in use for trade — certification of the instrument under the relevant State or Territory trade measurement legislation; and

 (c) for a reference material — certification of the material under regulation 48.

[2] Regulation 3, after definition of defence equipment

insert

Inspectors’ Class 1 standard means a reference standard of measurement that has been verified in accordance with regulation 13 and that complies with the requirements of regulations 27 and 32 for the maximum permissible uncertainty and the maximum permissible variation of an Inspectors’ Class 1 standard.

Inspectors’ Class 2 standard means a reference standard of measurement that has been verified in accordance with regulation 13 and that complies with the requirements of regulations 28 and 33 for the maximum permissible uncertainty and the maximum permissible variation of an Inspectors’ Class 2 standard.

Inspectors’ Class 3 standard means a reference standard of measurement that has been verified in accordance with regulation 13 and that complies with the requirements of regulations 29 and 34 for the maximum permissible uncertainty and the maximum permissible variation of an Inspectors’ Class 3 standard.

[3] Regulation 3, definition of maximum permissible error

substitute

maximum permissible error, for a material measure or measuring instrument, means the maximum limit of error that:

 (a) if a certificate is issued on or after 1 July 2007 for the material measure or measuring instrument — is mentioned in the certificate; or

 (b) otherwise — is mentioned in Schedule 12 for a material measure or measuring instrument of that kind.

[4] Regulation 3, after definition of maximum permissible error

insert

recertification, for a measuring instrument or reference material, means certification of the instrument or material after the initial certification of the instrument or material.

reverification, for a standard of measurement or a measuring instrument, means verification of the standard or instrument after the initial verification of the standard or instrument.

[5] Regulation 3, after definition of SI

insert

State secondary standard means a reference standard of measurement that has been verified in accordance with regulation 13 and that complies with the requirements of regulation 25 for the maximum permissible uncertainty of a State secondary standard.

State tertiary standard means a reference standard of measurement that has been verified in accordance with regulation 13 and that complies with the requirements of regulation 26 for the maximum permissible uncertainty of a State tertiary standard.

[6] Regulation 3, after definition of time

insert

variant means a change made to the pattern of an instrument, subject to the arrangement of the components of the instrument and the measuring element being substantially of the same design as that of the approved pattern.

[7] Regulation 3, definition of verification

substitute

verification means:

 (a) for a standard of measurement — verification of the standard under regulation 13; and

 (b) for a measuring instrument in use for trade — verification of the instrument under the relevant State or Territory trade measurement legislation.

[8] Regulation 19, note

omit

24,

[9] Sub‑regulation 77 (2)

omit

regulation 20 or subregulation 24 (2).

insert

regulation 20.

[10] Subparagraph 87 (d) (ii)

substitute

 (ii) maximum permissible errors mentioned in Division 1 of Part 3 of Schedule 12.

[11] Regulation 90B

substitute

90B Fees

 (1) For paragraph 20 (1) (l) of the Act, the fees for activities undertaken by the Commonwealth are set out in Schedule 13.

 (2) In Schedule 13, level 1 applies to:

 (a) the following kinds of measuring instruments:

 (i) volume measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (A) simple liquor measures or dispensers;

 (B) simple indicators or counters for flow;

 (C) driveway flowmeter fuel dispenser consoles (excluding computer‑based systems);

 (D) pulse counters and pulse generators;

 (E) milk tanks;

 (F) vehicle and other tanks;

 (ii) weighing and dimensional measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (A) class 3 and 4 weighing instruments 100 kg;

 (B) simple instruments or counters for weighing;

 (C) pulse counters and pulse generators; and

 (b) examination and certification, under mutual recognition agreements, of patterns of measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (i) simple instruments with one or two variants;

 (ii) load cells with 1 or 2 variants.

 (3) In Schedule 13, level 2 applies to:

 (a) the following kinds of measuring instruments:

 (i) volume measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (A) multi‑liquor measuring systems;

 (B) driveway flowmeters fuel dispensers (except liquefied petroleum gas flowmeters and multiproduct pumps);

 (C) tank level gauges (excluding volume conversion devices);

 (D) electronic flowmeter indicators or calculators;

 (E) milk meters;

 (F) computer operated consoles for fuel dispensers;

 (G) mass flowmeters;

 (ii) weighing and dimensional measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (A) class 1 and 2 weighing instruments;

 (B) class 3 and 4 weighing instruments >100 kg;

 (C) overhead‑track weighing instruments;

 (D) semi‑automatic multi‑dimensional measuring instruments;

 (E) static wheel weighers;

 (F) length measuring instruments;

 (G) area measuring instruments; and

 (b) examination and certification, under mutual recognition agreements, of patterns of measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (i) simple instruments with 3 or 4 variants;

 (ii) load cells with three or four variants;

 (iii) instruments with integral printers;

 (iv) fuel dispensers.

 (4) In Schedule 13, level 3 applies to:

 (a) the following kinds of measuring instruments:

 (i) volume measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (A) milk metering systems;

 (B) bulk flowmeters (including mass flowmeters);

 (C) controllers and indicator calculators with conversion or linearisation functions for flow;

 (D) multi‑product fuel dispensers and driveway and bulk flowmeters for liquefied petroleum gas;

 (ii) weighing and dimensional measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (A) belt weighers;

 (B) weighing‑in‑motion systems for trains and road vehicles;

 (C) catchweighers;

 (D) totalising hopper weighers;

 (E) controllers and indicator calculators with conversion or linearisation functions for weighing;

 (F) automatic multi‑dimensional measuring instruments; and

 (b) examination and certification, under mutual recognition agreements, of patterns of measuring instruments of the following kinds:

 (i) simple instruments with 5 variants;

 (ii) automatic instruments; and

(c)         examination and certification of patterns of measuring instruments other than those covered by mutual recognition agreements.

 (5) In Schedule 13, level 3 also applies to examination and certification, under mutual recognition agreements, of simple instruments with more than 5 variants, subject to each variant in excess of 5 variants attracting an additional extra or miscellaneous fee as set out in the column headed ‘Level 3 Fee’ in item 2 in table 3 in Part 3 of Schedule 13.

[12] Schedule 2, Part 1, table, after item 1.8

insert

[13] Schedule 2, Part 2, table, after item 2.8

insert

[14] Schedule 12

substitute

Schedule 12 Maximum permissible errors

(regulation 3, definition of maximum permissible error)

Part 1 Interpretation

 1 In this Schedule:

verification does not include reverification.

 2 In Part 5 of this Schedule:

certification does not include recertification.

Part 2 Material measures

Division 1 Length

Table 1 Measures of Length

Division 2 Weight

Table 2 Non‑ferrous weights marked ‘A’

Table 3 Non‑ferrous weights not marked ‘A’

Table 4 Iron Weights

Table 5 Metric carat weights

Division 3 Volume

Table 6 Conical measures

Table 7 Cylindrical line measures

Table 8 Cylindrical brim measures made of glass or metal for alcoholic liquor

Table 9 Cylindrical line measures made of metal for special purposes

Table 10 Portable measures for potable liquids – line measures

Table 11 Portable measures for potable liquids – brim measures

Division 4 Dispensing measures including pharmaceutical measures

Table 12 Conical dispensing measures

Table 13 Beaker dispensing measures

Table 14 Lubricating oil measures

Table 15 Graduated measuring cylinders

Part 3 Measuring instruments

Division 1 Length‑measuring instruments

Table 1 Length‑measuring instruments

Division 2 Area‑measuring instruments

Single‑measurement error — instruments with analog indication

Table 2 Instruments with analog indication

Single‑measurement error — instruments with digital indication

 1 For instruments with digital indication add 0.5 scale interval to the maximum permissible error for an analog instrument.

Mean error

 2 On analog and digital instruments the mean of 20 measurements must not differ from the denominated value of the template by more than half the maximum permissible error mentioned in table 2.

Note   The test templates for measuring instruments with digital indication must have values that are an integral number of square decimetres.

Division 3 Farm milk tanks

  The maximum permissible error for all scale marks on the dipsticks for certification, verification or reverification is ±1 scale interval.

Table 3 Farm milk tanks

Division 4 Vehicle tanks

Tanks used only for sullage

 1 The maximum permissible error for certification, verification or reverification for each scale mark on a sight tube is ±0.5 scale interval.

Vehicle tanks except for sullage

 2 The maximum permissible error applicable to a vehicle tank for certification, verification or reverification is:

 (a) for a tank with a capacity mark — ±0.2% of the indicated volume; and

 (b) for a tank with a dipstick — ±0.5 scale interval for each scale mark on the dipstick.

Division 5 Liquid‑measuring systems

Accuracy classes

 1 Liquid‑measuring systems are classified into 5 accuracy classes as set out in table 4.

Table 4 Liquid‑measuring systems — Accuracy classes

Maximum permissible errors

 2 For volumes equal to or greater than 2 L, and subject to clauses 4 and 5, the maximum permissible error on volume indications are set out in table 5.

Table 5 Volumes equal to or greater than 2 L

 3 For volumes less than 2 L, and subject to clauses 4 and 5, the maximum permissible errors, positive or negative, on volume indications are set out in table 6.

Table 6 Volumes less than 2 L

 4 However, whatever the measured quantity may be, the magnitude of the maximum permissible error is the greater of the following 2 values:

 (a) the absolute value of the maximum permissible error in table 5 or table 6;

 (b) the minimum specified volume deviation under clause 5.

 5 For minimum measured quantities equal to or greater than 2 L, the minimum specified volume deviation (Emin) is calculated using the formula:

where:

Vmin is the minimum measured quantity.

A is the maximum permissible error specified in the column headed ‘A’ of table 5 for the accuracy class of the measuring system.

 6 For minimum measured quantities less than 2 L, the minimum specified volume deviation is twice the value set out in table 6 and related to the column headed ‘A’ in table 5.

Note   The minimum specified volume deviation is an absolute maximum permissible error.

Accuracy of associated measuring instruments

 7 Associated measuring instruments must exhibit an accuracy at least as good as the values set out in tables 7A, 7B and 7C for the accuracy class of the measuring system.

Table 7A Associated measuring instruments — Temperature

Table 7B Associated measuring instruments — Pressure

Table 7C Associated measuring instruments — Density

Price computing devices

 8 The price indicated must equal the price calculated for the volume and unit price indicated within the following maximum permissible errors as set out in table 8.

Table 8 Price computing devices

Beverage dispensers

Table 9 Beverage dispensers for alcoholic liquor

Division 6 Weighing instruments

Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 non‑automatic instruments

 1 The maximum permissible errors for increasing and decreasing loads, expressed in terms of verification scale interval (e), with an instrument adjusted to zero with ±0.25 e at no load, are set out in table 10.

Table 10 Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 non‑automatic instruments

 2 For digital indication or printing, a permissible error does not include the positive or negative error arising from rounding up or down to the nearest whole number of scale intervals.

Unclassified even‑arms scales

Table 11 Unclassified even‑arm scales

 3 The maximum permissible error for even‑arm scales must be half the amount specified in table 11 for loads not more than half capacity and the whole amount specified for loads more than half to maximum capacity.

Other unclassified instruments

 4 The maximum permissible errors for self‑indicating weighing instruments and graduated non‑self‑indicating weighing instruments, with an instrument adjusted to zero within ±0.25 scale interval at no load must be:

 (a) ±0.5 scale interval for the first 500 scale intervals; and

 (b) ±1 scale interval for more than 500 but not more than 2 000 scale intervals; and

 (c) ±1.5 scale intervals for more than 2 000 scale intervals.

Belt weighers

Table 12 Belt weighers

Catch weighers

 5 The maximum permissible error for any load equal to or greater than the minimum capacity and equal to or less than the maximum capacity in automatic operation is set out in table 13.

Table 13 Catch weighers

Division 7 Automatic rail‑weighbridges

Accuracy classes

 1 Automatic rail‑weighbridges are divided into the following 4 accuracy classes:

 (a) 0.2;

 (b) 0.5;

 (c) 1;

 (d) 2.

 2 An instrument may be in an accuracy class for wagon weighing that is different from that for train weighing.

Maximum permissible errors — Weighing in motion

Table 14 Maximum permissible errors for weighing in motion

Wagon weighing

 3 The maximum permissible error for coupled or uncoupled wagon weighing is the greatest of the following values:

 (a) the value calculated according to table 14, rounded to the nearest scale interval d;

 (b) the value calculated according to table 14, rounded to the nearest scale interval for the weight of a single wagon equal to 35% of the maximum wagon weight (as inscribed on the descriptive markings);

 (c) 1 d.

Train weighing

 4 The maximum permissible error for train weighing is the greatest of the following values:

 (a) the value calculated according to table 14, rounded to the nearest scale interval d;

 (b) the value calculated according to table 14 for the weight of a single wagon equal to 35% of the maximum wagon weight (as inscribed on the descriptive markings) multiplied by the number of reference wagons in the train (not exceeding 10 wagons) and rounded to the nearest scale interval;

 (c) 1 d for each wagon in the train, but not exceeding 10 d.

Maximum permissible errors — Static weighing

 5 The maximum permissible errors on static weighing for increasing or decreasing loads must be the appropriate values set out in table 15.

Table 15 Static weighing

Minimum capacity

 6 The minimum capacity must not be less than 1 t, and not greater than the value of the result of the minimum wagon weight divided by the number of partial weighing.

Minimum wagon weight

 7 The minimum wagon weight must not be less than 50 d.

Division 8 Grain protein measuring instruments

  The maximum permissible errors at verification, certification or reverification are:

 (a) wheat — ±0.4% at 11% moisture; and

 (b) barley — ±0.5% at 0% moisture.

Division 9 Water Vending Machines

Table 16 Water vending machines at all volumes vended

Part 4 Utility meters

Division 1 Water meters

Table 1 Maximum permissible errors for water meters

Part 5 Legal Measuring instruments

Division 1 Evidential Breath Analysers

  When comparing the error of an evidential breath analyser with the corresponding maximum permissible error, this maximum permissible error must be rounded to the value of the verification scale interval. The error of a reading indicated by an evidential breath analyser may be greater than the maximum permissible error by one least significant digit.

Table 1 Evidential Breath Analysers

[15] Schedule 13

substitute

Schedule 13 Fees

(regulation 90B)

Part 1 Examination and certification of volume measuring instruments

Table 1 Examination and certification of volume measuring instruments

Note Table 1 sets out three levels of fees that apply to the instruments described, respectively, by subparagraphs 90B (2) (a) (i), (3) (a) (i) and (4) (a) (i).

Part 2 Examination and certification of weighing and dimensional measuring instruments

Table 2 Examination and certification of weighing and dimensional measuring instruments

Note Table 2 sets out three levels of fees that apply to the instruments described, respectively, by subparagraphs 90B (2) (a) (ii), (3) (a) (ii) and (4) (a) (ii).

Part 3 Examination and certification of patterns of measuring instruments

Table 3 Examination and certification of patterns of measuring instruments

Note   Table 3 sets out three levels of fees that apply to the instruments described, respectively, by:

(a) paragraph 90B (2) (b) — the level 1 fee; and

(b) paragraph 90B (3) (b) — the level 2 fee; and

(c) paragraph 90B (4) (b) and (c) and subregulation 90B (5) — the level 3 fee.

Part 4 Examination and certification of evidential breath analysers

Table 4 Examination and certification of evidential breath analysers

Part 5 Examination and certification of grain protein measuring instruments

Table 5 Examination and certification of grain protein measuring instruments

Part 6 Examination and certification of utility meters