Legal Metrology Act, 2014 (Act No. 9 of 2014)RegulationsLegal Metrology Regulations, 2017Part XI : Measuring instruments and containers used for prescribed purposes87. Weights for coarse measurement |
| (1) | Except as otherwise approved by the National Regulator, new weights for coarse measurement having nominal values of 1 g up to 20 kg inclusive must conform to the following specifications— |
| (a) | weights of 1 g to 2 kg must be of generally cylindrical shape with a flat button handle; |
| (b) | weights of 5 kg to 20 kg must be of block shape and generally rectangular parallelepipedic having a centre section lower than the end sections and provided with a rigid bar handle between the end sections, cast integrally with the body of the weight and entirely within the parallelepiped; |
| (c) | the collar and the edge of the handle of a cylindrical weight and the arises of all weights must be rounded; |
| (d) | the adjusting hole in a cylindrical weight must consist of an open cavity of circular cross-section in the centre of the bottom surface and extending into the body of the weight to a depth approximately equal to one third of the height of the weight; |
| (e) | the adjusting hole in a block weight must consist of an open cavity of rectangular cross-section in the bottom surface and extending into one end section of the body of the weight to a depth approximately equal to one third of the height of that end section; |
| (f) | the cross-section area of the adjusting cavity of a cylindrical or block weight must be greater at the base of the cavity than at its opening; |
| (g) | the denomination of a cylindrical weight and the name or trade mark, if any, must be embossed on a sunken field or impressed on the upper surface of its top: Provided that the denomination may be repeated on the body of a weight having a value of 500 g or more; |
| (h) | the denomination of a block weight and the name or trade mark, if any, must be embossed or impressed on the upper surface of its central section; |
| (i) | the prescribed denomination must be in the following form: |
1 g; 2 g; 5 g; 10 g; 20 g; 50 g; 100 g; 200 g; 500 g, 1 kg; 2 kg; 5 kg; 10 kg; or 20 kg
| (j) | the designed dimensions of cylindrical weights must be as set out in table 4 of this regulation and the weights must conform to these dimensions within ordinary manufacturing tolerances except where limits are specified; |
| (k) | the designed dimension of block weights must be as set out in table 5 of this regulation and the weights must conform to these dimensions within ordinary manufacturing tolerances except where limits are specified; |
| (l) | newly manufactured weights must have sufficient lead in their adjusting cavities to ensure that the lead is securely fixed, and at least two thirds of the depth of the adjusting cavity is void of lead; |
| (m) | be made in one piece of a single metal or metal alloy with a density of not less than 7 g/cm3 and not more than 9,5 g/cm3, with a hardness not less than that of cast brass and with corrodibility and friability not more than that of grey cast iron; |
| (n) | have an adjusting hole that contains lead; |
| (o) | be free of flaws; |
| (p) | be smooth on all its surfaces, to a degree of smoothness at least equal to that of grey cast iron carefully cast in a mould of fine sand, except for the denomination and any name or trade mark where this appears; |
| (q) | not bear any inscription other than the denomination and, if desired, a name or trade mark, provided that the latter must be in letters smaller than the height of the figures and letters of the denomination; |
| (r) | any weight for coarse measurement of a nominal value of 100 g or less must be made of brass or any other metal or alloy specified in this subregulation, other than cast iron; |
| (s) | iron or steel weights for coarse measurement must be blacked, black-leaded or protected by galvanising or other suitable process. |
| (2) |
| (a) | Every weight for coarse measurement of a nominal value of 20 g or more must be provided with only one hole located in the underside of the weight which must be of such design as to permit of ready adjustment of the weight without risk of fracture and such hole must be undercut and plugged with lead sufficiently thick to ensure that it will remain securely in position. |
| (b) | In the case of a weight for coarse measurement other than a block weight, such adjusting hole must be centrally positioned. |
| (c) | Lead must not project above the rim of the adjusting hole of any weight. |
| (3) |
| (a) | The permissible denominations of weights for coarse measurement must be1 g or more in accordance with Table 6 of this regulation. |
| (b) | A weight for coarse measurement must not be marked with a denomination in more than one measurement unit. |
| (4) | The National Regulator may approve weights for coarse measurement that do not conform to the specifications in subregulation (1) of this regulation. |
| (5) | Each mass piece for coarse measurement must be evaluated against the requirements of this Part and be tested for accuracy by comparison with an appropriate standard weight by means of a beam scale or a precision balance or another specially prepared weighing instrument which has been tested in accordance with the requirements set out in SANS 1697, or as amended. |
The allowances of error on weights for coarse measurement are prescribed in Table IV of Table of Allowances in the Annexure.
| (7) |
| (a) | A weight for coarse measurement provided with an adjusting hole must have the verification mark placed on the lead in such hole. |
| (b) | A weight for coarse measurement not provided with an adjusting hole must have the verification mark placed on the bottom surface of the weight provided that where the small size of a weight makes it impracticable to place any or an additional verification mark in this position, a certificate must be issued in lieu thereof. |
Provided that the body may have a designed 1° inclusive taper.
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
TABLE 5 |
|||
Denomination |
|||
5 kg |
10 kg |
20 kg |
|
mm |
mm |
mm |
|
Overall length at top |
152 |
193 |
234 |
Length at bottom |
150 |
190 |
230 |
Width at top |
77 |
97 |
117 |
Width at bottom |
75 |
95 |
115 |
Height of end sections |
94 |
109 |
139 |
Length of end sections at top |
36 |
46 |
61 |
Length of centre section |
80 |
101 |
112 |
Height of centre section at sides |
30 |
38 |
52 |
Height of centre section at middle |
36 |
46 |
64 |
Diameter of handle |
19 |
25 |
29 |
Distance of centre of handle from top of weight |
18 |
25 |
30 |
Minimum length of adjusting cavity |
28 |
28 |
28 |
Maximum length of adjusting cavity (open end) |
30 |
30 |
30 |
Minimum width of adjusting cavity (open end) |
16 |
20 |
20 |
Maximum width of adjusting cavity (open end) |
18 |
22 |
22 |
Radius of arises |
5 |
6 |
8 |
Minimum height of denomination figures |
12 |
16 |
20 |
1 |
2 |
TABLE 6 |
|
Weights for coarse measurement. |
|
Denominations |
|
Any multiple of 1 000 kg or 1 mg or of 1 t |
1 kg |
1 000 kg or 1 mg or 1 t |
500 g |
500 kg |
200 g |
200 kg |
100 g |
100 kg |
50 g |
50 kg |
20 g |
20 kg |
10 g |
10 kg |
5 g |
5 kg |
2 g |
2 kg |
1 g |