Legal Metrology Act, 2014 (Act No. 9 of 2014)RegulationsLegal Metrology Regulations, 2017Part XI : Measuring instruments and containers used for prescribed purposes92. Automatic weighing instruments |
| (1) | Any adjusting or compensating device of an automatic weighing instrument must be effectively secured to the weighing instrument and must be protected against tampering. |
| (2) | The self-acting mechanism on an automatic weighing instrument with intermittent feed and discharge must be so constructed that, when the weighing instrument is operating, feeding is prevented while the weighing instrument is discharging and vice versa. |
| (3) | Where an automatic weighing instrument is provided with an incorporated test mass arrangement or certified weights, such arrangement of mass or weights, including any supporting rig that may be included in such mass arrangement, must be verified. |
| (4) |
| (a) | Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, in addition to testing by any method prescribed in this regulation for any specific type of automatic weighing instrument, the accuracy of the throughput of material must be tested by operating the weighing instrument under actual working conditions and using, where possible, the material the mass of which is normally measured by the weighing instrument. |
| (b) | In the case of an automatic weighing instrument provided with an intermittent feed, the total mass of material determined in at least three measuring cycles of operation must be verified by means of a suitable certified weighing instrument, either before or after the material has passed through the automatic weighing instrument, and the error in respect of each cycle must not exceed double the allowance of error prescribed in paragraph (d), but the total error in respect of three or more cycles must not exceed such prescribed allowance of error. |
| (c) | In the case of an automatic weighing instrument of the continuous type, the quantity of material to be used and the method of testing for accuracy of throughput is prescribed in subregulation (7) and (8) of this Part. |
| (d) | Except as otherwise provided in any regulation of this Part, the difference between the mass of material determined by means of the independent weighing instrument and the mass indicated by the automatic weighing instrument must not exceed the limits of error specified in the Table 9, for any mass of material measured: |
1 |
2 |
|
TABLE 9 |
||
Material |
Range of error |
|
(i) |
Grain, grain products, sugar or similar free-flowing materials |
0,25% in excess or in deficiency. |
(ii) |
Cement, coal, coke, ore or similar materials |
0,5% in excess or in deficiency. |
(iii) |
Granulated or powdered fertiliser |
0,5% in excess or in deficiency. |
(iv) |
Raw fish |
0,5% in excess or in deficiency. |
(v) |
Liquids |
0,25% in excess or in deficiency. |
(vi) |
Tacky materials or viscous liquids |
0,5% in excess or in deficiency. |
(vii) |
Bagasse |
0,5% in excess or in deficiency. |
| (e) | The operation of the self-acting mechanism and of any controls on an automatic weighing instrument must be checked by the observation thereof during at least three cycles of operation of the weighing instrument when in actual normal use. |
| (5) | Any self-indicating or other type of load-measuring device provided on an automatic weighing instrument and which may be coupled at will to the load receptor and load transmitting device for checking the accuracy of the setting for the predetermined quantity of material, must be tested together with the automatic weighing instrument itself. |
| (6) |
| (a) | Where an automatic weighing instrument, used for the measurement of the mass of predetermined quantities of materials, comprises an equal-armed beam or an unequal-armed lever from which a load receptor, and a receptacle for certified weights or for proportional counterpoises, are respectively suspended— |
| (i) | the equal-armed beam need not be marked for its class, but where more than one such weighing instrument of the same type is used on any one premises, each such beam or unequal-armed lever must be identified with its respective scale by the impression or stamping on the beam of the serial number of the weighing instrument or of another appropriate identification mark and any proportional counterpoises must be similarly identified; |
| (ii) | a device in the form of a steelyard or of a self-indicating load measuring device may be provided for determining, in the measurement of a batch of material, the mass of any residue which is less than the predetermined quantity; |
| (iii) | any counting or totalising device with which the weighing instrument may be provided must accurately indicate the number of completed cycles of operation of the weighing instrument or the total mass measured in a number of completed cycles of operation of the weighing instrument, as the case may be, in respect of a batch of material; and |
| (iv) | any printing device with which the weighing instrument may be provided must record the total mass measured in a number of completed cycles of operation of the weighing instrument together with the mass of any residue of material the mass of which is measured. |
| (b) | The weighing instrument must be balanced with any compensating device out of action or set for zero compensation and with the receptacle for weights and the load receptor empty. |
| (c) | Each weight used with the weighing instrument must be certified and each proportional counterpoise must be tested when verifying the weighing instrument. |
| (d) | Load the load receptor with certified weights, the weighing instrument so loaded and with equivalent certified weights or appropriate counterpoises in or on the receptacle for weights, must indicate equilibrium correctly at any load up to its capacity, any compensating device being out of action. |
| (e) | With discharge prevented, when any quantity of certified weights or appropriate counterpoises, up to capacity, is placed in or on the receptacle for weights and any compensating device is correctly adjusted, the weighing instrument must indicate equilibrium correctly after a quantity of material has been fed into the load receptor until the self-acting mechanism stops the feed. |
| (f) | When an automatic weighing instrument is loaded as described in paragraph (d) or (e), the mass required to effect turn of the beam or lever, any error been eliminated, must not exceed the appropriate turning allowance prescribed in Table II or Table III of the Annexure to this Part, respectively— |
| (i) | in respect of an automatic weighing instrument having a capacity of not more than 50 kg; or |
| (ii) | in respect of an automatic weighing instrument having a capacity of more than 50 kg. |
| (g) | The tests of the weighing instrument specified in paragraphs (b) to (f) must be carried out in addition to the tests specified in subregulation (5). |
| (7) |
| (a) | An automatic weighing instrument which incorporates a self-indicating load measuring device by means of which the predetermined mass may be set and is used for the measurement of the mass of predetermined quantities of materials, must be provided with a counting or totalising device and such device must indicate the number of completed cycles of operation of the weighing instrument or the total mass measured in a number of completed cycles of operation of the weighing instrument, as the case may be. |
| (b) | Where an automatic weighing instrument referred to in paragraph (a) is provided with a printing device such device must record the total of the results of measurements in terms of a unit of mass, provided that where such a measuring instrument is also provided with a totalising counter the weighing instrument may be used without the printer. |
| (c) | Where an automatic weighing instrument referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) is provided with a means for measuring the mass of any residue in a batch of material which is less than the predetermined quantity, the mass of such residue must be included in the total mass printed. |
| (d) | An automatic weighing instrument referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) must be tested in accordance with the applicable provisions of regulation 90 in addition to the provisions of subregulation (5). |
| (8) |
| (a) | An automatic weighing instrument, which incorporates a self-indicating load measuring device and is used for the measurement of the mass of approximating predetermined quantities of material, must be provided with a totalising device which indicates and adds the actual values of the approximately predetermined quantities, for which the measuring instrument is set. |
| (b) | Where an automatic weighing instrument referred to in paragraph (a) is provided with a means for measuring the mass of any material or debris left in the load receptor after the discharge of a load, the total mass indicated in a number of completed cycles of operation of the weighing instrument must not include the mass of such material or debris. |
| (c) | Where an automatic weighing instrument referred to in paragraph (a) is provided with a printing device, such device must record the total mass of the results of measurements in terms of a unit of mass. |
| (d) | Where an automatic weighing instrument referred to in subregulation (a) of subregulation (6) is provided with a means for measuring the mass of any residue in a batch of material which is less than the predetermined quantity, the mass of such residue must be included in the total mass printed. |
| (e) | An automatic weighing instrument referred to in paragraph (a) must be tested in accordance with the applicable provisions of regulation 90 and the market surveillance inspector or verification officer may, in his discretion, also apply the tests prescribed in subregulation (5). |
| (9) |
| (a) | All continuous totalizing automatic weighing instruments must comply with the requirements of SANS 863 and any similar requirement in this regulation is not applicable. |
| (b) | Continuous totalizing automatic weighing instruments must be verified according to the requirements of Annex AA of SANS 863. |
| (c) | In addition to any requirement of the Act or any other applicable regulation in terms of the Act and unless the user is exempted by any provision in the Act or any other applicable regulation in terms of the Act, the requirements of Annex BB of SANS 863 shall be complied with by persons using continuous totalizing automatic weighing instruments – belt weighers for a prescribed purpose. |
| (10) | An automatic continuously totalising weighing instrument constructed on the principle of a conveyor belt scale, but without the belt, for measuring the mass of material in bulk, which is previously divided into discrete quantities, must conform to the provisions of regulation 90 in addition to the applicable provisions of subregulation (9). |
| (11) | Unless described in type approval documentation, the verification mark must be placed upon a lead plug inserted in a conspicuous and easily accessible part of the beam or some other essential part of an automatic weighing instrument and upon the lead in the adjusting hole of any weights used with the weighing instrument, or in the case of other counterpoises, the date stamp must be placed upon the lead in the adjusting hole, and in appropriate cases protective marks must be affixed to prevent unauthorised access to the working parts. |