LEGAL METROLOGY

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LEGAL METROLOGY
S. F.CHEN Head (Principal Metrologist), Mechanical
Metrology Section, National Metrology
Laboratory, SIRIM Bhd.
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CONTENT
- What is metrology and legal metrology? - Essenti
al Components of Legal Metrology
System - Administration of Legal
Metrology - Technical Infrastructure - Internation
al Harmonization
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What is Metrology?
Science and activity related to measurements
Scope covers - measurement theory, - units of
measurement and their realization, - characteri
stics of measuring instruments, - measurement
procedures and methods.
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Legal Metrology
All measurements which are subject to legal or
regulatory control
Main purpose is to ensure
Fair trade
Our protection as consumers, citizens and
human beings in areas such as safety, health and
the environment.
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ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF LEGAL METROLOGY SYSTEM
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National Measurement Legislation
Enables enforcement of uniform
system measurement units to be used
Provides for establishment of
national measurement standards
Specifies scope of legal metrology
Prescribes technical regulations for control
of stds. and measuring instruments
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Scope of Legal Metrology
Generally applies to
measuring equipment used as standards for
verification of instruments
measurements and measuring instruments used
in commercial transactions and public health
and environmental control.
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Examples of instruments covered by legal
metrology
Trade market scales, gasoline pumps, utility
meters and taximeters.
Environment noise level meters, air and
water pollution meters
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Examples of instruments covered by legal
metrology (contd.)
Health medical scales, syringes,
thermometers, audiometers and radiotherapy
equipment
Safety radar equipment for measuring vehicle
speed, breath alcohol analyzer and tyre
pressure gauge
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Metrological Control of Measuring Instruments
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Pattern Approval
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Pattern Approval (contd.)
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Pattern Approval (contd.)
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Verification of Measuring Instruments
Purpose To ascertain and confirm compliance
with statutory requirements.
Pre-requisites - Acceptable for
verification without pattern approval (e.g.
simple instruments) or - pattern approval
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Verification of Measuring Instruments
2 categories
initial verification - new instrument not
verified before
subsequent verification - mandatory periodic
verification - verification after repair
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Verification of Measuring Instruments
Verification Process
initial verification - legal requirements
respected? - conforms to approved pattern? -
pass all tests and examinations?
If everything is O.K. equipment is stamped,
sealed and issued with certificate of
verification
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Verification of Measuring Instruments (contd.)
Initial verification may be carried out utilizing
manufacturers quality management system
Approach is taken when it involves a
large number, diverse and complexity of
instrument patterns and where legal metrology
service is constrained by financial resources,
limited test facilities and specialized staff.
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Verification of Measuring Instruments (contd.) -
Situation in Malaysia
December 2002 - Weights and Measures Act 1972
amended. Minister given the power to issue a
licence to a private company to carry out the
technical verification services.
1 April, 2005 - Appointed company takes over the
technical verification services.
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Verification of Measuring Instruments (contd.)
Verification Process (contd.)
subsequent verification - legal requirements
respected? - continues to conform to approved
pattern? - pass all tests and examinations?
Note Requirements generally differ and often
less stringent than those of initial verification.
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Verification of Measuring Instruments (contd.)
subsequent verification (contd.)
If everything is O.K. equipment is stamped,
sealed and issued with certificate of
verification
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Verification of Measuring Instruments (contd.)
Verification Intervals
- prescribed by regulation
- prescribed under conditions of pattern approval
- decided administratively by legal metrology
service
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Administration of legal metrology
- usually carried by government
authority appointed under national
measurement legislation
- common to find legal metrology administered
by different authorities under different
Ministries
(In Malaysia legal metrology for different fields
is administered by different authorities under
different enforcement Acts.)
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(No Transcript)
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Technical Infrastructure for legal metrology
- national measurement standards laboratory
- designated subordinate laboratories
- designated verification and testing laboratorie
s
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Weights Measures Act 1972 Establishment and
Maintenance of Malaysian Standards of Mass
Verification Body / Interval
Standards
Custody of
Malaysian Standard Kilogram
Custodian of WM (NML-SIRIM)
Custodian / As deemed expedient by Minister
Primary Standards (OIML Class E1)
Custodian of WM
Custodian / ? 5 years
Custodian of WM Chief Inspector of WM DG of
Chemistry Dept.
Custodian / ? 3 years
Private company appointed by Govt.
Custodian / 1 year
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International harmonization
International Organization of Legal Metrology
(OIML)
Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF)
Asean Consultative Committee on Standards and
Quality (ACCSQ) Working Group 3.
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International harmonization (contd.)
(OIML)
Established in 1955
Located in Paris
Website http//www.oiml.org
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Activities of OIML
Seminars and Training Courses
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Activities of OIML (contd.)
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APLMF
Established in November 1994
Overall Objective - To promote harmonization
and compatibility in measurement standards
related to legal metrology in Asia Pacific
region
Types of memberships - Full member (20) and
Corresponding Members (6) since Nov 2003.
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APLMF (contd.)
Current secretariat - Japan (National Metrology
Institute of Japan)
Website http//www.aplmf.org
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ACCSQ WG3
Established in November 1994 as WGLM
Members - ASEAN countries
Main Objective - To harmonize legal metrology
in ASEAN to support objectives of ASEAN Free
Trade Area (AFTA)
? ASEAN Secretariat located in Jakarta,
Indonesia
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Thank you very much
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Verification of a weighbridge
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Verification of liquid fuel dispenser
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Verification of liquid fuel dispenser by an
inspector of weights and measures from the
Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
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Household Electricity Meter
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Gas flowmeter calibration facility
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Measurement of HC/CO in vehicle exhaust emission
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Measurement of environmental noise level
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Measurement of blood pressure using a
sphygmomanometer
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Medical examination using ECG
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Testing of headphones
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Calibration of an Evidential Breath Analyser
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Measurement of vehicle speed using radar gun
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Measurement of axle load using portable wheel
weighers
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SI System of Units
Base Units Quantity

• metre (m) Length

• kilogram (kg) Mass

• second (s) Time

• ampere (A) Electric Current

• kelvin (K) Thermodynamic Temp.

• candela (cd) Luminous Intensity

• mole (mol) Amount of Substance