Weights and Measures Regulations 1999

60 Eccentricity tests

(1)

Except as provided in this regulation, a weighing instrument must comply with the requirements of regulation 54 no matter where on the load receptor the test load is placed.

(2)

Eccentricity tests must be carried out without excessive stacking or overlapping of the test load on the edge of the load receptor.

(3)

Where the load receptor of a weighing instrument has 4 points of support or less,—

(a)

eccentricity tests must be carried out by means of a test load equal to one-third of,—

(i)

where the instrument is fitted with a tare adding facility, the sum of the maximum capacity of the instrument and the maximum capacity of the tare adding device; or

(ii)

in any other case, the maximum capacity of the instrument; and

(b)

the load must be distributed on different eccentric areas that are approximately equal to one-quarter of the surface area of the load receptor.

(4)

If the load receptor of a weighing instrument has more than 4 points of support,—

(a)

eccentricity tests must be carried out by means of a test load equal to,—

(i)

if the instrument is fitted with a tare adding facility, the sum of the maximum capacity of the instrument and the maximum capacity of the tare adding device, divided by the number that is 1 less than the number of points of support; or

(ii)

in any other case, the maximum capacity of the instrument divided by the number that is 1 less than the number of points of support; and

(b)

the load must be distributed successively on an area equal to the surface area of the load receptor divided by the number of points of support.

(5)

Despite subclause (3) or subclause (4), if any 2 points of support of a load receptor are so close together that the test load cannot be distributed as required by subclause (3) or subclause (4), as the case may require,—

(a)

both the load and the area specified in subclause (3) or subclause (4), as the case may require, must be doubled; and

(b)

the load must be distributed on both sides of the axis connecting the 2 points of support.

(6)

If the weighing instrument is a weighbridge or is used for weighing rolling loads, a rolling test load no greater than 80% of the maximum capacity of the weighing instrument must be applied at different points of the load receptor.

(7)

If the load receptor of a weighing instrument is a hopper, tank, or other similar receptor,—

(a)

the eccentricity tests, in subclauses (3), (4), and (5) do not apply; and

(b)

the eccentricity test must be a test load equal to 10% of the sum of the maximum capacity of the instrument and the maximum capacity of any tare adding device distributed successively at the position of each point of support of the load receptor.