Verification legislation
The verification of measuring instruments is covered by Finnish Law and the Act on Weights and Measures. According to the law, instruments used for trade must receive a type approval. Measuring instruments must generally undergo initial verification before they are brought into use. Thereafter, re-verification is usually required at certain intervals.
Supervisory body for verification
Tukes is an official surveillance authority in the field of legal metrology in Finland. The inspection work is carried out in co-operation with the provincial authorities, for whom Tukes provides guidelines. Tukes supervises the conformity of products to safeguard the consumer and to promote fair competition between companies. It is the joint responsibility of Tukes and the provincial authorities to ensure that only legal measuring instruments are used in public trade.
The owner, holder or user of a measuring instrument is responsible for ensuring that the instrument has been duly verified and is in conformity with the relevant regulations. The owner, holder or user is also responsible for requesting a verifier to inspect the instrument. A fee for the verification and any travel expenses incurred are charged to the client as specified in the price list of the inspection body. Information about the accredited Finnish inspection bodies is available on the Tukes website (www.tukes.fi).
Requirements for measuring instruments
Measuring instruments used for trade must have
* Type approval of a notified inspection body
* Initial verification before being brought into use
* Re-verifications periodically
* Renewal verification if seals are broken
Required approvals and verifications for various instrument types are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Type-approval, initial verification, and re-verification of measuring instruments
Measuring
instrument |
Type
approval
|
Initial
verification
|
Re-verification
|
Re-verification
period (years)
|
| NAWI |
x
|
x
|
x
|
3
|
| AWI |
x
|
x
|
x
|
3
|
| Weights (>50mg) |
|
x
|
x
|
3
|
|
Fuel dispensers
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
2
|
| Measuring vessels (>5l) |
|
x
|
|
|
| Lubricating oil meters |
x
|
x
|
x
|
3
|
| Meters for alcoholic beverages |
x
|
x
|
x
|
3
|
| Measuring instruments for beer/cider |
x
|
x
|
x
|
3
|
| Tank meters |
x
|
x
|
x
|
2
|
| Transport vessels |
x
|
x
|
x
|
6
|
| Length meters |
x
|
x
|
x
|
3
|
| Water meters |
x
|
|
|
|
| Active electrical energy meters |
x
|
|
|
|
| Heat meters |
x
|
|
|
|
The Finnish national type approval distinctive mark
Type-approved measuring instruments shall have a nameplate bearing a type approval identification. The Finnish type approval identification is VJ.Z.XX.YY, where Z indicates the type of instrument (Table 2), XX is the approval number of the instrument and YY stands for the last two numbers of the approval year of the instrument (e.g. VJ.E.1.94 indicates the Finnish type approval for a cold water instrument). The abbreviation VJ, "Vakaus/Justering" in Finnish and Swedish, indicates that the instrument has been verified.
Table 2: The Finnish measuring instrument type symbols
| Measuring instrument |
Z
|
| Scales |
no letter
|
| Meters for liquids other than water |
A
|
| Length meters |
B
|
| Crop testers |
C
|
| Measuring systems for liquids other than water |
D
|
| Cold water meters |
E
|
| Flow sensors for heat meters |
F
|
| Thermal sensors for heat meters |
G
|
| Counters for heat meters |
H
|
NAWI type approval marks
Type-approved measuring instruments shall have a nameplate with a type approval identification. In addition, the nameplate shall contain information about the acceptable intended use of the instrument and environmental requirements such as the accuracy class and the correct operating temperature.
EC conformity markings for weighing scales (Figure 1) shall include the CE marking with the last two digits of the year in which the CE marking was affixed (07) and the identification number of the Notified Body (0000), as well as a green label bearing a capital letter 'M' printed in black.
Fig. 1: Marking of conformity for weighing scales
In this example the next re-verification shall be carried out before the end of 2010.
Marking for auxiliary devices
It is possible to connect non-verified auxiliary devices to the verified scales if those devices do not interfere with the correct operation of the scale. Such auxiliary devices shall be marked with a red sticker bearing a black letter M with a cross through it (Figure 2).
Fig. 2: Auxiliary device mark.
The verification is not valid for any information provided by this instrument.
Marking of conformity with measuring instrument directive
According to the measuring instrument directive (MID), type-approved measuring instruments shall have a conformity marking which includes the CE marking, the metrological marking (M), the last two digits of the year in which the conformity marking was affixed (07) and the identification number of the Notified Body (0000) (Figure 3).
Fig. 3: Marking of conformity with the measuring instrument directive ( MID)
Marking of conformity with the EEC directive
In Finland, type approvals in accordance with the EEC directive are also valid. The approval mark consists of an epsilon which embraces the identification letter of the country (D) in which the approval was given, the last two digits of the year of approval (89) and the identification number of the approval (6.131.39) (Figure 4).
Fig. 4: The EEC type approval mark
The EEC verification mark
During the transition period for the measuring instrument directive, some of the former approach directives concerning weights and meters for liquids are still valid. According to the EEC directive, the initially verified measuring instrument shall have the EEC verification marks as shown in Figure 5. In the upper part of the small letter e the country and the region (D12) are indicated, while in the lower part the identification number (48) of the verification maker appears.
The number in the hexagon indicates the last two digits of the year in which the verification was carried out. The marketing and selling of an EEC verification-marked measuring instrument shall not be denied, prohibited nor restricted in the European Economic Community.
Fig 5: The EEC verification mark
The EEC initial verification mark for length meters
The EEC initial verification mark for length meters consists of a small letter e inside a hexagon. The upper part of the letter e indicates the member country (UK) in which the initial verification was carried out, while the lower part indicates the last two digits of the year of the verification (80) (Figure 6).
Fig 6: The EEC initial verification mark for length meters
Initial verification markings for transfer measures of alcoholic beverages
The verification mark for transfer measures of alcoholic beverages includes a crown mark, the last two digits of the year in which the verification was carried out (06) and the verifier’s number (xx) (Figure 7).
Fig. 7: Initial verification marking for transfer measures of alcoholic beverages
The Finnish national re-verification mark
The Finnish national initial and re-verification mark (Figure 8) indicates the year and month in which the verification was carried out. The marking is used on new re-verified measuring instruments as well as on instruments re-verified in accordance with the Finnish national requirements.
If the marking is stamped on lead, etched onto glass or burned into wood, the month marking can be omitted. During the verification, the critical parts where any changes are prohibited after verification shall be sealed with the Finnish seal (Figure 9). For example, the points where any adjustment of the reading of the measuring instrument or measuring result is possible shall be sealed. If the seal is broken, the verification of the instrument is no longer valid.
Unverified measuring instruments are not allowed in an outlet unless it is obvious that the instruments are not being used to price products.
Fig. 8: The Finnish re-verification mark. Fig. 9: The Finnish seal
In this example the next re-verification
will be carried out in November 2010
Marking for next re-verification time
In addition to the re-verification mark, it is possible to affix an official mark on the instrument concerning the next re-verification time (Figure 10).
Fig. 10: Information label with the time for the next re-verification. In this example the next re-verification will be carried out in April 2010
Marking for place of use of scales
The gravity of the earth affects the measuring results for most scales. The gravity value varies to some extent in the different parts of the earth and the majority of accurate electrically operated scales have to be verified at their place of use or in equivalent circumstances. Verification can be carried out in two phases. A certificate is given for the operational accuracy in the first phase. In the second phase, inspections concerning the effects of the installation and the location of the scales are carried out. Verification of the scales will be valid after the second phase.
It is not possible to transport verified scales long distances in a northerly or southerly direction without causing significant errors in the measuring results of the scales. An information label concerning the permitted location of the instrument can be affixed to the scale (Figure 11).
Fig. 11: Marking for place of use of scales
Marking for rejected instruments
If a measuring instrument is rejected during the verification process, a red label concerning the rejection (Figure 12) can be affixed to the instrument and the verifying inspector has to destroy the re-verification mark at the same time. If the measuring instrument is broken or errors in the results exceed the permitted level, the instrument cannot be used even if there is some time left before the next re-verification date. The instrument has to be repaired, adjusted and re-verified again. In cases where the instrument is repaired and adjusted by an authorized repair shop, which seals the instrument with its own sealing mark, the instrument can be used until the next re-verification date.
Fig. 12: Marking for rejected instruments
Use of measuring instruments
Measuring instruments have to be suitable for their intended use and operating environment. For this reason, the nameplate shall include information about the permitted use or the environmental requirements, such as the operating temperature.
For example, in pharmacies and goldsmith's shops the scales in use have to be even more accurate and approved for that purpose. If the scales are operated by weights, the weights shall be verified and have the same accuracy level as the scales. A measuring instrument has to be located in such a way that a customer can follow the measuring process and make sure that the reading on the scales returns to zero between the measurements. Scales have to be placed horizontally on a level and stable base.
Measuring instruments for customer use and for packing industries must be monitored so that any flaws in the instrument can be observed and corrected as soon as possible.
In markets, the use of steelyard and cubic measures for non-liquid products like berries and potatoes is still allowed. In these cases, the measurements are rather inaccurate and shall be restricted to those situations where the use of scales is too expensive and complicated.
Alcoholic drinks have to be measured before serving. The capacity of bottled drinks is measured at the brewery. In restaurants, a drink can be measured by a verified meter for alcoholic beverages or a liquid meter. Beer, cider and long drinks can also be served in glasses with approved capacity markings.
For further information, please see www.tukes.fi