DIVISION VI: WEIGHING MACHINES

“known test load” means a load consisting of local standards or any other load the weight of which has been determined in relation to local standards; (charge connue)

“machine” means a weighing machine for use in trade, other than one referred to in the Specifications Relating to Non-Automatic Weighing Devices (1998);(appareil)

“registration” includes both visual indication and printed representation of quantity, unit price or monetary value. (enregistrement)

151. Where the accuracy of registration or zero-balance of a portable machine is affected when the machine is off level, the machine shall be equipped with self-locking or lockable means of levelling and a level indicator.

152. to 156. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 13]

157. A machine shall be equipped with means to balance it at zero-load and if supplementary material is used for that purpose it shall be so enclosed that it cannot shift position or be readily removed or altered in such a way that the balance condition of the machine is affected.

158. A balance ball, balancing weight, spring adjustment, trim potentiometer or other zero adjusting means on a machine shall be operable only by a detachable tool, but on a machine of up to 15 kg or 30 pounds capacity, a balance ball may be operable without a detachable tool if the design provides for controlled friction to hold the balance ball in any set position.

159. to 168. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 14]

169. When a machine is equipped with a ticket printer or a label printer, the printed numbers and letters shall be of such size, character and colour that they may be easily read under normal conditions of use.

170. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 15]

171. A machine equipped with an electronic digital means of registration shall be capable of giving visual confirmation that it has been returned to zero-load within a range equivalent to the greater of

172. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the value of the minimum increment of registration on a machine shall not be greater than 10 kg or 20 pounds unless the capacity of the machine exceeds 100 000 kg or 200,000 pounds, in which case the value of the minimum increment of registration shall not be greater than 20 kg or 50 pounds.

(2) The value of the minimum increment of registration on a tank scale that is designed for weighing alcohol or on a hopper scale that is designed for weighing grain in a terminal or transfer elevator shall not be greater than

(a) 5 kg or 10 pounds, if the capacity of the scale is equal to or less than 100 000 kg or 200,000 pounds;

(b) 10 kg or 20 pounds, if the capacity of the scale exceeds 100 000 kg or 200,000 pounds, but is equal to or less than 200 000 kg or 400,000 pounds; and

(3) The value of the minimum increment of registration on a conveyor belt scale shall not be greater than 100 kg or 200 pounds.

173. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 16]

174. Subject to sections 181 to 184 and 188 to 193, where a known test load set out in column I of an item of a table to section 176 or 177 is applied to a machine for the purpose of determining compliance with the acceptance limits of error, the machine is within the acceptance limits of error in respect of that known test load if the load registered by each means of registration of the machine is not greater or less than the known test load by an amount in excess of the amount set out in column II of that item.

175. Subject to sections 181 to 184 and 188 to 193, where a known test load set out in column I of an item of a table to section 176 or 177 is applied to a machine for the purpose of determining compliance with in-service limits of error, the machine is within the in-service limits of error in respect of that known test load if the load registered by each means of registration of the machine is not greater or less than the known test load by an amount in excess of the amount set out in column III of that item.

176. Subject to sections 188, 192 and 193, the limits of error set out in the following table apply to all machines registering in metric units of mass:

177. Subject to sections 188, 192 and 193, the limits of error set out in the following table apply to all machines registering in avoirdupois units of mass or weight:

178. to 180. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 20]

181. When a machine that is of the self-indicating or semi-self-indicating type is tested by

(a) the removal of a known test load, in the case of a machine that is normally used for weighing following the addition of load, or

(b) the addition of a known test load, in the case of a machine that is normally used for weighing following the subtraction of load,

the acceptance and in-service limits of error are 1.5 times the limits of error set out in the tables to sections 176 and 177 and set out in sections 188 and 192.

182. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) and sections 188 and 192, the minimum limit of error when a machine is tested for acceptance or in-service limits of error is a weight equivalent to 0.05 per cent at the capacity of the machine or one minimum increment of registration, whichever is the lesser.

(2) The minimum limit of error for a railway track scale used exclusively in weighing railway cars is the greater of 15 kg or 30 pounds, and the value of the minimum increment of registration.

(3) In a strain test at a heavy duty scale, there shall be no minimum limit of error in respect of the known test load that is added to the strain load and the limit of error for a machine with digital registration shall not be increased as described in section 184.

183. On removal of all load from a machine, the means of registration of the machine shall immediately return to zero registration within a range equivalent to the greater of

184. Subject to subsection 182(3), where a machine has digital increments of registration, the acceptance and in-service limits of error applicable to the digital registrations of the machine shall be increased beyond the limits of error otherwise applicable to the digital registrations of the machine by the equivalent of one-half the finest digital increment of registration.

185. (1) Where a test consisting of the application to a machine of the same test load up to 10 times is carried out under conditions approximating conditions of normal use, the difference between the least registered load and the greatest registered load shall not exceed the absolute value set out in column II or III, as applicable, of an item of the appropriate table to sections 176 and 177 that corresponds to the known test load set out in column I of that item that is equivalent to the greatest registered load.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the testing of a machine in accordance with subsection 189.2(1), 190(2) or 191(1) or (2).

186. and 187. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 21]

188. Where a hopper scale or a tank scale referred to in subsection 172(2) has a capacity equal to or greater than 15 000 kg or 35,000 pounds,

(a) the acceptance limits of error for that scale are the greater of 0.05 per cent of the known test load and the value of the minimum increment of registration; and

(b) the in-service limits of error for that scale are the greater of 0.10 per cent of the known test load and the value of the minimum increment of registration.

189. Where a static test is conducted on a railway track scale that is designed for in-motion weighing, the acceptance limits of error for the scale are those prescribed by section 174 and the in-service limits of error for the scale are those prescribed by section 175.

189.1 (1) In sections 189.2, 190 and 191,

“reference car” means a railway car the weight of which has been determined in relation to a relevant local standard. (wagon de référence)

“net known test load” means the difference between the static weight of a loaded reference car and the static weight of an empty reference car. (charge connue nette)

189.2 (1) Subject to subsection 182(2), where a railway track scale that is designed for in-motion weighing of uncoupled railway cars is tested dynamically, the acceptance limit of error and in-service limit of error for the scale are 0.15 per cent of the known weight of each reference car.

(2) The limits of error set out in subsection (1) apply to a test that consists of five reference cars passing over the railway track scale up to 10 times, under conditions approximating conditions of normal use.

(3) The reference cars referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall be representative of the types and weight range of the railway cars for which the railway track scale is intended to be used.

190. (1) In this section, “unit train” or “UT” means a train composed of at least 10 coupled railway cars of the same type carrying the same product to one consignee. (train-bloc or TB)

(2) Where a railway track scale that is designed for the in-motion weighing of unit trains is tested dynamically, the acceptance limit of error and in-service limit of error for the scale are 0.15 per cent of the sum of the net known test load of all of the reference cars in the train that are weighed.

(3) The test referred to in subsection (2) shall not be conducted more than 10 times.

(4) The reference cars and the length of the train used in the test referred to in subsection (2) shall be representative of the types and weight range of the railway cars and length of the trains for which the railway track scale is intended to be used.

191. (1) Where a railway track scale that is designed for the in-motion weighing of individual coupled railway cars forming a train, and is used solely for determining transportation charges for commodities, is tested dynamically, the acceptance limits of error and in-service limits of error for the scale are the following:

(a) at least 70 per cent of the individual weights of the reference cars shall be within 0.2 per cent of the known individual static weight of those reference cars;

(b) not more than five per cent of the individual weights of the reference cars shall differ by more than 0.5 per cent from the known individual static weights of those reference cars; and

(c) the weight of an individual reference car shall not differ by more than one per cent from the known static weight of that reference car.

(2) Where a railway track scale referred to in subsection (1), used for a purpose other than determining transportation charges for commodities, is tested dynamically, the acceptance limit of error and in-service limit of error for each dynamic weighing are 0.15 per cent of the net known test load.

(3) The tests referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall not be conducted more than 10 times.

(4) The reference cars and the length of the train used in the tests referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall be representative of the types and weight range of the railway cars and length of the trains for which the railway track scale is intended to be used.

192. Where a crane scale is designed for use in the weighing of freight to determine freight or shipping charges thereon, the acceptance and in-service of error are 0.5 per cent of the known test load, but not less than 0.125 per cent of the capacity of the scale.

193. The acceptance limits of error and the in-service limits of error applicable to a continuous totalizing machine shall be 0.5 per cent of the known weight of the material used to test the machine if the machine

(a) was designed for the in-motion weighing of commodities to determine freight or shipping charges or is used solely for this purpose; or

(b) was designed for the in-motion weighing of raw material such as sand, gravel, crushed rock, crude ore or other materials of comparable value or is used solely for this purpose.

194. and 195. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 22]

196. The load discrimination of a machine equipped with a self-indicating or semi-self-indicating means of registration of either the analogue or the digital type shall be such that for the purpose of determining compliance with the acceptance limits of error or in-service limits of error for the machine and at any load from zero to maximum capacity, the addition to or removal from the load-receiving element of a weight corresponding to 1.4 times the value of the minimum increment of registration shall cause a change in registration equal to or greater than the value of the minimum increment of registration.

197. to 201. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 23]

202. An installed machine shall be protected against wind, rain, blowing snow, extremes of temperature, variations in electromagnetic and electrostatic fields and any abnormal conditions of use to ensure that the machine can measure accurately and is not subject to premature deterioration in performance.

203. Water from any source shall be drained away from the machine and all surfaces under the machine, including floors of pits, shall be kept dry.

204. Before use, a portable machine shall be placed on a level and stable supporting surface and shall be properly levelled.

205. [Repealed, SOR/98-115, s. 24]

206. A machine shall, before use, be adjusted to register zero when there is no load on the load receiving element, unless another mode of operation is allowed for the class, type or design of machine by specifications established by the Minister or by a notice of approval.