Calibration service
Businesses selling goods by weight or other measures like volume or length must comply with rules designed to help consumers understand how much they're buying and what their entitlements are. International Standards for weights and measuring equipment make sure that quantity measurements are consistent nationwide. This means that businesses can compete fairly and consumers are protected from short and inaccurate measures.
It is our job to ensure that businesses comply with these rules. We do this by:
- Routinely visiting businesses to check weighing and measuring equipment for accuracy
- Checking pre-packed products at the point of production and in shops
- Investigating complaints of short measure
- Providing a calibration service for weights up to 20kg, measures up to 20litres and measures of length in our laboratory
We are able to offer advice to local businesses on weights and measures legislation – please use the contact details on this page. For consumer complaints, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
For a list of metrology fees please see below.
Public weighbridges
Anyone carrying out public weighing (usually on a weighbridge) for which a charge is made needs to hold a certificate of competence. A certificate is issued by the Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures after a short test on the person by a Weights and Measures Inspector.
The following weighbridges are currently believed to be available for use by the general public. A charge may be payable. It would be advisable to check opening times before visiting any of these sites.
Company Address/Telephone
CPL Distribution Ltd Station Yard, Acton Turville 01454 218483
Hansen Aggregates Southfield Quarry, Wickwar Road, Chipping Sodbury 01454 314400
Hansen Aggregates Tytherington Quarry, Tytherington
Refuse Transfer Station Collett Way, Great Western Business Park, Yate 01454 315508
Refuse Transfer Station Carsons Road, Mangotsfield 0117 956 2086
T R A D I N G S T A N D A R D S
20010/2011 Fees
PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME CHARGES MAY REQUIRE THE ADDITION OF VAT. CHECK WITH OFFICERS PRIOR TO WORK BEING UNDERTAKEN.
Minimum visit charge shall apply where a visit has to be made to a premises to carry out any of the functions below regardless of the nature or amount of work requested or completed - £82.00.
Visits carried out partly or entirely outside of normal office hours may incur a surcharge of 50% of the standard fee or standard hourly rate, per officer per hour. 50% surcharge on standard fee. 50% surcharge on standard fee.
Minimum charge of one half hours officer work for all services - £42.
METROLOGY
WEIGHTS
(1) Weights (Per individual weight) - £9.40
(2) Adjustment of weights - £82.00 per hour*
MEASURES
(1) Linear measures not exceeding 3m or for each
Scale - £11.00
(2) Capacity measures without divisions not
exceeding 1 litre - £8.30
(3) Cubic ballast measures (other than brim
measures) - £172.00
(4) Liquid capacity measures for making up and
checking average quantity packages - £27.50
(5) Templets
(a) Per scale - first item - £45.20
(b) Second and subsequent items - £18.70
WEIGHING INSTRUMENTS
(1) a) Non EC
Not Exceeding 1 tonne - £55.00
Exceeding 1 tonne to 10 tonnes - £93.70
Exceeding 10 tonnes - £192.90
b) EC (NAWI)
Not exceeding 1 tonne - £93.70
Exceeding 1 tonne to 10 tonnes - £148.80
Exceeding 10 tonnes - £314.20
300lb Motorcycle brake tester (Non LACORS) - £82.00
(2) A charge to cover any additional costs involved in testing instruments incorporating remote display or printing facilities based on the above fee plus additional costs at an hourly rate - £82.00 per officer, per hr.
(3) Where weights are supplied by South Gloucestershire the cost of van hire will be charged. Van Hire Rate Van Hire Rate
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS FOR
INTOXICATING LIQUOR
(1) Not exceeding 150 ml - £18.70
(2) Other - £19.80
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS FOR LIQUID
FUEL AND LUBRICANT
(1) Container Type (Un-subdivided) - £72.20
(2) Other types:
1st meter tested on site - £121.25
All other meters tested - £71.65
(3) Charge to cover any additional costs involved in testing ancillary equipment that requires additional testing on site based on basic fee as above plus additional costs at an hourly rate - £82.00 per officer, per hr
ROAD TANKER FUEL MEASURING EQUIPMENT (ABOVE 100 LITRES)
(1) Meter measuring systems:
(a) Wet hose type with two testing liquids - £226.00
(b) Dry hose type with two testing liquids - £253.55
(c) Dual wet/dry - £363.80
(d) Measure check (non LACORS) - £82.00 per officer, per hr
REFERENCE METERS
Reference meter testing 6 monthly -1 Fuel; 1
Speed (non LACORS) - £248.00
Reference meter testing bi-annual -2 Fuel; 5
Speeds per fuel (non LACORS) - £1600.00
Reference Meter Daily Hire (no operatives provided) - £187.40
MISCELLANEOUS
(1) SPECIAL WEIGHING AND MEASURING EQUIPMENT
The charges for examining, adjusting, testing, certifying, stamping, authorising or reporting of special weighing or measuring equipment is charged at the officer hourly rate at the place where the service is provided. Such types of equipment, specifically excluded from tables above include: (a) Automatic or totalising weighing machines.
(b) Equipment designed to weigh loads in motion.
(c) Bulk fuel measuring equipment tested following a Regulation 65 or 66 occurrence.
(d) Weighing or measuring equipment tested by means of statistical sampling.
(e) The establishment of calibration curves from templets.
(f) Templets graduated in millilitres.
(g) Testing or other services in pursuance of a Community obligation other than EC initial or partial verification - £82.00 per officer, per hr
(2)
Certificates
(a)Calibration certificate (when not normally supplied) - £20.95
(b)Duplicate certificate - £20.95
Abortive Visits
Abortive site visits (Non LACORS) (Only charged after written warning - £82.00 per officer per hr
Out of area charge
1400cc mileage rate (+18% when towing):
½ day £287.00 - 3 1/2 hours
¾ day £430.50 - 5 1/4 hours
1 day £574.00 - 7 hours
Measuring Instruments Directive
In order to reflect additional costs associated with examination, testing and documentation, and maintenance of MID notified body status additional charges will apply, as follows :
1. No extra charge for:
• Automatics, being automatic discontinuous totalisers, automatic rail weighbridges, automatic catchweighers, automatic gravimetric filling instruments and beltweighers; and
• Cold water meters
2. 10% surcharge for:
• Measuring instruments for liquid fuel and lubricants; and
• Measuring instruments for liquid fuel delivered from road tankers
3. 25% surcharge for:
• Capacity serving measures; and
• Material measures of length
Note:
Any work carried out under Section 74 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 will be charged the appropriate fee and may be subject to Value Added Tax.
* plus VAT ** inclusive of VAT and Certificate