ITTC – Recommended 7.

6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 1 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

ITTC Quality System Manual

Sample Work Instructions

Work Instructions

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Weighing Instruments

7.6 Control of Inspection, Measuring and Test Equipment

7.6-02 Sample Work Instructions

7.6-02-10 Calibration of Non Self Indicating Weighing Instruments

Updated / Edited by Approved

Quality Systems Group of the 28th ITTC 23rd ITTC 2002

Date: 01/2017 Date

 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 2 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

Table of Contents

3.5.2 Substitution of the standard

1. RANGE ................................................... 4
weights ......................................... 7
2. TERMINOLOGY .................................. 4 3.6 Sensitivity ........................................... 7
2.1 Calibration ......................................... 4 3.7 Requirements on the mounting base
2.2 Initial Calibration .............................. 4 for a stationary lever balance. .......... 7
3.7.1 Mounting base construction ......... 7
2.3 Subsequent Calibration..................... 4
3.7.2 Mounting base integrity ............... 7
2.4 Inspection in Service.......................... 4
3.7.3 Mounting base position ................ 7
3. CALIBRATION AND TECHNICAL 3.7.4 Instrument position....................... 7
REQUIREMENTS ................................ 5 3.7.5 Draining ........................................ 8
3.1 Principle of grade division ................ 5
4. MARKING OF WEIGHING
3.1.1 Accuracy grade ............................. 5 INSTRUMENT ...................................... 8
3.1.2 Division value of the calibration .. 5
4.1 Instruction label ................................. 8
3.2 Grade of weighing instrument .......... 5 4.1.1 Mandatory declaration label ......... 8
3.3 Maximum permissible error ............. 6 4.1.2 Label according to necessity ........ 8
3.3.1 Maximum allowable error for the 4.1.3 Additional label ............................ 8
initial calibration........................... 6 4.1.4 Requirements for declaration
3.3.2 Maximum permissible error of the labels............................................. 8
calibration for weighing
4.2 Calibration label ................................ 8
instruments in service ................... 6
4.2.1 Position ......................................... 8
3.3.3 Maximum allowable error of the
metering lever when tested 4.2.2 Fastening ...................................... 9
individually................................... 6
5. INITIAL CALIBRATION.................... 9
3.4 Allowable difference between
5.1 Exterior............................................... 9
weighing results ................................. 6
5.1.1 Metering characteristics ............... 9
3.4.1 Indication difference..................... 6
5.1.2 Nameplate, labels of calibration
3.4.2 Repeatability................................. 6
and management ........................... 9
3.4.3 Unbalanced loading ...................... 6
5.1.3 Working condition........................ 9
3.5 Calibration standard device ............. 7
5.2 Calibration ......................................... 9
3.5.1 Weights ......................................... 7
5.2.1 Preparation before calibration ...... 9
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 3 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

5.2.2 Zero point survey.......................... 9 6. MANAGEMENT OF FOLLOW-UP

5.2.3 Weighing performance ............... 11 CALIBRATION .................................. 13
5.2.4 Unbalanced loading survey ........ 11 6.1 Subsequent Calibration .................. 13
5.2.5 Sensitivity survey ....................... 12 6.2 In Service Calibration ..................... 13
5.2.6 Zero returning survey ................. 12
7. TREATMENT OF CALIBRATION
5.2.7 Repeatability survey ................... 12
RESULTS AND CALIBRATION
5.2.8 Individual survey of the main scale
PERIOD ............................................... 13
for scale weighing instruments
with rider .................................... 13 7.1 Documentation ................................. 13
7.2 Calibration period ........................... 14

Source:
Verification regulation of non-self-indicating weighing instrument
[Issued on Sept. 2, 1997 and put into effect since March 1, 1998 by National Technical Bureau - JJG 14—97, National
Measuring Verification Regulation of People’s Republic of China]
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 4 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Weighing Instruments

Note: Initial calibration includes the calibration

1. RANGE of newly manufactured and newly installed
weighing instruments.
This work instruction is applicable to the in-
itial calibration、subsequent calibration and in
service calibration of the non-self-indicating 2.3 Subsequent Calibration
weighing instruments with medium and ordi- Is a calibration after the initial one.
nary accuracy. (hereinafter simplified as weigh-
ing instrument or balance) Note: The subsequent calibration includes:

Non-self–indicating weighing instruments a) the period calibration;

are weighing instruments for which the equi- b) the calibration after repair;
librium position is obtained totally by the oper- c) the calibration applied before service of the
ation of the user. They include a variety of me- weighing instrument which is newly put into
chanical lever balances, such as mobile counter service and asked to be mandatory-cali-
scale, platform scale, stationary weighing- brated.
bridge, mechanical suspension scale etc.
The calibration of a weighing instrument of
which the period calibration validity term has
2. TERMINOLOGY not ended. The calibration is usually requested
by the owner of the calibrated weighing instru-
2.1 Calibration ment or by its user.

The metering performance of the weighing

2.4 Inspection in Service
instrument should be evaluated in order to ascer-
tain that it can do all the work required by legal Examines whether the in-service weighing
rules or this work instruction. instrument complies with the requirements of
the law; whether it is in good working state;
2.2 Initial Calibration whether it works correctly and reliably. Inspec-
tion in service is usually a supervisory inspec-
Initial calibration is the calibration for a tion.
weighing instrument that has never been cali-
brated.
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 5 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

3. CALIBRATION AND TECHNICAL

Normal accuracy grade IIII
REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Principle of grade division 3.1.2 Division value of the calibration

equals to the actual one, i.e.:

3.1.1 Accuracy grade
e=d
The grade and the sign of the accuracy are
shown in Table 1.
3.2 Grade of weighing instrument
Table 1 The division value, the division number of
the calibration and the minimum weighing rele-
vant to the accuracy grade are shown in Table 2
Medium accuracy grade III

Table 2

Calibration division number Minimum weigh-

Accuracy Calibration division value n = Max/e ing
grade e
Minimum* Maximum Min
Medium 0.1g≤e≤2g 100 10000 20 e
III 5g≤e 500 10000 20 e
Normal
IIII 5g≤e 100 1000 10 e
Note: *The minimum number of divisions for weighing instrument which is used for the final ac-
count of trade: n=1000 for grade III ; n=400 for grade IIII .

Table 3

Maximum permissible error m expressed by calibration division value e

mpe
III IIII

±0.5e 0≤m≤500 0≤m≤50

±1.0e 500＜m≤2000 50＜m≤200

±1.5e 2000＜m≤10000 200＜m≤1000

 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 6 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

incremental weight should usually comply with

3.3 Maximum permissible error the requirements for weights of M2 grade.

3.3.1 Maximum allowable error for the initial 3.4.2 Repeatability

calibration
Repeatability: the difference between multi-
The maximum allowable error for the initial ple weighing results for the same load should
calibration of the loading and unloading is not exceed the absolute value of the maximum
shown in Table 3 allowable error for his weight.

3.3.2 Maximum permissible error of the cali- 3.4.3 Unbalanced loading

bration for weighing instruments in ser-
Unbalanced loading: the indication error of
vice
the same weight at different positions should not
The maximum permissible error of the cali- exceed the maximum allowable error for this
bration for weighing instruments in service is balance when an unbalance loading inspection
two times the one for the initial calibration. is carried out according to the requirement in
item 5.2.4.
3.3.3 Maximum allowable error of the meter-
ing lever when tested individually 3.4.3.1 Weight exerted on each bearing point

The maximum allowable error of the meter- The weight exerted on each bearing point
ing lever when tested individually is half of the equals nearly one-third of the maximum load for
one for the complete instrument. weighing instruments with carriers with 4 or less
bearing points.
3.4 Allowable difference between weighing
The weight exerted on each bearing point
results
equals about 1/(N-1) of the maximum load for
The error of the weighing result at any time the weighing instrument with carriers with more
should not exceed the maximum allowable error than 4 bearing points.
of the calibrated weighing instrument.
The weight exerted on each bearing point
nearly equals one-tenth of the maximum weight
3.4.1 Indication difference for weighing instruments with carriers which
(such as the bunker etc.) carry small unbalanced
The indication difference between the incre-
loads.
mental weight and rider, the main rider and the
subsidiary one for the same load should not ex- Rolling loads of standard mass should be ex-
ceed the absolute value of the maximum allow- erted at different positions on the carrier of the
able error. The maximum allowable error of the weighing instrument. The load nearly equals the
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 7 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

usual heaviest and the most concentrated rolling of the relevant weighing range should be lightly
load but should not exceed 0.8 of the maximum and gradually loaded and unloaded on the
weight. weighing instrument with the metering lever at
equilibrium position. The displacement of the
3.5 Calibration standard device metering lever (the static distance changed at the
force point of the metering lever) caused by the
3.5.1 Weights weight should be at least:

The error of the calibration standard weights 3 mm for weighing instruments with a max-
should not exceed one-third of the maximum al- imum load Max≤100kg;
lowable error of the relevant weight for the
5 mm for weighing instruments with a max-
weighing instrument.
imum load Max＞100kg.

3.5.2 Substitution of the standard weights

3.7 Requirements on the mounting base
Other fixed load can be used to substitute the for a stationary lever balance.
standard weights for the weighing instrument
with a maximum load over 1t. A prerequisite is 3.7.1 Mounting base construction
a standard weight of at least 1t or the standard
The base should be constructed on the basis
weight with the mass of 50 % of the maximum
of a drawing;
load; the bigger of both should be taken.

If the following conditions can be met, the 3.7.2 Mounting base integrity
amount of the standard weights can be reduced
further than 50 % of the maximum weight: The vicinity of the base and the bearing
point’s pedestal should not have any defaults
to 35 % of the maximum load if the repeata- such as cracks, honeycomb-like defects etc.,
bility error is not bigger than 0.3e; which could affect its strength.

to 20 % of the maximum weight if the re- 3.7.3 Mounting base position

peatability error is not bigger than 0.2e;
The distance between the base pit bottom
The repeatability error can be determined by and the carrier (platform surface) should not be
loading about 50 % of the maximum weight less than 1.5m.
three times on the carrier.
3.7.4 Instrument position
3.6 Sensitivity
The carrier (platform surface) should be
The weight of a mass nearly equalling the slightly higher than the ground.
absolute value of the maximum allowable error
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 8 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

The distance between the periphery of the 4.1.2 Label according to necessity
carrier and the base frame should be between 1
and 1.5cm. Production number;
Sign and number of the pattern approval;
Both the ends of the entry and the exit of the The maximum safety load expressed as Lim =
weighing instrument should have plane and •••;
straight passages with about the same length as The counting ratio of a numbering weighing in-
the one of the carrier. The speed of the vehicle strument expressed as 1: ••• or 1/•••.
going up and down the carrier should not exceed
5km/h. 4.1.3 Additional label

3.7.5 Draining An additional label can be added on the basis

of special needs for the weighing instrument,
There should be a pumping device in the such as:
base pit to avoid stagnant water.
Not for the final account of the trade;
Special for •••.
4. MARKING OF WEIGHING INSTRU-
MENT 4.1.4 Requirements for declaration labels

4.1 Instruction label The declaration label should be solid and re-
liable. Size and shape of the writing must be
The weighing instrument should have fol- clear and easily readable. The labels should be
lowing labels: located on a place easily visible, fixed on a
nameplate or on a part of the weighing instru-
4.1.1 Mandatory declaration label ment. The nameplate of the label should be
sealed and not be removable without being dam-
Name and trade of the manufacturer; aged.
Accuracy grade:
sign of the medium accuracy grade III
4.2 Calibration label
sign of the ordinary accuracy grade IIII;
Maximum weight(Max) •••;
4.2.1 Position
Minimum weight (Min) •••;
Calibration division value (e) •••; The position of the calibration label should
Sign and number of the manufacturing license; fulfil the following requirements:
The lever ratio of the weighing instruments with
incremental weight. a) The label cannot be dismantled without be-
ing damaged;
b) The label can easily be fixed;
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 9 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

c) The label can be seen without moving the 5.2 Calibration

weighing instrument in service.
Several surveys should be made in order to
check whether the weighing instrument meets
4.2.2 Fastening the following requirements .
When a self-sticky calibration label is used,
it should be kept for long time and there should 5.2.1 Preparation before calibration
be a mounting position with a diameter of at a) Mobile weighing instruments should be sur-
least 25mm. veyed on a surface plate or a platform;
b) Mobile weighing instruments with four
wheels should be pulled a distance before
5. INITIAL CALIBRATION
being surveyed then put on a surface plate or
a platform. All four wheels should touch the
5.1 Exterior surface of the carrier, the connecting parts
should touch normally;
The following visual inspections should be
c) The carrier of the weighing instrument with
made before the calibration of a weighing in-
the maximum weight equal to or bigger than
strument:
10 t should be passed back and forth by a
vehicle with the weight not less than 50 %
5.1.1 Metering characteristics of the maximum weight at least three times.
The required labels described in item 4.1.1
of this instruction should be inspected. 5.2.2 Zero point survey

5.1.2 Nameplate, labels of calibration and 5.2.2.1 Initial conditions

management
The main and the subsidiary rider should be
The required nameplate, the label of calibra- put to zero position of the point division value
tion and the management as well as their posi- line, then the equilibrium can be adjusted by use
tions described in items 4.1.4 and 4.2 of this of the balance screw.
work instruction should be inspected.
5.2.2.2 Determination of the equilibrium
5.1.3 Working condition position for the metering lever

The working condition and the place of the The metering lever locates at the equilibrium
weighing instrument should be checked for suit- position when it evenly sways up and down
ability. about the position indicator. The distance be-
tween the metering lever and the upper and the
lower edges of the position indicator should not
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 10 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

exceed 1mm during the first period of its ampli- 5.2.2.4 Operation of knives
tude.
The pivot knife, the weight point knife and
the force point knife of the weighing instrument
5.2.2.3 Disturbance
should be moved in level and longitudinal direc-
The metering lever can automatically return tion of their knife carrier up to one limit position;
to the original position or can stay at a position the anti-friction part of the knife should be in
with a distance from the centre line of the posi- tight contact with the knife carrier. Then the
tion indicator within 5 mm, when its force point knives should be moved to the other limit posi-
edge is transversely pulled or pushed to any side tion. Each time after being moved, the metering
of the position indicator with an incremental lever can still keep balance. As shown in Fig. 1
weight.

Figure 1

Where, A --- weighing point; B --- pivot; C force point

1 The pivot knife is moved at one extreme position; 2 The pivot knife is moved at another extreme
position; 3 The weighing point is moved at one extreme position; 4 The weighing point is moved at
another extreme position; 5 The force point is moved at one extreme position; 6 The force point is
moved at another extreme position.

Only the weighing point knife and the pivot

5.2.2.5 Operation of the metering lever
knife should be moved with the rider.
The metering lever should be returned to the
The amplitude of the metering lever is al- original position. Then the carrier should be
lowed to shrink, but the distance between it and heavily pulled and lightly set free along the lon-
the upper and the lower edges of the position in-
gitudinal direction of the weighing point knife
dicator should not exceed 2 mm after having for the loading lever one time each. The meter-
been moved. ing lever should still keep balance after each
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 11 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

pulling and free setting. For stationary-weighing Note: Weight-loading and unloading should be
instruments with a maximum weight above 10 t, gradually increased and decreased respectively.
an empty loading vehicle goes and returns
through the carrier (platen) one time each in- 5.2.3.2 Weighing survey by use of replace-
stead. ment

5.2.3 Weighing performance The requirements of item 5.2.3.1.2 should be

met if replacement standard weights is used.
5.2.3.1 Weighing survey Firstly, the repeatability error of 50% maxi-
mum weight should be checked. The allowable
The zero point balance can be adjusted by
substitution amount should be determined ac-
the adjusting nut after the zero point has been
cording to the requirements of item 3.5.2.
surveyed.
The replacing method is as follows:
The weighing survey should be continuously
made in a sequence from small to big weights. The weighing survey can be carried out us-
The zero point must not be readjusted during the ing weights from the zero point till the referred
survey. The following weighing performance weights. The error of this weighing should be
must be surveyed. measured. Then the weights should be unloaded
to the zero point.
The minimum weight;
The replacement should be used instead of
The maximum value of the scale for scale
the above added weights till the same error ap-
weighing instruments with increment weight;
pears. The above operation process should be re-
The maximum values of the rider of the main peated up to the maximum weight.
and the subsidiary scale of the scale weighing
instrument; 5.2.4 Unbalanced loading survey

The weight change of the maximum allowa- The effect will be better using bigger mass
ble error, such as: weights than the combination of many smaller
• Medium accuracy grade: 500e、2000e; weights. The weight should be put on the central
• Ordinary accuracy grade: 50e、200e; position if a single weight is used. Small weights
should be well-distributed over the whole area
without unnecessary overlapped piling and
The maximum weight.
without exceeding the boundary The unbalance
If the main scale has not been individually loading can be surveyed during the weighing
surveyed in advance, its “notch” division should survey.
be surveyed one by one.
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 12 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

5.2.4.1 Weighing instrument with less than 4 5.2.4.4 Weighing instruments which weigh
bearing points rolling loads

The weights should be in turn added onto The rolling load of a standard mass should
one quadrant of the carrier area, shown in Fig. 2 be added onto the beginning edge, the middle
or similar as Fig. 2. part and the end edge of the carrier in the normal
rolling direction. Then this operation should be
5.2.4.2 Weighing instrument with more than 4 repeated in the opposite direction.
bearing points
5.2.5 Sensitivity survey
The weights should be in turn added onto the
position near each bearing point on an area The sensitivity can be surveyed in the pro-
nearly equal to 1/N of the carrier area, where N cess of the weighing survey. It can be done at
is the number of the bearing points. the maximum value and the maximum weight of
the scale for scale-weighing instruments with in-
If the bearing points are too close to each cremental weight and subsidiary scale with the
other, double the mass weights can be added rider.
onto the double area at two sides of the line be-
tween the two bearing points. 5.2.6 Zero returning survey

5.2.4.3 Weighing instruments with special The zero point should be surveyed when all
carriers weights are unloaded after the maximum weight
has been surveyed.
For weighing instruments with special carri-
ers (vessel、bunker etc.) the weights should be 5.2.7 Repeatability survey
added onto each bearing point.
Two group surveys with 50% load of the
maximum weight and a load close to the maxi-
mum should be carried out respectively, at least
3 times each. The weighing instrument should
be adjusted to zero before each survey. The sur-
vey can also be repeated three times using a
loaded vehicle with a relevant load for weighing
Figure 2
instruments with a maximum weight Max≥10t.
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 13 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

5.2.8 Individual survey of the main scale for 6. MANAGEMENT OF FOLLOW-UP

scale weighing instruments with rider CALIBRATION

The main scale should be surveyed sepa-

6.1 Subsequent Calibration
rately before the rider scale-weighing instru-
ment is installed. The survey method is as fol- The examination and the survey described in
lows: items 5.1 and 5.2 should also be carried out dur-
1. The metering lever should be installed onto a ing subsequent calibrations. The weighing sur-
special scale calibration bracket. A scale pan vey can be performed at least up to two-thirds of
for hanging the weights should be hung on the maximum weight but must cover the maxi-
the weighing point knife. mum according to the actual usage situation.
2. The main and the subsidiary riders respec- The repeatability can be only surveyed with 50%
tively should be set to the zero division line of the maximum weight. The survey required by
then the zero position should be adjusted. item 5.2.2.4 will not be done for the zero point
3. The main rider should be moved onto the survey.
“notch” position of the maximum weight of
The maximum allowable error of subsequent
the main scale, then the relevant weights M
calibrations is the same as that of the initial one.
should be put onto the scale pan that enables
its balance. The equivalent amount of each
“notch” division value m can be calculated by 6.2 In Service Calibration
the following formula:
In service surveys should meet the require-
ments given in item 6.1. The maximum allowa-
M
m= ble error can be double of the maximum one of
N the initial calibration.
where: N --- the “notch” division number of the
main scale (the zero point “notch” is not in- 7. TREATMENT OF CALIBRATION
cluded) RESULTS AND CALIBRATION PERIOD

The weight with the value of the product of

7.1 Documentation
m and the ordinal number of “notch” (the zero
point “notch” is not included) should be added A calibration report should be supplied with
and the “notch” division value should be sur- a qualified label glued on weighing instruments
veyed one by one. which are qualified through an initial or a sub-
sequent calibration. The date of the initial or the
The maximum allowable error for the initial
subsequent calibration and the valid period
calibration should not be exceeded in the survey.
should be noted; The original calibration certif-
icate can remain unchanged for qualified weigh-
ing instruments in service .
 ITTC – Recommended 7.6-02-10
Procedures and Guidelines Page 14 of 14

Calibration of Non Self Indicating Effective Date Revision

Weighing Instruments 2002 00

A calibration result notice will be supplied

for an unqualified weighing instrument, which
is not allowed to be used any more.

7.2 Calibration period

The longest calibration period for a weigh-

ing instrument is one year.