M-24 — Secondary Indicators

M-24—Secondary Indicators (PDF, 25 KB, 2 pages)

Category: Mass
Bulletin: M-24 (rev. 2)
Document(s): NAWDS, sections 18 & 59, W&M Regs, section 41
Issue Date: 2008-09-01
Effective Date: 2008-10-01
Supersedes: M-24 (rev. 1)

Table of Contents

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this bulletin is to indicate when a secondary indicator is required for scale installations and to specify the requirements for such an indicator. A secondary indicator is any indicator that is used to replicate the display of the primary indicator and has no metrological functions. Secondary indicators are sometimes referred to as scoreboards.

2.0 Background

The Specifications Relations to Non-Automatic Weighing Devices (1998) (NAWDS), section 59 requires that all indications relating to the measurement and the transaction be easily read and the weighing operation may be observed from the normal location of the customer. In those situations where this is not possible with a single indicator for both the operator and the customer, a secondary indicator is required. A secondary indicator is only required for Direct Sale transactions. Direct Sale transactions are those where both parties are present during the transaction.

The use of secondary indicators is becoming more common at many scale installations although primarily at vehicle scale installations. In order to ensure accuracy of all indications, the provisions of this bulletin must be followed.

3.0 Application

3.1 If a secondary indicator is required to address the requirements for customer visibility in NAWDS section 59, a suitable secondary indicator must be installed and available for use before an initial inspection can be performed. This requirement applies to all initial inspections of new or altered installations, except the initial inspection of a replacement indicator for an existing installation.

3.2 In addition the requirements in section 3.1 above, initial inspections of new or altered vehicle scale installations, not including the initial inspection of a replacement indicator for an existing installation, are subject to the following:

3.2.1 A secondary indicator is required when the vehicle driver is unable to view the primary indicator from the vehicle and is not permitted or reasonably able to leave the vehicle in order to access the primary indicator.

3.2.2 For vehicle scale installations that are used in both directions of travel, any required secondary indicators must be provided for both directions of travel.

Note: Rear view mirrors are not an adequate means of viewing the secondary indication if the numbers reflected would be reversed, resulting in the possibility of an erroneous reading. Specialized mirror image displays may be acceptable.

4.0 Requirements

4.1 Although the secondary indicator need not be approved, it must comply with the requirements in the Non-Automatic Weighing Device (NAWD), Field Inspection Manual (FIM) STP-17.

4.2 If the primary indicator is equipped with an automatic means for printing gross, net and tare weights and a copy of the printed transaction is provided to the customer, then the secondary indicator does not have to indicate the weighing mode.

4.3 The installation or the replacement of an unapproved secondary indicator does not require an inspection.

4.4 The installation or the replacement of an approved indicator, the functions of which have all been disabled/removed to serve as a secondary indicator, does not require an inspection. In such a case the indicator ceases to be of an approved type, must not be marked with an approval number or inspection mark and is simply used to indicate the weight information received from the primary indicator.

5.0 Revision

The purpose of this revision is to simplify the requirements for Secondary Indicators for Vehicle Scale Installations (PBRI2008). The bulletin has also been expanded in scope to include all scale installations where a secondary indicator may be appropriate.

The purpose of Revision 1 was to:

  1. re-order section 4.0 to clarify the requirements.
  2. re-word section 4.4, previously section 4.2.
  3. re-word section 6.0.

6.0 Additional Information

For additional information regarding this bulletin, please contact the undersigned.

Luciano Burtini
Senior Program Officer, Gravimetric