Field Inspection Manual — Non-Automatic Weighing Devices (lm04341)

Part 4, Section A: Abbreviations and Symbols Accepted in Canada

The following tables list the acceptable symbols and definitions of units of measurement used for displays and printed receipts as well as the marking of devices. The symbols or abbreviations shown are the preferred ones, although in some cases, others may be acceptable. Internationally recognized (OIML, ISO, IEC, DIN) symbols or abbreviations are generally acceptable if they do not cause confusion. The symbols listed in the "Unacceptable Symbols" column are not appropriate and should not be used. Any marking which may be confused with other commonly used symbols or markings should also be avoided.

Common Mass Symbols

Unit	Definition	Symbol	Unacceptable Symbol
kilogram	See W&M Act, Sch. I	kg	KG, kilo
gram	0.001 kilogram	g	gr, gm, G, GM
tonne (metric ton) Footnote 1	1000 kilograms	t	T, TN, tn
ton Footnote 2	2000 pounds	tn	t, TN, T
pound	0.453 592 37 kilogram	lb	LB, lbs, #
ounce	1⁄16 pound	oz	OZ
dram (drachme)	1⁄16 ounce (mass)	dr	ʒ
grain	1⁄7000 pound	gr	GRN, grn, GN, g
troy ounce	480 grains	tr oz
carat	200 milligrams	ct	C, k, kt

Additional Authorized Symbols

Unit	Definition	Symbol	Unacceptable Symbol
acre	4840 square yards	no symbol allowed	no symbol allowed
bushel (boisseau)	8 gallons	bu
chain (chaîne)	22 yards	ch
fluid dram (drachme fluide)	⅛ fluid ounce	fl dr	fʒ
fluid ounce (once fluide)	1⁄160 gallon	fl oz	US fluid ounce (1⁄128 US gallon)
foot (pied)	⅓ yard	ft (pi)
gallon (imperial)	454609⁄100000000 m³	gal	US gallon (378541⁄100 000 000 m³)
inch (pouce)	1⁄36 yard	in (po)
litre	1/1000 m³	L, l, ℓ
metre	See W&M Act, Sch.I	m	M
mile (mille)	1760 yards	mi
pint (chopine)	⅛ gallon	pt (chop)
quart (pinte)	¼ gallon	qt (pte)
yard (verge)	9144⁄10000 metres	yd (vg)

Obsolete Authorized Symbols ^{Footnote 3}

Unit	Definition	Symbol	Unacceptable Symbol
cental/hundredweight (quintal)	100 pounds	ctl or cwt
chain (chaîne)	22 yards	ch
cord Footnote 4	128 cubic feet (ft³) stacked roundwood	no symbol allowed	no symbol allowed
fluid dram (drachme fluide)	⅛ fluid ounce	fl dr	fʒ
furlong	220 yards	no symbol allowed	no symbol allowed
gill (roquille)	1⁄32 gallon	gi
link (chaînon)	1/100 chain	li (chon)	l, lnk
peck (quart de boisseau)	2 gallons	pk
rod, pole or perch (perche)	5½ yards	no symbol allowed	no symbol allowed

Gravimetric Device Markings and Symbols

Definition	Markings & Symbols	Unacceptable Markings & Symbols
zero set
centre of zero
tare set
tare clear
tare in use
NAWD accuracy classes		I, II, III, III HD, IV 1, 2, 3, 3 HD, 4
Maximum number of verification scale intervals	nmax
Minimum verification scale interval	emin
Actual scale interval	d
Verification scale interval	e
Number of scale intervals	n
Device capacity	Max
Gross	gross, G, GR
Tare	tare, T, TR, TA
Net	net, N, NT
Manual weight entry	manual weight MAN WT, MANUAL WT, MAN WEIGHT	M, MW, MAN

Revisions

Rev. 2

• Reformatted tables
• Moved obsolete authorized units to separate table
• Added IEC, ISO and DIN 30 600 symbols
• Added references to the W&M Act and Regulations in the "Definition" column.

Rev. 1

• Reformatted the definition of the gram
• Removed unit Ton (tonne) from Additional Authorized Symbols

Footnotes

Footnote 1

In order to prevent confusion, reference to tonne should be avoided if possible and the kilogram used instead.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

In order to prevent confusion, reference to ton should be avoided if possible and the pound used instead. The symbol for ton (tn) should also be avoided. Spelling out the unit is preferable.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

Obsolete units that are still authorized but should be avoided if possible.

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Footnote 4

Cord is a valid and authorized unit, but cubic metre (m³) is preferred.

Return to footnote 4 referrer