Contents

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Traceability of Mass Determination

Dissemination of the Mass Unit
OIML Classification Scheme
Handling and Cleaning of Weights
Conventional Value of the Result of
Weighing in Air
6. Mass Calibration
7. Evaluation of Uncertainty of Mass Calibration
8. Balance Calibration

Mass is a quantity that is familiar to everybody

primarily for its importance in commence.

Moreover, it is not only one of the traditional

quantities of metrology
q
gy but also of science in
general, e.g. its involvement in the calculation of
kinetic energy and potential energy in physics.

Mass is a measure of the amount of material in an

object, being directly related to the number and
type of atoms present in the object.

Mass Laboratory
Responsible for calibrations pertaining to mass
and related quantities such as :

pressure

density

volume

torque

hardness
as well as laser frequency for practical realisation
of the definition of the metre, nanometrology and
rotational speed

1. Traceability of Mass Determination

The 11th General Conference on Weights and
Measures held in 1960 adopted the name
International System of Units (abbreviation : SI)
for the recommended practical system of units of
measurement.
This system is based on several specific units,
base units, to form other units, derived units, by
combining base units according to the algebraic
relations linking the corresponding quantities.

There are seven base units :

metre (m)

kilogram (kg)

g
Unit of length

Unit of mass

The metre is the length of the path travelled by

light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792
458 of a second.

The kilogram is equal to the mass of the

international prototype of the kilogram.

second (s)
Unit of time
The second is the duration of 9192 631 770
periods of the radiation corresponding to the
transition between the two hyperfine levels of the
ground state of the caesium 133 atom.

kelvin (K)
Unit of thermodynamic temperature
The kelvin, is the fraction 1/273.16 of the
thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of
water.

candela (cd)

ampere (A)
Unit of electric current
Th
The ampere is
i that
th t constant
t t currentt which,
hi h if
maintained in two straight parallel conductors of
infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section,
and placed 1 metre apart in vacuum, would
produce between these conductors a force equal
to 2 x 10-7 newton per metre of length.

mole (mol)
Unit of amount of substance
Th
The mole
l is
i the
th amountt off substance
b t
off a
system which contains as many elementary
entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kilogram of
carbon 12.
When the mole is used, the
elementary entities must be specified and may
be atoms, molecules, ions, electrons, other
particles, or specified groups of such particles.

Hence three other base units are affected by the

definition of mass:

Unit of luminous intensity

the ampere, whose definition refers to the

newton;

The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given

direction, of a source that emits monochromatic
radiation of frequency 540 x 1012 hertz and that
has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683
watt per steradian.

the mole, whose definition refers to 0.012 kg of

carbon-12 and
the candela, whose definition refers to the watt.

Examples of derived units in association with mass :

Derived
quantity

Name

force

newton

mkgs
m
kg s-2

pressure

pascal

m-1kgs-2

SI base
units

density

m-3kg

torque

m2kgs-2

m-1kgs-1

viscosity (dynamic)

1 l of water
Standard Mean Ocean Water (SMOW)
at its maximum density at 4
without
ith t air
i
under standard atmosphere (101 325 Pa)
1 l = 0.999 972 kg

Redefining the kilogram

First alternative:

The kilogram, unit of mass, is the mass of exactly

5.018 451 66 1025 free carbon 12 atoms at rest
and in their ground state
- this fixes the value of the mass of a carbon atom, and the Avogadro
constant NA if the current definition of the mole is retained.
This definition would be realized by any experiment that might be used
today to measure the mass of an atom, or the value of the Avogadro
constant, such as the XRCD Si crystal density experiment, or the watt
balance experiment combined with the relation between h and NA.

The unit of mass is the kilogram which has been

defined to be equal to the mass of the
international prototype of the kilogram (IPK) at the
1st General Conference on Weights and
Measures since 1889.
The kilogram is the only base unit which name
includes a SI prefix, namely kilo.

The kilogram is the only remaining base unit of SI

to be defined as a material artefact, rather than in
terms of a naturally-occurring
naturally occurring constant, for instance,
in the way that the metre is related to the speed of
light.

Redefining the kilogram

Second alternative:

The kilogram, unit of mass, is such that the value of

the Planck constant is 6.626 0693 1034 kg m2 s1
- this fixes the value of the Planck constant h.
Since the metre and the second are already defined, and since the
value of h is a universal constant, fixing the numerical value of h
defines the kilogram.
This definition would be realized by any experiment that may be used
at present to determine the value of h, such as the watt balance, or
the silicon crystal density experiment to measure NA combined with
the relation between h and NA.

Metrological Traceability :

All standards of mass must ultimately be

traceable to the IPK.

Property of the result of a measurement or the

value of a standard whereby it can be related to
stated references,
f
usually national or international
standards, through an unbroken chain of
comparisons all having stated uncertainties and
performed by competent laboratories.

IPK is being kept at Bureau International des

Poids et Mesures in France.
IPK is a cylinder of 39 mm in height and 39 mm in
diameter, made of an alloy consisting of 90 %
platinum and 10 % iridium (Pt-Ir) with a density of
about 21,500 kg/m3.

(Refer to www.nist.gov/traceability for further

details)

2. Dissemination of the Mass Unit

Since 1889, about fifty copies of the IPK having
the same form and material have been
distributed to various countries or economies to
serve as mass standards.
SCL is the holder of the copy no. 75.

National prototypes :
BIPM reference
standards :

K1
No 7
No.
No. 8 (41)
No. 32
No. 43
No. 47

BIPM working
prototypes :
No. 25
No.
N 9
No. 31
No. 77

No. 2
No. 3
No. 5
No. 6
No. 12
No. 16
No. 18
No. 20
No. 21
No. 23
No. 24
No. 34

No. 35
No. 36
No. 37

Rumania
Spain
Italy
Japan
Russian
Federation
Hungary
United
Kingdom
USA
Mexico
Finland
Spain
Acadmie des
sciences de
Paris
France
Norway
Belgium

No. 38
No. 39
No. 40
No. 44
No. 46
No. 48
No. 49
No
No. 50
No. 51
No. 52
No. 53
No. 54
No. 55
No. 56
No. 57
No. 58

Switzerland
South Korea
Sweden
Australia
Indonesia
Denmark
Austria
Canada
Poland
Germany
The Netherlands
Turkey
Germany
South Africa
India
Egypt

No. 60
No. 62
No. 64
No. 65
No. 66
No. 68
No. 69
No. 70
No. 71
No. 72
No. 74
No. 75
No. 76
No. 78
No. 79
No. 80
No. 81
No. 82

Peoples Republic
of China
Italy
Peoples Republic
of China
Slovakia
Brazil
Peoples Republic
of Korea
Portugal
Germany
Israel
South Korea
Canada
Hong Kong
Italy
Chinese Taiwan
USA
Thailand
United Kingdom
United Kingdom

To reduce the change of mass value of the

prototype copy from wear due to usage, the mass
unit is disseminated to other weights of nominal
value of 1 kg.
Reasons for choosing platinum-iridium as material
of IPK or its copies :

(i) Good chemical passivity

(ii) High density

very small geometrical surface area

From practical and financial standpoints, weights

are usually manufactured of metals, e.g.
stainless steel, with a density significantly less
than 21,500 kg/m3.
To compare prototype copy and stainless steel
weights, corrections are required, and the two
main corrections are :
(a)

Air buoyancy correction

100 mg

(b) Correction on gravitational configuration effect

The acceleration due to g
gravity
y decreases with
the inverse of the square of elevation, the
magnitudes of the gravitational force on weights
of equal mass but of different size and shape will
be different.

The difference in geometry between the prototype

copy and stainless steel weight results in a
difference in the relative locations of the centre of
mass. Along
Al
with
ith the
th existence
i t
off vertical
ti l gradient
di t
of the acceleration due to gravity, there is a change
in the measured mass that is proportional to the
locations of the two centres of gravity. For 20 mm
height difference in centres of gravity, the difference
is about 6 g.

Mass spectrum

Sun
Car
Man
Bag of rice
$10 coin
Hair
Atom

2 x 1030
1000
70
5
0.011
10-6
10-26

kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg

In each scheme, group intercomparisons are

performed within a group of weights pertaining to
a decade.
These intercomparisons may involve either
single weight or groups of weights. Thereby the
masses of the unknown weights can be
obtained via a least squares analysis of the
system of equations.

(i)

For the verification of weighing

instruments

(ii)

For the tolerance verification of

weights of a lower class of accuracy

(iii)

With weighing instruments

Mass unit above and below 1 kg is required to be

realised.
Realisation of the mass scale below and above
one kilogram is achieved by subdivision and
multiplication schemes respectively.

3. OIML Classification Scheme

International Recommendation OIML R111-1,
W i ht off Classes
Weights
Cl
E1, E2, F1, F2, M1, M2, M3,
prepared by International Organization of Legal
Metrology (OIML), presents the principal
characteristics and metrological requirements for
weights that are used :

Accuracy class :
A class designation of a weight or a weight set
meets certain metrological requirements intended
to keep the mass values within specified limits.

The approach in OIML R111-1 to the accuracy

classification of weights as mass standards is to determine
and set limits for
(a) the error in mass a weight may have, which is measured
at verification, together with
(b) a number of specified factors and influence quantities
(shape, surface roughness, etc), which together determine
the variation in error in mass on use of the weight in service
following verification in a way so as to ensure that the error
of a weight in service does not exceed required limits.

The recommendation applies to weights (of nominal

mass from 1 mg to 5 000 kg) in classes of
descending order of accuracy : E1, E2, F1, F2, M1, M2,
and M3.

The OIML recommendation R111 includes not only these

limits but also relatively detailed instructions of how to
determine the various influence quantities.

Class E1

weights are intended to ensure

traceability between national mass
standards (with values derived from the
International Prototype of the kilogram)
and weights of class E2 and lower.

Class F1 weights are intended to be used for

the initial tolerance verification of
weights of class F2.

Class F2

weights are intended to be used for the

initial tolerance verification of weights
of class M1 and possibly M2.

Class E2

weights are intended to be used for the

initial verification of weights of class F1.
E2 weights can be used as E1 weights if
they comply with the requirements for
surface roughness and magnetic
susceptibility of class E1 weights.

Class M1

weights are intended to be used for

the initial tolerance verification of
weights of class M2.

Class M2

weights are intended to be used for

the initial tolerance verification of
weights of class M3.

Weight :
A material measure of mass, regulated in regard
to its physical and metrological characteristics :

(i)
(ii)
(iii)

dimensions,
shape,
material,

(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)

Maximum permissible error

surface quality,
nominal value,
density,
magnetic properties,
maximum permissible error,
construction,
presentation

Maximum permissible error

Class ( m in mg )

Nominal
Value

Class ( m in mg )

Nominal
Value

E1

E2

F1

F2

M1

M2

50 kg

25

80

250

800

2500

8000

25000

1 kg

0.5

20 kg
10 kg
5 kg

10
5
2.5

30
16
8.0

100
50
25

300
160
80

1000
500
250

3000
1600
800

10000
5000
2500

500 g
200 g
100 g

0.25
0.10
0.05

2 kg

1.0

3.0

10

30

100

300

1000

50 g

M3

Class ( m in mg )
E1

E2

F1

E2

F1

F2

M1

M2

1.6

0.8
0.30
0.16

2.5
1.0
0.5

0.030 0.10 0.30

M3

16

50

160

500

8
3.0
1.6

25
10
5

80
30
16

250
100
50

1.0

3.0

10

30

M3

Maximum permissible error

Maximum permissible error

Nominal
Value

E1

F2

M1

M2

M3

20 g

0.025 0.080 0.25

0.8

2.5

25

10 g
5g
2g

0.020 0.060 0.20

0.016 0.050 0.16
0.012 0.040 0.12

0.6
0.5
0.4

2
1.6
1.2

6
5
4

20
16
12

1g

0.010 0.030 0.10

0.3

1.0

10

Nominal
Value

Class ( m in mg )
E1

M1

M2

500 mg 0.008 0.025 0.08 0.25

E2

F1

F2

0.8

2.5

200 mg 0.006 0.020 0.06 0.20

100 mg 0.005 0.016 0.05 0.16
50 mg 0.004 0.012 0.04 0.12

0.6
0.5
0.4

2.0
1.6

20 mg

0.3

0.003 0.010 0.03 0.10

Maximum permissible error

Nominal
Value

These maximum permissible errors relate to

conventional mass.

Class ( m in mg )
E1

E2

F1

F2

M1

10 mg

0 003 0.008
0.003
0 008 0.025
0 025 0.08
0 08

0 25
0.25

5 mg
2 mg
1 mg

0.003 0.006 0.020 0.06

0.003 0.006 0.020 0.06
0.003 0.006 0.020 0.06

0.20
0.20
0.20

M2

M3

For each weight, the expanded measurement

uncertainty U for k = 2 of the conventional
mass, shall be less than or equal to one-third
of the maximum permissible error.

The values in this table are taken form OIML International

Recommendation OIML R111.

The conventional mass, mc (determined with an

expanded uncertainty, U), shall not differ by more
than the difference of the maximum permissible
error, m, minus expanded uncertainty from the
nominal value of the weight
weight, m :

Construction
e.g. each class E1 or E2 weight shall consist
of a single piece of material.

m - (m - U) mc m + (m - U)

Material

where m = nominal value of the weight

The weights shall be corrosion resistant.

For classes E1 and E2 weights, the hardness of

material and resistance to wear shall be similar or
better than that of austenitic stainless steel.
For classes F1 and F2 weights, the hardness and
brittleness of the material shall at least equal to
that of drawn brass.

For class M1 cylindrical weights of below 5 kg

should be made of material similar or better than
that off brass. Rectangular weights from
f
5 to
50 kg shall be made of material having a
resistance to corrosion at least equal to that of
grey cast iron.

Surface condition
The surface of the weights shall be smooth and
the edges shall be rounded.
Maximum values of surface roughness :
Class

E1 E2 F1

F2

Rz(m)

0.5

Ra(m)

0.1 0.2 0.4

Magnetism
Magnetic susceptibility,
A measure of the ability of a medium to modify a
magnetic field.
field

For weights of 20 g and above:

class E1 weights, 0.02

class E2 weights, 0.07

class F1 weights, 0.2

Density

The density of the material used for

weights shall be such that a deviation of 10
% from the specified air density (1.2 kg/m3)
does not produce an error exceeding onequarter of the maximum permissible error.

10

4. Handling and Cleaning of Weights

The need for the care of weights is
proportional to the required accuracy of use
use.
A scratch, dirt or trace of oil or grease can
subject the weight to be out-of-tolerance.

Smallest weights should be handled using

tweezers (with non-metallic end).
Large weights can be handled with clean washed
gloves.
When taking out of their containers, they should
be placed on a clean surface, e.g. surface
covered with acid-free tissue.
Chamois leather is better than cotton because it
is lint free. Nevertheless, clean cotton gloves
can be used with weights of lower classes.

Classes E1 to F2 weights and class M1 weights

of nominal value 500 g and below should be
kept in their boxes for storage.
Classes E1, E2, F1 and F2 weights should not
be handled with bare hands.

Classes M1, M2 and M3 weights should not be

slid across abrasive surfaces but placed on dry
clean surface.
L
Large weights
i ht should
h ld b
be h
handled
dl d with
ith correctt
posture and lifting equipment to avoid injuries.
Prior to use of the weights, the weights are
required to be acclimatised to the ambient
conditions.

Cleaning of weight is normally confined to light

dusting with a suitable brush.

Before using solvent, review material safety

data sheet to ensure safety use of the solvent.

If dusting is not successful, solvent cleaning (e.g.

steam
t
cleaning,
l
i
wiping
i i th
the weight
i ht with
ith lilint-free
tf
cloth soaked in alcohol) is required.

When using solvent, prevent ingress of solvent

into the adjusting cavity, if any, of the weight.

The solvent cleaning will most probably alter the

mass value of the weight, and recalibration is
required.

Solvent may also degrade the coating and cause

the weight to tarnish.

11

5. Conventional Value of the Result of

Weighing in Air

The net force exerts on the balance pan will be :

Fg Fb = mg m( a/ m)g

Normally a weighing is a force measurement

performed in air
air.
If good weighing practice has been followed,
other factors such as magnetic force,
electrostatic force and force due to convection
effect will become insignificant when compared
with gravitational force and buoyancy force.

The quantity (1 - a/ m) is the air buoyancy

correction factor and m(
( a/
m) is the air buoyancy
y
y
correction which can be written as aVm.

= m (1 - a/ m)g

where

m =
g =
a =
m=

mass of weighed object

gravitational acceleration
air density
density of weighed object

The weighing result is proportional to mass,

density of the weighed object, air density and
gravitational acceleration.
G
Gravitational
it ti
l acceleration
l ti can easily
il b
be h
handled
dl d
by a one-off adjustment of the balance which is
usually installed at a fixed location.
Other three quantities will be related with the
weighed object or the environmental conditions
during weighing.

For example, when 1000 g of object is weighed at an air

density of 1.18 kg/m3 (air density at sea level). For object of
density 7800 kg/m3, the mass supported by the weighing pan
will be :

1 kg (1 1.18/7800) = 999.85 g
For object of density 1000 kg/m3, the mass supported by
the pan will be :

1 kg (1 1.18/1000) = 998.82 g
Similarly, in air density of 0.91 kg/m3 (air density at high
mountain)
mass supported by the pan for object of density 7800
kg/m3 = 999.88 g
mass supported by the pan for object of density 1000
kg/m3 = 999.09 g

It has been shown that dependent on the air

density and density of object different weighing
results may obtain
obtain, which will be smaller than the
actual mass with an error of about 0.1 %, unless
buoyancy corrections have been applied.

12

Since commodities of the same mass but

having different densities entail different
weight forces, the avoidance of making
buoyancy corrections to commercial
weighings (legal metrology) is the primary
impetus of the conventional mass approach.

The conventional value of the result of weighing a

body in air is equal to the mass of a hypothetical
weight of density 8000 kg/m3 which,
which at 20 oC and
in air of density 1.2 kg/m3, balances the weighed
body.

This concept is presented in OIML D28

Conventional value of the result of weighing in
air.

All balances are adjusted such that at the

reference air density, o=1.2 kg/m3, they
indicate the conventional mass, instead of the
true mass of the object.
ACCORDINGLY MOST CERTIFICATES OF
MASS CALIBRATIONS AND BALANCE
CALIBRATIONS INDICATE RESULTS IN
CONVENTIONAL MASS.

For scientific or technical work related with

weighings of very high accuracy and for the
calibration of measurement standards, for instance,
determination of capacity of volumetric measure,
even when using conventional value of mass, it is
advisable to carry out a correction so as to take
into account the difference between the density of
the weighed object and its assumed density, and
the ambient air density.

Air density estimation

Where
Air density can be determined precisely from
the BIPM 1981/91 equation.
When the mole fraction of carbon dioxide is 4
x 10-4, the equation is as follows :

P =
T =
XV =
=
=
h =
td =

pressure in Pa
temperature in Kelvins
mole fraction of water vapour
hf(P,t)P
( ,t) sv(t)/
(t)/P
f(P,td)Psv(td)/P
relative humidity in %/100
temperature of the dew point

3.48349 * 10-3 kg.K.J-1 * (1-0.3780 * XV ) * (P/(Z*T))

13

f(P,t) =

enhancement factor, which acts as a

correction factor for moist air not behaving as
a perfect gas and depends on the
temperature
and the pressure
=
+ P + t2 when pressure between 60 kPa
and
d 110 kPa
kP and
d ttemperature
t
ranging
i
from
0 C to 30 C; P expressed in Pa and t
expressed in degrees celsius
PSV(t) =
saturation vapour pressure, expressed in Pa,
as a function of thermodynamic
temperature T,
expressed in kelvins
=
1 Pa * exp (AT2 + BT + C +DT-1)
Z
=
compressibility factor

With pressure, temperature and relative humidity

in mbar, C, % respectively, when the following
environmental conditions are met :

A simpler formula can be used to calculate the

air density in kg/m3

6. Mass Calibration

= (0.34848 * p-0.009024 * h * exp(0.0612 * t)) / (273.15+t)

Calibration is p
performed by
y comparing
p
g the test
weight with a reference weight/weights using a
suitable balance.

The relative error of the above formula does not

exceed 5 x 10-4 (1). Apart from the uncertainty
of the formula itself, the uncertainties of the
measured values of p, h and t must also be
considered.

Two different weighing methods :

The reference weight should generally be of a

higher class of accuracy than the test weight.
If the air density deviates from 1.2
by
more than 10 percent, mass value should be
used in calculations and the conventional mass
should then be calculated from the mass.

900 mbar p 1100 mbar

10 C
t 30 C
h 80 %

(i)

Subdivision/multiplication method

This method is mainly used to calibrate

sets of class E1 weights where the highest
accuracy is required.

kg/m3

14

(ii)

Direct comparison method

The test weight is calibrated by comparison

against one or more reference weights
weights.

7.

The calibration of weights should be performed at steady ambient conditions

under ambient atmospheric pressure. Typical recommended values are
given below:
Ambient conditions during calibration
(Typical values recommended for obtaining successful results)

In each comparison, the nominal mass of the

test weight and the reference weight should
be equal.

Evaluation of Uncertainty of Mass

Calibration

(iv)

Uncertainty due to air buoyancy, ub

0.3 C per hour with a maximum of 0.5 C per 12 hours

E2

0.7 C per hour with a maximum of 1 C per 12 hours

F1

1.5 C per hour with a maximum of 2 C per 12 hours

F2

2 C per hour with a maximum of 3.5 C per 12 hours

M1

3 C per hour with a maximum of 5 C per 12 hours

Weight
Class

The relative humidity (rh) of air should be in the range

E1

40 to 60 % with a maximum of 5 % per 4 hours

E2

40 to 60 % with a maximum of 10 % per 4 hours

40 to 60 % with a maximum of 15 % per 4 hours

Uncertainty of the reference weight, u(mcr)

If a combination of reference weights is used

for a mass comparison and their covariances
are not known, a correlation coefficient
ff
off 1
can be assumed. This will lead to a linear
summation of uncertainties:
u(mcr) = iu(mcri)
where u(mcri) is the standard uncertainty of
reference weight i.

Uncertainty due to instability of the

reference weight, us(mcr)

Temperature change during calibration

E1

(ii)

(i) Standard uncertainty of the weighing

process, uw (type A)

(iii)

Weight
Class

For conventional mass, the buoyancy correction

does not depend on the value of the absolute
density of air, but on how much its value deviates
from the conventional value of 1.2 kg/m3 during the
weighing
i hi process. Inasmuch
I
h as the
th way that
th t
conventional mass is defined, when performing a
comparison in air of density exactly equal to 1.2
kg/m3, no buoyancy correction is required, even if
the volumes of the weights being compared differ
greatly.

15

When the air density is not at 1.2 kg/m3, the applied

buoyancy correction factor, C, will be :

1 1
( a 1.2)( )
t r
Buoyancy correction : mC

Uncertainty of air buoyancy correction :

u 2b [m cr

( r t )
u 2 ( t )
u( a )]2 [m cr ( a o )]2

r t
4t

[m cr2 ( a o )]

u 2 ( r )
[( a o ) 2( a1 o )]
4r

where m = mass value of reference weight

Where a1 is the air density during previous

calibration of the reference weight by use of a
higher order weight. Refer to Covariances in
the determination of conventional mass as
published in Metrologia,
p
g , 2000,37,249-251
, ,
for
derivation of the above equation.
Generally the air buoyancy is not significant for
weights of class F1 and below, the uncertainty for
not applying the buoyancy correction must be
considered in the uncertainty budget.

(v)

Uncertainty due to the balance used, uba

The recommended approach is to calibrate the
balance at regular time intervals and use the
results from the test in the uncertainty
evaluation.
(a)Uncertainty due to resolution of the balance
(b)Uncertainty due to linearity of the balance
(c) Uncertainty due to eccentric loading

Some publications give examples that no air

correction is made, instead an uncertainty limit
(say 1 ppm of nominal value of the weight under
test for class M1 mass calibration) is used to
estimate the uncertainty, ub.

(vi)

Uncertainty due to deviation from thermal

equilibrium between weights, balance
and environment, ut.

Deviation from thermal equilibrium will create

various forces which can bias the balance
reading.

16

The revision of OIML R111-1 gives

recommendations on thermal stabilisation time.

(8)

Balance Calibration
Calibration procedure should be similar to the
way in which the balance will be used.
Calibration conditions / settings should be
similar to the conditions under which the
balance will be used.
Generally the uncertainty of the weight/weights
used for calibration will not exceed one-third to
one-tenth of the readability of the balance.

The combined standard uncertainty of the

conventional mass of the test weight is given by :

2
u u w2 u 2 (mcr ) u s2 (mcr ) ub2 uba
ut2

Use of Balance

Balance Location :

Free from air movement.

Free from effects of heat source.
Free from machinery.
Free from electric and electromagnetic interferences.
F from
Free
f
di
disturbance/
b
/ Corner
C
off a building.
b ildi
Free from sunlight localised temperature fluctuation.
Controlled temperature environment 0.1 mg per 100 g/ change of 1 C.
Sturdy weighing table.
Sufficient warm-up time.
Note the balance display before and after weighing.
Place the weighing object in the centre of balance.
Handle weighing object with tweezers.
Keep the balance and its surrounding environment clean.

Calibration of a balance should involve sufficient

measurements
t to
t prove the
th performance
f
off that
th t balance
b l
to be adequate for its specific operations.
Generally the calibration procedure may include the
following tests :

(ii)
(i)

Repeatability
Repeatability test can be performed by repeating
pp
of a weight
g on the balance. In g
general
application
ten applications will be carried out for balance of low
capacity,say,under 50 kg.

Linearity of scale
The test can be performed by checking the balance at
about ten incremental points up to the maximum
capacity of the balance.

(iii)

Eccentric loading
The test can be performed by placing a weight with
nominal value about 30 % of the balance capacity at
the pan centre and then at extremes of the pan, and
then comparing the other results with the result at the
pan centre.

17

References :

(i) OIML International Recommendation

D 28, Conventional value of weighing in
air,
i Editi
Edition 2004
(ii) OIML International Recommendation

111, Weights of Classes E1 to M3,

Edition 2004

(vii)

(viii)

(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)

Handbook of Mass Measurement, F.E.

Jones and R.M. Schoonover
Comprehensive Mass Metrology, Edited
by M
M. Kochsiek and M
M. Glser
Guide to Mass Determination with High
accuracy, R. Schwartz
Guide to the Measurement of Mass and
Weight, The Institute of Measurement
and Control

Covariances in the Determination of

Conventional Mass, M. Glser,
Metrologia, 2000, 37
Equation for the Determination of the
Density of Moist air, R. Davis,Metrologia,
1992, 29

18