Trade Approved Scales
What is a Trade Approved Scale?
Trade Approved Scales are certified by a governmental body or recognised authority to comply with regulations for buying and selling goods by weight.
If you sell a product commercially based on its weight, you are legally obliged to ensure the scale is “legal for trade”.
Acquiring and Owning a Legal-for-Trade Scale
When looking to purchase a trade approved scale it is important to look at three things.
- The scale’s capacity.
- Size of the division*
- The precision of the scale. The scales must comply with Accuracy Class I & II parameters.
* No matter the capacity, a legal for trade scale must have 5000 divisions. For example, a 5000lb capacity scale with 5000 divisions would count in 1lb graduations.
It is also important to know where place your scale. A scale needs a solid platform, a level surface so information on placement location helps the installation process.
If a scale is moved to a different location, the scale’s calibration should be checked so a report can be sent to the county stating that the scale is within tolerance.
If you have a trade approved scale it is important to have the scale periodically checked for accuracy.
Depending on how inaccurate a scale is, upon inspection, the scale could be tagged and taken out of service. In the event of this, the scale must be repaired or recalibrated.
Because of situations like this, it is important to have a reliable scale company that will get your scale back in service to avoid the scale being down for a long period of time.
Is it mandatory?
If you work in an industry where weight affects the price of what you are selling your stock for or what price you are buying your stock for, then the answer is YES it is likely required by law to have your weighing scale trade approved.
For example, grocery stores selling their goods by weight require the scales to be trade approved, scrap dealers selling their materials by weight and when buying in scrap by weight require the scales to be trade approved.
Jewellery stores selling their goods by weight and when buying in stock by weight require the scales to be trade approved. An organisation such as care homes, hospitals et who prescribe medicine based on the patient’s body weight require the scales to be trade approved.
The law and regulations vary slightly depending on the country or region you live in, but usually, any weighing instrument that is used to sell by weight, buy by weight or calculate a monetary value using the weight as a factor is required to be trade approved.
For more information regarding your weighing needs, contact Industrial Scales UK.