Conformity assessment in accordance with the new Measures and Verification Ordinance successfully implemented for nationally regulated quantity meters for liquids

Due to the Measures and Verification Act  (MessEG dated 25 July 2013 [1]) and the Measures and Verification Ordinance (MessEV dated 11 December 2014 [2]), the handling of nationally regulated measuring instruments which are used in commercial and official dealings has changed fundamentally. This applies both to the area of essential metrological requirements made on these measuring instruments and to their conformity assessment procedures. The national type approvals used so far are replaced by conformity assessment modules as have already been applied since 2006 for European-regulated measuring instruments in accordance with Directive 2004/22/EC [3]. In the area of liquid meters, the changes to be implemented especially refer to the quantity measurement of liquids at rest (formerly Annex 4 of the Verification Ordinance) as well as to ancillary equipment and measuring instrument types for the continuous and dynamic quantity measurement of fluids in motion which are not subject to Directive 2004/22/EC and are thus still being regulated at the national level.

In more detail, these are:
•    Transportable measuring containers (B+F, B+D, D1, F1)
•    Liquid measures (B+F, B+D, D1, F1, A2)
•    Casks (B+F, B+D, D1, F1)
•    Measuring tools (B+F, B+D, D1, F1)
•    Storage tanks (B+F, B+D, D1, F1)
•    Level gauges (B+F, B+D, G)
•    Measuring instruments with transportable measuring containers and electronic level gauging (B+F, B+D)
•    Self-service fuel dispensers (B+F, B+D)
•    Fuel dispensers for high-pressure natural gas or hydrogen (B+F, B+D, G)

The possible conformity assessment modules between which the manufacturer can choose are shown in parentheses.

As part of the Conformity Assessment Body of PTB, our Department "Liquid Flows" offers the testing and assessment of the above-mentioned measuring instrument categories in accordance with the Conformity Assessment Modules B (Type examination) and G (Conformity on the basis of a unit verification) [4] – the latter in cooperation with the Conformity Assessment Bodies of the German verification authorities.

Since 1 January 2015, conformity assessment procedures have successfully been carried out in accordance with Module B for transportable measuring containers with electronic level gauging, self-service fuel dispensers, and self-service fuel dispensers for high-pressure natural gas or hydrogen.
As due to the introduction of the MessEV, there is no longer any legal basis for amendments to type approvals issued prior to 01 January 2015, an increased demand for conformity assessments can be expected in future.

Literature:

[1] Mess- und Eichgesetz (Measures and Verification Act – MessEG) dated 25 July 2013 (BGBl. I [Federal Law Gazette I] p. 2722)
[2] Mess- und Eichverordnung (Measures and Verification Ordinance – MessEV) dated 11 December 2014 (BGBl. I [Federal Law Gazette I] p. 2010)
[3] Directive 2004/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on measuring instruments(OJ L 135 p.1)
[4] Ermittelte Regeln und Erkenntnisse des Regelermittlungsausschusses nach § 46 des Mess- und Eichgesetzes (Determined rules and findings of the Rule Determination Committee in accordance with Section 46 of the Measures and Verification Act (MessEG). As of: 17 February 2015 / Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig und Berlin.) DOI: 10.7795/510.20150227R. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.7795/510.20150227R

Contact person:

Michael Rinker, FB 1.5, AG 1. 51, E-mail: michael.rinker(at)ptb.de