1. ------IND- 2012 0580 CZ - EN- ------ 20121023 --- --- PROJET 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
As a body with material and local competence in matters concerning the establishment of 
metrological and technical requirements for the specified measurement device and the 
establishm ent of testing methods for type approval and during validation of the specified 
measurement device pursuant to Section 14 Paragraph 1 of Act No 505/1990 Coll. on metrology, as 
amended, and pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 et seq. of Act No 500/200 4 Coll., the Rules 
of Administrative Procedure (hereinafter referred to as ‘RAP’), the Czech Metrological Institute (CMI) 
has launched ex officio an administrative proceeding pursuant to Section 46 of the RAP on 16 August 
2012, and, on the basis of the doc umentation, issues the following:  
 
 
I. 
GENERAL MEASURE  
Number: 0111 -OOP -C029 -12 
Reference No 0313/004/12/Pos.,  
 
 
establishing metrological and technical requirements for specified measurement devices, including testing 
methods for the type approval and val idation of the specified measurement devices:  
‘transport drums’  
 
1   Basic definitions  
The terms and definitions pursuant to the VIM1) as well as the following terms and definitions shall 
apply for the purposes of this General Measure:  
1.1   Transport drum : A cylindrical container with two circular bases for the transport and storage of 
liquids, designated as a measurement device to be filled to its nominal volume.  
1.2   Nominal volume Vn: The volume for which the transport drum was made and which is marke d 
on it.  
                                                   
1)  International Vocabulary of Metrology – Basic and general concepts and associated terms (Mezinárodní 
metrologický slovník – Základní a všeobecné pojmy a přidružené termíny – VIM).  1.3   Conventional volume:  The volume of water contained in the drum when filled up to the bottom 
edge of the filling aperture at reference temperature with an uncertainty corresponding to the given 
purpose of use.  
1.4   Wet tare: The weight of th e empty drum, including bungs and similar seals for closing the filling 
aperture, ascertained by weighing after previously wetting the inside of the drum and draining it for a 
period of 30 seconds.  
1.5   Dry tare:  The weight of the empty drum, including bu ngs and similar seals for closing the filling 
aperture, ascertained by weighing (without previously wetting the inside of the drum).  
2   Metrological requirements  
The metrological requirements are based on the requirements of International Organisation of  Legal 
Metrology (OIML) recommendation R 138, ‘Vessels For Commercial Transactions’2). 
2.1   Specified operating conditions  
The reference temperature for testing transport drums is 20 °C and the reference pressure is the normal 
atmospheric pressure.  
2.2   Nominal volumes:  
Transport drums must have a nominal volume equal to:  
– multiples of 5  L for Vn ≤ 100 L; 
– multiples of 50  L for Vn > 100 L. 
2.3   Maximum permissible error  
The transport drum must generate the volume in accuracy class A or B. Metallic drums m ust meet 
the requirements for accuracy class A; drums made of non -metallic materials must meet the 
requirements for accuracy class B.  
The maximum permissible error is:  
– ± 0.5 %, albeit not less than 0.10  L for metallic drums marked with the letter ‘A’,  
– ± 1.0 %, albeit not less than 0.15  L for drums made of other materials, marked with the letter ‘B’.  
2.4   Measurement units  
The measurement unit for the volume of transport drum is litres, with the symbol ‘L’.  
3   Technical requirements  
The technical requireme nts are based on the requirements of OIML recommendation R 138, ‘Vessels 
For Commercial Transactions’2). 
3.1   Design  
3.1.1    Design strength  
The total volume of a drum intended for liquids stored under pressure may not be increased by more 
than 0.5%, if i t is subject to internal pressure of 100 kPa for a period of 48 hours.  
                                                   
2)   OIML  R 138 ‘Ves sels for commercial transactions’ – publicly accessible at  www.oiml.org  3.1.2    Requirements for the filling aperture  
The position and shape of the filling aperture must enable the drum to be filled completely. If the 
filling aperture has an extension reach ing inside of the drum, then said extension must be deaerated 
or fitted with apertures up to the point at which the extension intersects with the body of the drum. 
If the filling aperture of the drum is closed with a stopper screwed into a mount, then the stopper 
must be made of a single piece.  
3.2   Material  
Drums must be strong enough to withstand normal use without buckling; they may not be damaged 
or deformed on the surface.  
The drums may be made of any kind of material with the suitable strength, rigid ity and 
impermeability for the intended use.  
The inside of the drum should be equipped with a protective layer which is compatible with the 
material of the drum and with the liquid contained (for instance, if this is specified by another 
statutory regulat ion).  
The material of drums for liquid food products must meet the requirements of hygiene regulations.  
4   Measurement device markings  
4.1   Markings on the transport drum  
All transport drums must have a clearly visible, easily readable and permanent ind ication of the 
nominal volume Vn in litres.  
Measurement devices must furthermore be clearly and visibly labelled with the following 
information:  
– accuracy class (A or B);  
– if the tare is specified, it must be clearly indicated with the label ‘wet tare’ or ‘ dry tare’; tare 
determined by metrological inspection is expressed by numbers, followed by the statutory 
measurement unit or symbol thereof;  
– the manufacturer’s name or trademark;  
– the type of transport drum;  
– the type approval mark (if assigned);  
– serial numb er and year of production,  
– the material of the drum, if this information is relevant for the type of liquid contained;  
– the type of protective coating (if used);  
– the maximum operating pressure (for drums with liquid under pressure);  
– the type of liquids bein g transported (for instance, ‘For liquid food products only’).  
Any other labels which may be mistaken for mandatory labels are prohibited.  
4.2   Placement of official marking  
A space for placing official markings must be prepared on the measurement device.   5   Measurement device type approval  
5.1   General  
The transport drum type approval process encompasses the following tests:  
a) external inspection;  
b) impermeability test;  
c) accuracy test;  
d) test of strength and constancy of volume under pressure.  
5.2   External  inspection  
The external inspection of the transport drum assesses the following:  
a) the completeness of the specified technical documentation;  
b) the conformity of the metrological and technical characteristics specified by the manufacturer 
in the documentatio n with the requirements of this regulation, specified in Chapters 2, 3 and 4;  
c) whether a potential sample of the drum corresponds in its design to the manufacturer’s design 
documentation and the requirements of this regulation;  
d) whether the markings are perm anent and legible.  
5.3   Impermeability test  
The transport impermeability of the drum is tested after filling up to the bottom edge of the filling 
aperture, during which the drum may not release any of the test liquid.  
5.4   Accuracy test  
The accuracy te st is conducted by ascertaining the actual volume:  
– using the volume method – with water or a suitable substitute liquid, or  
– using the weight method – with distilled water, or water with an established density,  
in which a test liquid for measuring drums in tended for the transport of beverages or food products 
must be hygienically clean and non -toxic.  
5.4.1    Volume method  
The volume of the liquid filled into the transport drum is ascertained using a reference vessel or 
reference flow meter and graduated fl asks and/or pipettes shall be used for any potential 
adjustment of the level up to the bottom edge of the filling aperture (addition or removal of liquid).  
During the test, the temperature, and, as the case may be, the pressure of the liquid in the 
calibra tion device and the final temperature in the transport drum shall be measured in such a 
manner that it is possible to correct the volume of the transport drum for the expansion of the 
material of the drum and expansion and compression of the test liquid.  
5.4.2    Weight method  
With the weight method, the weight of the empty (wetted) drum is ascertained by weighing it. A test 
liquid is filled into the drum and the weight of the filled drum is ascertained by weighing it again.  
The volume of the liquid in th e test drum is determined according to the formula:  
1 2m mkVv
 in which  m1 is the weight of the empty drum;  
 m2 is the weight of the filled drum;  
  is the density of the test liquid;  
 kv is the correction coefficient for  the air buoyancy during weighing.  
The test accuracy is used to ascertain whether the volume generated by the drum as a measurement 
device corresponds to the actual volume within the limits of the maximum permissible error. The 
relative deviation of the dr um is calculated according to the formula:  
 
100VVVen  
in which  Vn is the nominal volume of the drum;  
 V is the ascertained volume of the liquid in the drum.  
5.4   Test of strength and constancy of volume under pressure  
The strength of the dr um against pressure and the constancy of the total volume of a transport drum 
intended for liquids stored under pressure shall be tested with a pressure of 100 kPa for a period of 48 
hours. The requirement of Article 3.1.1 must be met during the test.  
6   Initial validation  
6.1   General  
Transport drums shall be validated individually.   
The initial validation process of the transport drum encompasses the following tests:  
a) visual inspection;  
b) accuracy test.  
6.2   Visual inspection  
The visual inspection of th e transport drum assesses the following:  
a) conformity with the approved type;  
b) the durability and legibility of the markings;  
c) the appearance and functional condition of the transport drum.  
6.3   Accuracy test  
6.3.1    Testing equipment  
The measurement equipmen t used must have valid metrological traceability with an uncertainty of 
less than one third of the maximum permissible error for transport drums.  
6.3.2    Individual accuracy test  
The accuracy test is conducted by ascertaining the actual volume:  
– using the v olume method – with water or a suitable substitute liquid, or  
– using the weight method – with distilled water, or water with an established density,  
in which a test liquid for measuring drums intended for the transport of beverages or food products 
must be  hygienically clean and non -toxic.  6.3.2.1    Volume method  
The volume of the liquid filled into the transport drum is ascertained using a reference vessel or 
reference flow meter and graduated flasks and/or pipettes shall be used for any potential 
adjustm ent of the level up to the bottom edge of the filling aperture (addition or removal of liquid) 
according to the volume added or removed.  
If the volume of the vessel used is less than the nominal volume, then the reference vessel shall be 
filled and emptied  repeatedly. The volume of the reference vessel must be such that the number of 
batches of filling does not exceed 50.  
During the test, the temperature, and, as the case may be, the pressure of the liquid in the 
calibration device and the final temperature  in the transport drum shall be measured in such a 
manner that it is possible to correct the volume of the transport drum for the expansion of the drum 
material and the expansion and compression of the test liquid.  
6.3.2.2    Weight method  
With the weight  method, the weight of the empty (wetted) drum is ascertained by weighing it. A 
defined quantity of test liquid is filled into the drum and the weight of the filled drum is ascertained 
by weighing it again. If the weighing capacity of the scale used is les s than the weight of the filled 
drum, then a similar procedure to that of the volume method shall be used, in which the content of 
the measurement device being tested is gradually emptied into an auxiliary vessel, which is then 
weighed.  The maximum number  of batches in this case is 5.  
The volume of the liquid in the test measurement device is determined according to the formula:  
1 2m mkVv
 
in which  m1 is the weight of the empty drum;  
 m2 is the weight of the filled drum;  
  is the density of the test liquid;  
 kv is the correction coefficient for the air buoyancy during weighing.  
6.3.2.3    Transport drum measurement  
Transport drums may be submitted for individual initial validation without the nominal volume being 
marked. In this case, the body conducting the validation must establish the conventional volume of 
the transport drum at the reference temperature, if the drum was filled in accordance with the 
specifications, and must attach the nominal volume and official mark, or have them attached.  
Drums without a specified nominal volume shall be marked with the volume ascertained by 
measuring, rounded down in accordance with Table 1.  
Table 1 – Rounding the volume  
Accuracy class  A B 
Measured volume of drum V in litres  Rounde d down to litres  
V  5 to the nearest 0.05  to the nearest 0.05  
5  V  15 0.1 0.1 
15  V  60 0.1 0.5 
60  V  150 0.2 1.0 150  V  300 0.5 1.0 
 
The test accuracy is used to ascertain whether measurement device data correspond to the actual 
volume w ithin the limits of the maximum permissible error. The relative deviation of the drum is 
calculated according to the formula:  
 
100VVVen  
in which  Vn is the nominal volume of the drum;  
 V is the ascertained volume of the liquid in the drum.  
6.3.3   Accuracy test using the statistical control method  
The accuracy test using the statistical control method applies to metallic transport drums with a 
nominal volume of Vn ≤ 100  L. 
6.3.3.1    Sampling  
The statistical control method assumes a normal distribution of the actual volume of the transport 
drums in the batch being inspected.  
The sampling procedure must correspond to the procedures of sampling to the greatest extent 
possible.  
6.3.3.2    Accuracy test  
The accuracy test shall be conducted on each unit selected.  
6.3.3.3    Acceptance criteria  
The batch being inspected must correspond to the values x and must simultaneously fulfil the 
following three inequations:  
x + k · s ≤ Ts, 
x – k · s ≥ Ti, 
s ≤ F · (Ts – Ti), 
in which  x is the mean value of the actual volumes xi of the transport drums in the sample;  
 s is the standard deviation of the actual volumes xi of the transport drums in the sample;  
 Ts is the upper limit value,  as the sum of the validated volume and the applicable maximum 
permissible error for said volume;  
 Ti is the lower limit value, as the difference of the validated volume minus the applicable 
maximum permissible error for said volume; and    
 k = 1.57 and F = 0.266.  
7   Follow -up validation  
Follow -up validation is not conducted for transport drums of the same shape which are made of 
corrosion -resistant materials.  
7.1   General  
The follow -up validation process for drums which are subject to follow -up validat ion encompasses 
the following tests:  a) visual inspection,  
b) accuracy test.  
7.2   Visual inspection  
The visual inspection is conducted in accordance with Article 6.2 . 
7.3   Accuracy test  
The measurement device accuracy test shall be conducted in accordance wit h Article 6.3.2.  
8   Declared standards  
The CMI declares Czech technical standards, other technical standards or technical documents of 
international or foreign organisations or other technical documents containing more detailed 
technical requirements (her einafter referred to as the ‘declared standards’) for the purposes of 
specifying the metrological and technical requirements for measurement devices and for the 
purposes of specifying testing methods during validation based on this General Measure. The CMI  
announces a list of these notified standards assigned to the applicable measure together with the 
General Measure by means accessible to the public (on the internet site www.cmi.cz).  
In the scope of and under the conditions established by the General Meas ure, compliance with these 
declared standards or compliance with portions thereof is deemed to be compliance with said 
requirements established by the General Measure to which these standards or portions thereof 
relate.  II. 
GROUNDS  
The CMI issues this gen eral measure establishing metrological and technical requirements for the 
specified measurement devices and testing methods during the validation of said specified 
measurement devices for the purposes of implementing Section 24c of Act No 505/1990 Coll. on  
metrology, as amended.  
Regulation No 345/2002 Coll. establishing measurement devices for compulsory validation and 
measurement devices subject to type approval, as amended, classifies transport drums as 
measurement devices subject to validation in the Sec ond List of Specified Measurement Devices in 
the Annex under Items 1.3.5 a) and b).  
The CMI is issuing this General Measure for the specific type of measurement device ‘transport 
drums’, establishing metrological and technical requirements for transport dr ums and testing 
methods for the type approval and validation of these specified measurement devices, for the 
purpose of implementing Section 24c of Act No 505/1990 Coll. on metrology, as amended.  
This Regulation (General Measure) was notified in accordance  with European Parliament and Council 
Directive 98/34/EC of 22 June 1998 on the procedure for the provision of information in the field of 
technical standards and regulations and rules on Information Society services, as amended by 
Directive 98/48/EC.  
 
 
III. 
LEGAL INSTRUCTIONS  
Legal remedies may not be applied against this General Measure (Section 173 Paragraph 2 of Act No 
500/2004 Coll., the Rules of Administrative Procedure, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the 
‘Rules of Administrative Procedure’).  
In accordance with the provisions of Section 172 Paragraph 5 of the Rules of Administrative 
Procedure, appeals may not be raised against decisions on objections.  
The conformity of the General Measure with the statutory regulations can be evaluated in the research 
procedure pursuant to the provisions of Section 94 to 96 of the Rules of Administrative Procedure. The 
participant may submit a motion to conduct a research procedure to the administrative body which 
issued this general measure. If the administrat ive body does not find reason to initiate a research 
procedure, it shall inform the submitter of this fact and substantiate its reasons within thirty days. 
Rulings on the initiation of a research procedure may be issued within three years as entry of the 
General Measure into legal effect in accordance with the provisions of Section 174 Paragraph 2 of the 
Rules of Administrative Procedure.  
 
 
IV. 
ENTRY INTO LEGAL EFF ECT  
This General Measure shall enter into legal effect on the fifteenth day as of the date of its 
promulgation (Section 24d of Act No 505/1990 Coll. on metrology, as amended).  
  
 
 
 ...…………………………....... .......  
 RNDr. Pavel Klenovský,  
 General Director