Handbook 44 – 2009 4.44. Graduates 

Section 4.44. Graduates 

A. Application 

A.1. This code applies to subdivided glass measures of capacity, either cylindrical or conical in shape. 

A.2. See also Section 1.10. General Code requirements. 

S. Specifications 

S.1. Units. – Nominal capacities, graduation ranges, values of graduated intervals, and numbered graduations applicable 

to single-scale graduates and to the appropriate portions of double scale graduates shall be as shown in Table 1. Design 

Details for Graduates. 

Table 1. 

Design Details for Graduates

Nominal 

Capacity To be Graduated Between Value of Graduated Intervals 

Number at Each 

Graduation Divisible 

by 

milliliters Milliliters milliliters milliliters 

5 

10 

25 

50 

100 

500 

1000 

1 and 

2 and 

5 and 

10 and 

20 and 

100 and 

200 and 

5 

10 

25 

50 

100 

500 

1000 

1⁄2 

1 

5 

5 

10 

25 

50 

1 

2 

5 

10 

20 

50 

100 

minims Minims minims minims 

60 

120 

15 and 

30 and 

60 

120 

5 

10 

10a

20b

fluid drams fluid drams fluid drams fluid drams 

4 

8 

1 and 

2 and 

4 

8 

1⁄2 

1 

1 

2 

fluid ounces fluid ounces fluid ounces fluid ounces 

2 

4 

8 

16 

32 

1⁄2 and 

1 and 

2 and 

4 and 

8 and 

2 

4 

8 

16 

32 

1⁄4 

1⁄2 

1⁄2 

1 

2 

1⁄2 

1 

1 

2 

4 a

 And, in addition, at the first (15-minim) graduation. 

b

 And, in addition, at the first (30-minim) graduation. 

S.2. Initial Interval. – A graduate shall have an initial interval that is not subdivided, equal to not less than one-fifth and 

not more than one-fourth of the capacity of the graduate. 

S.3. Shape. – A graduate of a capacity of more than 15 mL (4 fl dr) may be of either the cylindrical or circular conical 

type. A graduate of a capacity of 15 mL (4 fl dr) or less shall be of the single-scale cylindrical type. 

S.4. Material. – A graduate shall be made of good-quality, thoroughly annealed, clear, transparent glass, free from 

bubbles and streaks that might affect the accuracy of measurement. The glass shall be uniform in thickness and shall not 

be excessively thick. 

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4.44. Graduates Handbook 44 – 2009 

S.5. Dimensional Proportions.

S.5.1. On a Circular Conical Graduate. – The inside measurement from the bottom of a circular conical graduate 

to the capacity graduation shall be not less than two times the inside diameter at the capacity graduation. The inside 

measurement from the bottom of the graduate to the point representing one-fourth of the capacity shall be not less 

than the inside diameter at that point. 

S.5.2. On a Cylindrical Graduate. – The inside measurement from the bottom of a cylindrical graduate to the 

capacity graduation shall be not less than five times the inside diameter at the capacity graduation. 

S.6. Base. – The base of the graduate shall be perpendicular to the vertical axis of the graduate. The diameter of the base 

shall be of such size that the empty graduate will remain standing on an inclined surface of 25 %, or approximately 

15 degrees, from the horizontal. 

S.7. Design of Graduations.

S.7.1. General. – Graduations shall be perpendicular to the vertical axis of the graduate and parallel to each other. 

Graduations shall be continuous, of uniform thickness not greater than 0.4 mm (0.015 in), clearly visible, permanent, 

and indelible under normal conditions of use. 

(Amended 1977) 

S.7.2. On a Single-Scale Graduate. – On a single-scale graduate, the main graduations shall completely encircle the 

graduate and subordinate graduations shall extend at least one-half the distance around the graduate. 

S.7.3. On a Double-Scale or a Duplex Graduate. – On a double-scale or duplex graduate, there shall be a clear 

space between the ends of the main graduations on the two scales, and this space shall be approximately 90 degrees 

from the lip of the graduate and shall conform to the requirements of Table 2. Clear Space Between Ends of Main 

Graduations on Double Scale Graduates. 

Table 2. 

Clear Space Between Ends of Main 

Graduations on Double Scale Graduates

Inside Diameter of Graduate at the Graduations 

(inches) 

Clear Space Between Ends of Main Graduations 

(inch) 

Less than 1.5 1/8 to 1⁄4 

1.5 to 3, inclusive 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 

Over 3 3/8 to 5/8

S.8. Basis of Graduation. – A graduate shall be graduated “to deliver” when the temperature of the graduate is 20 °C 

(68 °F), and shall be marked accordingly in a permanent and conspicuous manner. 

S.9. Marking Requirements. – Each main graduation shall be marked to show its value. Intermediate graduations shall 

not be marked. Value figures shall be uniformly positioned either directly upon or immediately above the graduations to 

which they refer. Figures placed upon graduations shall be set in from the ends of the graduations a sufficient distance to 

allow the ends of the graduations to be used in making a setting. 

N. Notes 

N.1. Test Liquid. – Water shall be used as the test liquid for graduates. 

N.2. Temperature Control. – During the test of a graduate, appropriate precautions shall be exercised to reduce any 

detrimental temperature effects to the practicable minimum. 

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Handbook 44 – 2009 4.44. Graduates 

T. Tolerances 

T.1. Maintenance and acceptance tolerances in excess and in deficiency shall be as shown in Table 3. Maintenance and 

Acceptance Tolerances, in Excess and Deficiency, for Graduates for graduates that are graduated “to contain” or “to 

deliver.” (The tolerance to be applied at any graduation is determined by the inside diameter of the graduate at the 

graduation in question.) 

Table 3. 

Maintenance and Acceptance Tolerances, in Excess and 

in Deficiency, for Graduates

Inside Diameter of 

Graduate 

Inside Diameter of 

Graduate 

From to but not 

including 

Tolerance 

From to but not 

including 

Tolerance 

millimeters milliliters inches minims 

0 

16 

21 

26 

31 

36 

41 

46 

51 

56 

61 

66 

71 

76 

81 

86 

91 

96 

16 

21 

26 

31 

36 

41 

46 

51 

56 

61 

66 

71 

76 

81 

86 

91 

96 

101 

0.1 

0.2 

0.4 

0.6 

0.8 

1.1 

1.4 

1.8 

2.2 

2.8 

3.4 

4.1 

4.8 

5.6 

6.4 

7.2 

8.1 

9.0 

 0 

 9

/16

 13/16

 11/16

 15/16

 19

/16

 113/16

 21/16

 25

/16

 29/16

 213/16

 31

/16

 35/16

 39/16

 33

/16

 9

/16

 13/16

 11

/16

 15/16

 19/16

 113/16

 21/16

 25/16

 29

/16

 213/16

 31/16

 35

/16

 39/16

 313/16

 41

/16

2 

3 

6 

10 

15 

20 

30 

40 

50 

65 

80 

95 

110 

130 

150 

(Amended 1974) 

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