August 2002 

Remanufactured Device Guidelines Accepted/New Liquid 

Measuring Devices and Vehicle-Tank Meters Tolerances 

By: Juana Williams

The NCWM voted to accept guidelines to aid the field official, equipment manufacturer 

and remanufacturer, and service industry in determining which devices must meet NIST 

Handbook 44 General Code paragraph G-S.1.1. Remanufactured Devices and 

Remanufactured Main Elements marking requirements. A new definition for “element” 

was also adopted to clarify which portions of a device are affected by G-S.1.1. 

requirements. Overwhelming opposition was heard on proposed changes made earlier 

this year to the guidelines. In response to those unfavorable comments, the guidelines 

were modified to be consistent with the original Remanufactured Devices Task Force’s 

language. 

The guidelines do not include every type of work performed by remanufacturers and the 

service industry, but do include some of the more common changes made to devices in 

service. The tables of examples provide guidance on whether or not a device is 

remanufactured or repaired, and whether or not the device requires a remanufacturer’s 

label. 

The guidelines will supplement Handbook 44, but will not become part of the Handbook. 

The guidelines will be posted on the NIST Weights and Measures website under the 2002 

S&T Final Report. The S&T Committee also recommended posting the guidelines on the 

NCWM website and making them readily available for easy reference in documents such 

as NIST Handbook 112, “Examination Procedure Outlines for Commercial Weighing and 

Measuring Devices, A Manual for Weights and Measures Officials.” All proposals for 

new guidelines or modifications to existing guidelines should be submitted through the 

NTETC Sectors. 

New Liquid Measuring Devices and Vehicle-Tank Meters Tolerances 

The NCWM voted to replace existing tolerance tables in the Liquid-Measuring Devices 

(LMD) and Vehicle-Tank Meters (VTM) Codes with a single table of tolerances based on 

the device’s accuracy class. Devices are designated with an accuracy class that is based 

on the application where the device is in use (loading rack, etc.) or the commodity being 

measured. The tolerances for each accuracy class are a percentage of the test quantity for 

drafts greater than ten gallons; however, the tolerances for 5- and 10-gallon test drafts in 

cubic inches are retained. A similar table of tolerances already exists in the Mass Flow 

Meters Code. 

This item first appeared on the 1999 S&T Committee agenda as a proposal to redefine a 

“retail device.” Effective January 1, 2003, tolerances for LMDs and VTMs are no longer 

based on whether these devices are used in retail or wholesale applications. The 
definition of “retail device” is a reoccurring issue on the S&T Committee agenda and 

remains as a carryover item for 2003. A proposal to modify the tolerances for the 

remaining liquid and vapor measuring devices in NIST Handbook 44 Section 3 also 

becomes a carryover item on the 2003 agenda. 

During the 2002 NCWM Annual Meeting, changes were made to the vehicle-tank meter 

Accuracy Class 0.3 acceptance and special test tolerances to reflect a consensus of 

officials and industry representatives. During the 2002 Annual Meeting, some members 

of the S&T Committee believed the proposed tolerances were far less stringent than 

existing tolerances for some applications and developed alternate tolerances for Accuracy 

Class 0.3 devices. Weights and measures officials believed that the alternate proposal 

developed at the 2002 Annual Meeting included tolerances that were too stringent. Meter 

manufacturers were concerned because alternate proposed tolerances would be difficult 

to attain during split-compartment tests. The tolerances adopted for the Accuracy Class 

0.3 vehicle-tank meters are 0.15 percent acceptance, 0.3 percent maintenance, and 0.45 

percent special test tolerances, which all parties agreed are attainable and closer to 

existing tolerances. 

The adoption of a single table of tolerances for LMDs and VTMs aligns the codes with 

international requirements and sets the stage for holding devices used in similar 

applications to uniform tolerances.