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The following tables contain lists of existing NIST Handbook 44 paragraphs with approaching retroactive or nonretroactive enforc

requirements that are enforceable as of January 1, 2009. These requirements may require action by device manufacturers, owners/opera

information is provided to alert interested parties to upcoming Handbook 44 requirements. Requirements in the tables may be paraphra

Handbook 44 should be consulted for the complete text. Codes that were amended to provide greater clarity or make other editorial 

information. A complete report of changes to the handbook is published annually in the Report of the National Conference on Werequirements are also referenced in the amendments table in each edition of Handbook 44. It is recommended that you contact the statutmeasures jurisdiction for specific details on the enforcement of these code requirements. Retroactive requirements apply to all equipment in commercial service prior to, and in use at any time on or after, the enforcement date

are enforceable for equipment: (1) manufactured, (2) new and used brought into a jurisdiction, and (3) previously in noncommercial ususe after the effective date. Note: Paragraphs designated with a bracketed superscript number one [1] include multiple requirements wi

NIST Handbook 44 Codes 

(With Approaching Retroactive and Nonretroactive Enforcement Date) 

Code Paragraph Requirement 

2.20 General Code G-S.8.1. Multiple Weighing or 

Measuring Elements that Share a Common Provision for Sealing 

A change to any metrological parameter (calibration or configuration) o

weighing or measuring element shall be individually identified. 

Note: For devices that utilize an electronic form of sealing, in addition trequirements in G-S.8.1., any appropriate audit trail requirements iapplicable specific device code also apply. Examples of identification change to the metrological parameters of a weighing or measuring eleminclude, but are not limited to: 

(1) a broken, missing, or replaced physical seal on an indivi

weighing, measuring, or indicating element or active junbox; 

(2) a change in a calibration factor or configuration setting for 

weighing or measuring element; 

(3) a display of the date of calibration or configuration even

each weighing or measuring element; or 

(4) counters indicating the number of calibration an

configuration events for each weighing or measuring elem

2.20 Scales S.2.1.5. Initial Zero-Setting 

Mechanism 

Scales of accuracy Classes I, II, and III may be equipped with an initia

zero-setting device. For indicating elements not permanently attached to weighing and loa
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NIST Handbook 44 Codes 

(With Approaching Retroactive and Nonretroactive Enforcement Date) 

Code Paragraph Requirement 

receiving elements covered on a separate CC, the maximum initial zersetting mechanism range of electronic indicators shall not exceed 20 % the configured capacity. 

3.31 Vehicle-Tank Meters 

S.5.7. Meter Size Except for milk meters, if the meter model identifier does not provide a 

to the meter size (in terms of pipe diameter) on an NTEP CertificaConformance, the meter shall be marked to show meter size. 
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NIST Handbook 44 Codes Newly Adopted or Recently Modified 

(Applicable to All Equipment Effective January 1, 2009) 

Code Paragraph Requirement New o

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1.10. General Code G-A.1. Commercial and 

Law-Enforcement Equipment 

Composition (limited to meat and poultry) and constituent value (limited to grain) were added to the list of various applications in subparagraph (2) that define use of commercial weighing and measuring equipment and the application of NIST Handbook 44 requirements. 

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2.20. Scales Code S.1.1.1. Digital Indicating Elements A “center-of-zero” indication may operate when zero is indicated 

for gross and/or net mode(s). Applies to equipment in use on or after January 1, 1993 

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2.20 Scales S.1.2.1. Weight Units A new note was added to recognize the display and printing of 

net weight values in divisions other than the value of the scale division used in the display of gross weight on a multiple range or multi-interval scale. The note was added to permit net weight indications to be displayed and recorded in values other than 1, 2, or 5 (or a decimal multiple or submultiple of these values) in instances where the value of the scale division of a gross weight is different from the value of scale division of the tare weight. Applies to equipment in use as of January 1, 1989 

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2.20 Scales S.2.3. Tare Exempts multi-interval scales and multiple range scales from 

having to comply with the requirement that a tare value be equal to the scale division value in instances where the value of tare is determined in a lower weighing range or weighing segment. 

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2.20 Scales T.N. 2.1. General Paragraph modified in connection with the changes that were 

also made to Scales code paragraphs S.1.2.1. Weight Units and 

S.2.3. Tare to denote that when tare is in use, tolerance values apply to the net weight indication for any possible tare load using certified test loads. 

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NIST Handbook 44 Codes Newly Adopted or Recently Modified 

(Applicable to All Equipment Effective January 1, 2009) 

Code Paragraph Requirement New o

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2.20 Scales S.2.1.5. Initial Zero-Setting 

Mechanism 

Scales of accuracy Classes I, II, and III may be equipped with an initial zero-setting mechanism. Paragraph modification limits the maximum range of an initial zero-setting mechanism of electronic indicators not permanently attached to weighing and load-receiving elements 

or covered by a separate CC to 20% of configured capacity. Applies to equipment in use as of January 1, 2009 

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2.20 Scales S.2.4. Level Indicating Means A portable scale (except for portable wheel-load weighers and 

portable axle-load scales) shall be equipped with a level indicating means if weighing performance is changed by and amount greater than the appropriate acceptance tolerance when 

it is tilted up to and including 5 % rise over run in any direction from a level position and rebalanced. 

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2.20 Scales S.2.4.1. Vehicle On-Board Weighing 

Systems 

A vehicle on-board weighing system shall operate within tolerance when the weighing system is tilted up to and including 5 % rise over run in any direction from a level position and rebalanced. If the accuracy of the system is affected by out-oflevel conditions normal to the use of the device, the system shall be equipped with an out-of-level sensor that inhibits the weighing operation when the system is out of level to the extent that the accuracy limits are exceeded. 

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NIST Handbook 44 Codes Newly Adopted or Recently Modified 

(Applicable to All Equipment Effective January 1, 2009) 

Code Paragraph Requirement New o

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2.21 Belt-Conveyor Scale Systems 

N.2.3. Minimum Test Load Except for applications where a normal weighment is less than 

10 minutes, the minimum test load shall not be less than the largest of the following values. 

(a) 800 scale divisions, (b) the load obtained at maximum flow rate in one 

revolution of the belt, or 

(c) at least 10 minutes of operation. 

For applications where a normal weighment is less than 

10 minutes (e.g., belt-conveyor scale systems used exclusively 

to issue net weights for material conveyed by individual vehicles and railway track cars) the minimum test load shall be the normal weighment that also complies with (a) and (b). 

The official with statutory authority may determine that a smaller minimum totalized load down to 2 % of the load totalized in 1 hour at the maximum flow rate may be used for subsequent tests provided that: 

1. the smaller minimum totalized load is greater 

than the quantities specified in (a) or (b), and 

2. consecutive official testing with the minimum 

totalized loads described in N.2.3. (a), (b), or (c) and the smaller minimum test load has been conducted that demonstrates the system complies with applicable tolerances for repeatability, acceptance, and maintenance. 

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2.21 Belt-Conveyor Scale Systems 

UR.2.2. Conveyor Installation Paragraph UR.2.2. (n) Belt Alignment modified to provide 

additional clarification regarding the position of the belt in relation to the outermost rollers (top of belt) and the conveyor structure (bottom side of the conveyor) as follows: (n) Belt Alignment.- The belt shall not extend beyond the edge of the outermost roller of any carry side (top) roller in any area of the conveyor nor touch the conveyor structure on the return (bottom) side of the conveyor. 

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2.24. Automatic Weighing Systems 

S.1.2. Value of the Division Units A new note was added to recognize the display and printing of 

net weight values in divisions other than the value of the scale 

division used in the display of gross weight on a multiple range or multi-interval scale. The note was added to permit net weight indications to be displayed and recorded in values other than 1, 2, or 5 (or a decimal multiple or submultiple of these values) in instances where the value of the scale division of a gross weight is different from the value of scale division of the tare weight. 

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2.24. Automatic Weighing Systems 

S.2.2. Tare Exempts multi-interval scales and multiple range scales from 

having to comply with the requirement that a tare value be equal to the scale division value in instances where the value of tare is determined in a lower weighing range or weighing segment. 

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2.24. Automatic Weighing Systems 

T.2.1. General Paragraph modified in connection with the changes that were 

also made to AWS code paragraphs S.1.2. Value of the Division Units and S.2.3. Tare to denote that when tare is in use, tolerance 

values apply to the net weight indication for any possible tare load using certified test loads. 

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3.31 Vehicle-Tank Meters 

S.5.7. Meter Size The following new paragraph was added to provide a positive 

method of determining meter size so that correct tolerances may be applied: Except for milk meters, if the meter model identifier does not provide a link to the meter size (in terms of pipe diameter) on an NTEP Certificate of Conformance, the meter shall be marked to show meter size. Applies to equipment in use on or after January 1, 2009 

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NIST Handbook 44 Codes Newly Adopted or Recently Modified 

(Applicable to All Equipment Effective January 1, 2009) 

Code Paragraph Requirement New o

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3.36 Water Meters UR.2. Accessibility of Customer 

Indication 

The following new paragraph was added to clearly define the space to be made available in front of the indication of a water 

meter to enable a customer to read the indication: An unobstructed standing space of at least 76 cm (30 in) wide, 91 cm (36 in) deep, and 198 cm (78 in) high shall be maintained in front of an indication intended for use by the customer to allow for reading the indicator. The customer indication shall be readily observable to a person located within the standing space without necessity of a separate tool or device. 

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5.58 Multiple Dimension Measuring Devices 

A.1. General Two bullets were added to paragraph A.1. to further define 

the type of objects measured by a multiple dimension measuring device as follows: This code applies to dimension and volume measuring devices 

used for determining the dimensions and/or volume of objects 

for the purpose of calculating freight, storage, or postal charges based on the dimensions and/or volume occupied by the object. A multiple dimension measuring device: 

(a) is generally used to measure hexahedron-shaped 

objects; and 

(b) may be used to measure irregularly-shaped objects. 

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5.58 Multiple Dimension Measuring Devices 

Table S.4.1.b. Multiple Dimension Measuring Systems Notes for Table S.4.1.a 

“Spacing” and “minimum protrusion size” were added to the list of items that are required to be marked as a limitation of use in accordance with Note 7 as follows: 

7. Materials, shapes, structures, combination of object 

dimensions, speed, spacing, minimum protrusion size, or 

object orientations that are inappropriate for the device or those that are appropriate. 

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5.58 Multiple Dimension Measuring Devices 

S.1.5.2. Devices Capable of Measuring Irregularly-Shaped Objects 

For devices capable of measuring irregularly shaped objects, the value of the division size (d) shall be the same for the length axis (x) and the width axis (y) and may be different for the height axis (z), provided that electronic rotation of the object to determine the smallest hexahedron is calculated in only a twodimension horizontal plane, retaining the stable side plane as the 

bottom of the hexahedron. 

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5.58 Multiple Dimension Measuring Devices 

N.1.2.1. Irregularly-Shaped Test Object Placement 

Irregularly-shaped test objects must be measured while placed on a stable side. The rotation of the object to determine the smallest hexahedron should be calculated in a two-dimensional plane, retaining the stable side plane as the bottom of the hexahedron. 

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5.58 Multiple Dimension Measuring Devices 

N.1.4.2. Irregularly-Shaped Test Objects 

For irregularly-shaped test objects, at least one angle shall be obtuse and the smallest dimension for an axis shall be equal to or greater than the minimum dimension for that axis. 

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5.58 Multiple Dimension Measuring Devices 

N.1.4.3. Test Objects with Protrusions 

If the device is marked with a minimum protrusion dimension to be measured, a test object with protrusion shall be used to verify the marked limitation during type evaluation. 

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5.58 Multiple Dimension Measuring Devices 

UR.3.3. Object Placement If the object being measured must be transported (e.g., shipped) 

on a stable side, that irregularly-shaped object must be measured while placed on that stable side. The electronic rotation of the object to determine the smallest hexahedron shall be calculated in a two-dimensional horizontal plane, retaining the stable side plane as the bottom of the hexahedron. 

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Appendix D - Definitions 

equipment, commercial Weights, measures, and weighing and measuring devices, 

instruments, elements, and systems or portion thereof, used or employed in establishing the measurement or in computing 

any basic charge or payment for services rendered on the basis of weight or measure. As used in this definition, measurement includes the determination of size, quantity, 

value, extent, area, composition (limited to meat and poultry), constituent value (for grain), or measurement of quantities, things, produce, or articles for distribution or consumption, purchased, offered, or submitted for sale, hire, or award.[1.10, 2.20, 2.21, 2.22, 2.24, 3.30, 3.31, 3.32, 3.33, 3.34, 3.35, 3.38, 4.40, 5.51, 5.56.(a), 5.56.(b), 5.57, 5.58, 5.59] 

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Appendix D - Definitions 

hexahedron A geometric solid (i.e., box) with six rectangular or square 

plane surfaces.[5.58] 

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Appendix D - Definitions 

irregularly-shaped object Any object that is not a hexahedron shape.[5.58] New D