Article Ref: G-006 

Weights and Measures Connection, Vol. 2, Issue 1 Page 1

March 1, 2014

Laboratory Metrology Publication Reviews

Byline: Georgia L. Harris

We are beginning the process of reviewing several NIST Publications covering laboratory metrology 

topics. These four publications include:

● NIST IR 7082, Proficiency Test Policy Plan 

● NIST IR 7214, Quality Manual For Proficiency Testing and Interlaboratory Comparisons

● NIST Handbook 143, State Weights and Measures Laboratories, Program Handbook

● NIST Handbook 105-1, Field Standard Weights and Measures, Class F Weights

We will be accepting comments on the two NIST IR publications through July 1, 2011, and begin working 

on drafts shortly after that time. We will be accepting comments on the Handbook 143 and Handbook 

105-1 through September 30, 2011. 

Please submit your comments through the WMD Contact Management System at 

https://tsapps.nist.gov/WMD/. Select Comments from the top menu bar and select whichever 

publication you want to review. You will need to specifically identify the section for comments and 

enter your proposed solution or change. Please read the following additional information about each 

specific topic.

INTERLABORATORY COMPARISONS AND PROFICIENCY TESTS 

For anyone interested in the topic of Proficiency Testing and Interlaboratory Comparisons, NIST’s 

Weights and Measures Division has a PT/ILC quality manual, policy, and tools available here:

http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/labmetrology/roundrobins.cfm

We are working on updating the following two publications and the goal will be to be compliant with the 

newly approved ISO/IEC 17043 standard:

● NIST IR 7082, Proficiency Test Policy Plan 

● NIST IR 7214, Quality Manual For Proficiency Testing and Interlaboratory Comparisons

If you are also a member of NCSL International, work has begun on updating Recommended Practice 15, 

Laboratory Comparisons, (to improve compliance to ISO/IEC 17043). The following message is from 

Mike Cadenhead, the Committee Chair: 

The Working Group for this review/update of RP-15 solicits your comments and suggestions for 

improvement. NCSLI Member Delegates can download the RP-15 from http://www.ncsli.org. 

Once logged in, the member delegate can select “Member Services,” then “Active Member 
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Weights and Measures Connection, Vol. 2, Issue 1 Page 2

Pubs,” then “2011 Member RPs” links. A listing of all RPs will then be provided from which they 

can be viewed on screen or downloaded. Please keep in mind the copyright restrictions for 

NCSLI publications during your review. Post comments here or send me an e-mail. 

This message was posted on the NCSLI Group Discussion page on LinkedIn (which is an Open Group). So, 

you can post there or send Mike an e-mail message: Mike.Cadenhead@afmetcal.af.mil

Access to the NCSLI Group page does not require membership in NCSLI and we have provided copies of 

RP 15 to State labs in prior training seminars. (If you can’t find it or don’t have it, you will need to obtain 

it from NCSLI and not NIST). 

NIST HANDBOOK 105-1, CLASS F FIELD STANDARD WEIGHTS 

We are seeking your input about the planned update for NIST Handbook 105-1, for Field Standard Class 

F Weights. This standard was last updated in 1990 and other than a desire to harmonize compliance to 

international standards, little input has been received on this document since it was last updated. There 

are several approaches that have been regularly suggested that will impact how we approach preparing 

a first draft for review. These are the following options we are considering. 

1. Withdraw/rescind NIST Handbook 105-1 in favor of OIML R111 adoption. 

2. Adopt specific classes of OIML R111 into NIST Handbook 105-1.

3. Revise Handbook 105-1 with as much harmonization to the OIML R111 standard as 

practical/reasonable. 

Please submit your opinions on your preferred approach at a short evaluation here: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/105-1WeightsReview. This survey will end by April 1, 2011. So, 

please submit your input to help guide the direction we take. 

To see a copy of the current Handbook 105-1 for Field Standard Class F weights, you can get it here: 

http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/pubs/handbooks.cfm.

Please submit specific technical comments about handbook sections and changes you would like to see 

in the document through the NIST Weights and Measures Contact Management System. Please do not 

send comments on the survey or document via e-mail - it will save us a lot of time and effort!

NIST HANDBOOK 143, STATE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES LABORATORIES, PROGRAM HANDBOOK

We are also considering updates to NIST Handbook 143 at this time. This is the Program Handbook by 

which the NIST Weights and Measures Division Recognizes State Laboratories and issues certificates of 

Measurement Traceability to support your programs. You can get a copy of the current or past 

Handbooks here: http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/pubs/handbooks.cfm or here: 

http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/labmetrology/lab-resources.cfm (see Related Links for PDF or DOC 

versions).

The international standard, ISO/IEC 17025, on which this handbook is based, was recently re-approved 

without change, which means it will be in place for another five years with no new requirements. So, for 
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sections 4 and 5, we can only accept input on the WMD Notes on interpretation or application as that 

specific section is based on the documentary standard. The remaining sections can be changed, 

modified, and updated as appropriate. The technical sections are nearly identical to what is currently in 

the NVLAP Handbook 150-2g (NVLAP will be updating the 150-2 handbooks in the near future to reflect 

requirements.) If you would like to be a part of any of the working groups that review survey responses, 

comments, and drafts, and help to prepare various drafts and responses to comments, please send an email to: gharris@nist.gov and let me know. 

Please be assured that everyone will have an opportunity to provide input on near-final and final drafts 

before they are published, and we will post/send notices of the status through various email/website/newsletter/organizational media.]