Inside this Issue

Page

Weights and Measures, A Tribute 1

U.S. National Work Group on Measuring Systems for Electric Vehicle Fueling and Submetering 2

NIST Launches New Website to Educate Industry About Alternatives to

Mercury Thermometers 4

Calendar 2

This Month in

History

March 1, 1781 - The Articles of Confederation

was formally ratified making Congress the

sole governing body of the new American

government. These articles remained in effect until 1789, when the U.S. Consitution

was adopted.

March 1, 1961 - President John F. Kennedy

established the Peace Corps.

March 2, 1793 - Sam Houston (1793 - 1863),

born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, was an

American soldier, Congressman, and Governor of Texas.

March 10, 1862 - The U.S. government issued

itsfirst paper money in denominations of $5,

$10, and $20 bills.

March 20, 2013 - Spring Arrives at 7:02 a.m.

(EDT) in the Northern Hemisphere.

March 23, 1775 - Patrick Henry gave his famous speech before the Virginia Convention

in Richmond with cry of, “I know not what

course others may take; but as for me, give

me liberty or give me death!”

1

Volume 4 Issue 1

March 1, 2013

Weights and Measures

A Tribute

Byline: Ivan Hankins (2013)

Iowa Weights & Measures

In the course of human history, WEIGHTS and MEASURES has been proven

to be an indispensable necessity for life on this planet. From the time you

were weighed at birth, to the measure of embalming fluid used before you

are buried.

Everyday life “requires” this process to keep our society strong.

The majority of people take for granted that everything we purchase, or use,

is accurate and correct.

So who does this? Who are the ones in society that “regulate” this?

You are, the Weights and Measures Inspector.

In the world of Weights and Measures, we few,select individuals are charged

with the responsibility of keeping this essential process running.

We come from all walks of life, with the one unified goal, EQUITY.

Equity needed to “maintain a reasonable or accustomed standard of living.”

Basically, we are men and women who are dedicated to what is fair.

Our jobs are not only to protect the consumer from an unscrupulousretailer,

but to assure that the mega manufacturer isn’t selling themselves short.

You are the only individuals who truly possess and understand the complexity

Celebrating

Weights and Measures

Week

March 1 - 7, 2013
Calendar 2013

Registration for training in the NIST Office of

Weights and Measures is handled by Yvonne

Branden at yvonne.branden@nist.gov.

Course descriptions can be viewed on the Office of Weights and Measures website by

clicking on the name of the course.

http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/calendar.cfm

March 13

USNWG on Taximeters

Web-Conference, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

Mr. John Barton @ john.barton@nist.gov

April 4

Proficiency Testing Follow-up and Root Cause

Analysis

Webinar, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5238

April 8 - 11 (4 days)

SEMAP*

Class No. 5209

Tifton, GA

April 9 - 11 (3 days)

Packaging and Labeling Seminar

Class No. 5224

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

April 15 - 19 (5 days)

Fundamentals of Metrology

Class No. 5208

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

April 22 - 26 (5 days)

Vehicle-Tank and Loading-Rack Meters

Class No. 5268

Olympia, WA

April 23 - 25 (3 days)

Grain Moisture Meter Technical Training

Class No. 5264

Kansas City, MO

April 25

Conducting an Effective Management Review

Webinar, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5253

May 2

Internal Auditing Best Practices

Webinar, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Class No. 5234

May 6 - 10 (5 days)

WRAP*

Class No. 5216 , Helena, MT

May 6 - 9 (4 days)

Northeast Weights and Measures Association

(NEWMA)

Saratoga Springs, NY

(con’d pg 3)

W&M Connection 2 Volume 4 Issue 1

of this process. You are the Weights and Measures Inspector.

To you, inspecting is not simply “pump and dump” or “pass or fail”. To you, it

is a measure of pride in doing what is right, and what is expected. Plus, you

continue to grow by obtaining the necessary knowledge to accomplish your

never ending, ever changing, and oft times thankless mission.

So to all that have come before, and to all that hold, and will hold the title of

WEIGHTS and MEASURES INSPECTOR, I raise my glass (12 oz) and offer up a

toast,

“to Equity in the marketplace” brought to you by (drum roll please)

The Weights and Measures Inspectors across the globe!

Hang in there,

and I for one, salute you.

NIST, Office of Weights and Measures would like to thank Ivan for his contribution to Weights and Measures Week and for allowing usto publish his work.

U.S. National Work Group

on Measuring Systems

for Electric Vehicle 

Fueling and Submetering 

In August 2012, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),

Office of Weights and Measures(OWM) formed the U.S. National Work Group

on Measuring Systems for Electric Vehicle Fueling and Submetering (USNWG

EVF&S) to develop proposed requirements for commercial electricity - measuring devices (including those used in sub-metering electricity at residential

and business locations and those used to measure and sell electricity dispensed as a vehicle fuel) and to ensure that the prescribed methodologies

and standardsfacilitate measurementsthat are traceable to the International

System of Units (SI). This work is not intended to address utility metering in

the home or business where the metered electricity is consumed by the end

purchaser and falls under the authority of entities such as the local utility

commission.

On August 29, 2012, the USNWG held its first meeting via web conference.

During this meeting, USNWG administrative issues and structure were covered.

In November 2012, OWM prepared and distributed draft proposals for

method of sale requirements (for inclusion in NIST Handbook 130, Uniform

Laws and Regulationsin the Areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality)

and a device code (for inclusion in NIST Handbook 44, Specifications, Toler-
Contact: James Cassidy at jcassidy@cam- bridgema.gov

May 13 - 24 (2 weeks)

Mass Metrology Seminar

Class No. 5217

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

May 20 - 23

Central Weights and Measures Association

(CWMA)

Overland Park, KS

Contact: Maureen Henzler at

maureen.henzler@kda.ks.gov

June 17

Webinar Week - NIST IR 6969, SOP 8, Part I

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Class No. 5239

June 17

Webinar Week - Uncertainty Budgets for

SOP 4

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class No. 5257

June 18

Webinar Week - Conducting an Effective

Management Review

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Class No. 5240

June 18

Webinar Week - NIST IR 6969, SOP 8, Part II

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5241

June 19

Webinar Week - NIST IR 7383, SOP 18, Part I

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Class No. 5242

June 19

Webinar Week - Uncertainty Budgets for

SOP 5

2:00 p.m. to 4: 00 p.m.

Class No. 5258

June 20

Webinar - Uncertainty Budgets for SOP 19

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Class No. 5259

June 20

Webinar Week - NIST IR 7383, SOP 18,

Part II

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class 5243

June 21

Webinar Week - Calibration Report Evalua- tion

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Class No. 5244

(con’d pg 4)

W&M Connection 3 Volume 4 Issue 1

ances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices) to USNWG members.

Based on comments received, OWM prepared updated drafts of these proposals and distributed them at a second USNWG meeting held January 15 -

17, 2013, at NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Of the 39 total attendees, 21

attended in person, while 18 attended online. Attendees included representatives from:

• vehicle charging equipment and electric meter manufacturers,

• state and local weights and measures jurisdictions,

• energy distribution companies and service providers,

• national laboratories,

• technical committees (e.g., the ANSI C12 Chair),

• standards organizations (i.e., UL and NEMA), and

• NIST, OWM and NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Panel.

After reviewing and revising the method ofsale proposal during the meeting,

the USNWG voted 12 to 1 to recommend to the National Conference on

Weights and Measures (NCWM) Laws and Regulation (L&R) Committee that

the proposal be presented for voting. The USNWG recognized that some

members need to further vet the revised proposal within their organizations,

but expects this process to be complete within the next few weeks. Any

changes would be forwarded to the L&R Committee in time for inclusion in

the NCWM Publication 16. The USNWG will continue itsreview of the device

code at its next meeting, which will be scheduled via web conference in the

near future.

During the meeting, a subcommittee to develop methods and equipment

needsfor field testing electric vehicle (EV) charging devices was also formed.

The USNWG encourages review and input on the draft MOS proposal as well

as the draft device code.

Additional information can be obtained fromthe Technical Advisor, Mr. Marc Buttler, NIST, OWM telephone: (301) 975-4615; e-mail: marc.buttler@nist.gov, or

the work group; or the work group Chair, Ms. Juana Williams, NIST, OWM telephone: (301) 975-3989; e-mail: juana.williams@nist.gov.

The Office of Weights and Measures

will glady include your weights and measures related events in

our calendar.

Contact the Editor: Linda.Crown@nist.gov
W&M Connection 4 Volume 4 Issue 1

June 21

Webinar Week - Uncertainty Budgets for

SOP 14

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class No. 5254

July 14 - 18

NCSL International

Nashville, TN

Contact: info@ncsli.org

July 14 - 18

NCWM Annual Conference

Louisville, KY

Contact: info@ncwm.net

August 1

Webinar - Calibration Report Evaluation

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5245

August 8

Webinar - Contract Review

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5246

August 12 - 16

Handbook 133, Checking the Net Contents

of Packaged Goods

Class No. 5261

Scramento, CA

August 15

Webinar - Document Control and Recordkeeping

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5247

August 19 - 23 (5 days)

Fundamentals of Metrology

Class No. 5248

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

September 9 - 13

NEMAP* Class No. 5218

Harrisburg, PA

September 16 - 20

MidMAP* Class No. 5219

Springfield, IL

September 22 - 26

Western Weights and Measures Association

(WWMA)

Kalispell, MT

Contact: Doug Deiman at

doug.deiman@alaska.gov

September 23 - 27

SWAP*

Class No. 5220

Phoenix, AZ

(con’d pg 5)

NIST LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE TO

EDUCATE INDUSTRY ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO MERCURY

THERMOMETERS

Byline: Mark Esser, NIST

As part of a larger effort to reduce the amount of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, in the environment, the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST) haslaunched a new website (www.nist.gov/pml/mercury.cfm) to help

industry scientists and engineers decide the best temperature measurement

alternative for their purposes. The website also includes information about

myths pertaining to mercury and temperature measurement and how to

safely package and recycle mercury-containing products.

NIST stopped providing calibration services for mercury thermometers on

March 1, 2011. This was motivated in part by NIST’s work with the Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate as many sources of mercury in the environment as possible.

According to Greg Strouse, leader of NIST’s temperature, pressure and vacuum programs, mercury thermometers are neither a superior nor a standard

method for measuring temperature.

“We haven’t used mercury thermometers as a calibration standard since 1927

when the platinum resistance thermometer standard was adopted,” says

Strouse. “Our goal with this new website is to show that there is a temperature-sensing technology that willsatisfy their needs as well as, or better than,

a mercury thermometer, all without the added liability of containing a neurotoxin that is hugely expensive to clean up if released into the environment.”

According to NIST researcher Dawn Cross, industrialscientists commonly object to replacing their mercury thermometers because they have grown accustomed to getting the same answer from their mercury thermometers over

the years, even if it is less accurate than can be provided by modern digital

thermometers.

“Some people who are used to using mercury thermometers think that they

define temperature, and this simply isn’t true,” Cross says. “Graduations on

a piece of glass filled with a fluid can never give as accurate a reading as a

digital thermometer, based on how the conductivity of metals change as a

function of temperature,something we know and can characterize very, very

well.” Con’d pg 5
W&M Connection 5 Volume 4 Issue 1

October 7 - 9

Southern Weights and Measures Association

(SWMA)

Charleston, WV

Contact: Steve Benjamin at

steve.benjamin@ncagr.gov

October 10

Webinar - State Laboratory Annual Submis- sion Process* 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class No. 5249

October 21 - November 1 (2 weeks)

Mass Metrology Seminar

Class No. 5250

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

October 31

Webinar - Internal Auditing Best Practices

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class No. 5251

November 18 - 22 (5 days)

Volume Metrology Seminar

Class No. 5252

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

2014

January13-17(5days)

FundamentalsofMetrology Seminar

ClassNo.not available

NIST/Gaithersburg,MD

January19-22(4days)

National Conference on Weights and Measures

(NCWM)InterimMeeting

Albuquerque,NM

info@ncwm.net

February6

Webinar-ConductinganEffectiveManagementReview

2:00p.m.to4:00p.m.

ClassNo. 5255

*InvitationOnly

**LimitedtoStateLaboratoryProgramParticipants

Cross points out that other thermometers based on the principle of thermal

expansion of a fluid, such as alcohol, are not hopelessly inaccurate. In fact,

they are as accurate as mercury thermometers and are suitable forsome applications that don’t require stringent temperature control. For example, alcohol thermometers might be suitable for measuring the temperature of

gasoline and other fuels, but they would be unsuitable for monitoring the

temperature of vaccines, the viability of which relies on strict control of their

temperature.

Visit the website at www.nist.gov/pml/mercury.cfm for more information

about how NIST can help your industry find an accurate, non toxic and environmentally benign alternative to mercury thermometers.

Media Contact: Mark Esser, mark.esser@nist.gov, (301) 975-8735

Source: Tech Beat, June 12, 2012

Link to original article: www.nist.gov/public_affairs/tech-beat/index.cfm

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

IN THE NEWS

Nebraska - Omaha.com

Credit Card Scam at Omah Gas Pumps

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130130/NEWS/701319970

Wisconsin - Chicago Tribune

Kraft Cited Again for Short-Weight Products

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-kraft-citedagain-for-shortweight-products-20130130,0,1659920.story

New York - pressconnects.com

Fueling surprise: Study shows when Broome pumps go bad, you usually benefit

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20130119/NEWS01/301190043/

Fueling-surprise-Study-shows-when-Broome-pumps-go-bad-you-usuallybenefit?odyssey=mod|dnmiss|umbrella|1

United Kingdom - The Economist

Mass effect: A better way to clean the world’s one true kilogram

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21569360-

better-way-clean-worlds-one-true-kilogram-mass-effect

Spring is Almost

Here!