1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 19November 19 73
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to material measures of length
(73/362/EEC)
(OJ L 335, 5.12.1973, p. 56)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Council Directive 78/629/EEC of 19 June 1978 L 206 8 29.7.1978
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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 19November 19 73
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
material measures of length
(73/362/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament;Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee;
Whereas in the Member States the construction and methods of control
of material measures of length are subject to mandatory provisionswhich differ from one Member State to another and consequently hindertrade in such measures; whereas it is therefore necessary to approximatethese provisions;
Whereas the Council Directive of 26 July 1971 (
1) on the approximation
of the laws of the Member States relating to provisions both for
measuring instruments and methods of metrological control has laiddown the EEC pattern approval and EEC initial verification proceduresfor measuring instruments; whereas in accordance with that Directive,the technical requirements should be laid down which must be fulfilled
by material measures of length in order that they may be imported,
marketed and freely used after they have been subject to controls and themarks and symbols laid down have been affixed to them,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
This Directive applies to the material measures of length specified in the
Annex.
Article 2
Those instruments for measuring length which may bear EEC marks and
symbols are described in the Annex. They shall be subject to EECpattern approval and shall be submitted to EEC initial verification.
Article 3
No Member State may refuse, prohibit or restrict the placing on the
market or entry into service of material measures of length bearing theEEC pattern approval symbol and the EEC initial verification mark.
Article 4
1. Member States shall put into force the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions needed in order to comply with this Directive
within eighteen months of its notification, and shall forthwith inform the
Commission thereof.
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the main provisions of
national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive arecommunicated to the Commission.1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ No L 202, 6. 9. 1971, p. 1.
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Article 5
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 3
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ANNEX
1.Definitions
1.1. Material measures of length hereinafter called ‘measures of length’ are
instruments comprising scale-marks whose distances are given in legal
units of length.
1.2. The ‘nominal length’ of a measure of length is the length by which that
measure is designated.
1.3. The principal scale-marks are the two marks whose distance apart
represents the ‘nominal length’ of the measure.
1.4. The scale of the measure of length is formed by the principal scale-marks
and the other marks.
1.5. A measure of length is described as:
1.5.1. — an end measure when the principal scale-marks are formed by
two surfaces;
1.5.2. — a line measure when the principal scale-marks are formed by
two lines, holes or marks;
1.5.3. — a composite measure when one of the principal scale-marks is a
surface and the other a line, hole or mark.
2.Materials
Measures of length and their supplementary appliances shall be made of
materials which are sufficiently durable, stable and resistant to environmental
influences under normal conditions of use.
The qualities of the materials used must be such that:
2.1. in normal use at temperatures not more than 8 ºC above or below the
reference temperature, variations in length are not greater than the
maximum permissible errors.
2.2. for measures which have to be used under a specified tractive force, an
increase or decrease of 10 % in that force does not produce a variation in
length exceeding the maximum permissible error.
3.Construction
3.1. Measures of length and their supplementary appliances shall be well and
solidly constructed and carefully finished.
3.2. The transverse section of measures of length shall be of such dimensions
and shape that, under normal conditions of use, it enables measurements
to be made with the accuracy required for the class of accuracy to which
the measure in question belongs.
3.3. The terminal surfaces of end measures of length shall be flat. These
terminal surfaces and the lines must be perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis of the measure.
3.4. The terminal surfaces of end or composite measures, made of wood or
other material of durability equal to or less than that of wood shall be
formed by a band or tip which is resistant to wear and impact and suitably
fixed to the measure.
3.5. Supplementary appliances, such as one or more fixed or movable hooks,
rings, handles, plates, pins, tongues, winders, or verniers, which facilitate
the use of the measure and extend its use, are permissible on condition
that they cannot cause confusion. They shall be designed and fixed to the
measure in such a way that in normal conditions of use, they cannot in
practice increase the inaccuracy of measurement.1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 4
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3.6. Tape measures shall be made so that when the tape is stretched out on a
flat surface its edges are practically straight and parallel.
3.7. The winding appliances of tape measures shall be made in such a way
that they do not cause any permanent deformation of the tape.
4.Graduation and numbering
4.1. Along their nominal length, measures of length shall carry clear, regular
and indelible graduation and numbering, so as to enable a sure, simple
and unambiguous reading to be made. However, some non-numbered
scale marks, not exceeding the number of scale marks between two
consecutive numbered scale marks on the measure, may extend beyond
the principal scale mark at the end of the measure.
4.2. The value of the scale interval shall be in the form 1 × 10n,2×1 0nor
5×1 0nmetres, the power of ‘n’ being a positive or negative whole
number or zero.
It shall, at most, be equal to:
— 1 cm on measures of a nominal length less than or equal to 2 mm,
— 10 cm if the nominal length is over 2 m and less than 10 m,
— 20 cm if the nominal length is over or equal to 10 m and less than
50 m,
— 50 cm if the nominal length is over or equal to 50 m.
However these values may be exceeded for specific uses subject to
justification at the time of requesting pattern approval and the indication
on the measure of the specific use for which it is reserved.
4.3. When the scale marks are lines, these shall be straight, perpendicular to
the axis of the measure of length and all of the same thickness, constant
throughout their length. The length of the lines shall be related to the
corresponding unit of measurement. The lines shall be such that they
form a distinct and clear scale and that their thickness does not cause any
inaccuracy of measurement.
4.4. Certain sections of the scale, especially towards the ends, may be
subdivided into decimal submultiples of the scale-interval adopted for the
whole measure. In that case, the thickness of the lines may be less in the
areas of reduced scale-intervals than in the rest of the measure.
4.5. The scale-marks may also be formed by holes if the value of the scale-
interval is above or equal to one centimetre, or by other marks if the value
of the scale-interval is above or equal to one decimetre, provided that
these marks ensure a sufficiently exact reading, taking into account the
class of accurary to which the measure belongs.
4.6. The numbering may be continuous or repetitive. In the case referred to in
item 4.4 the numbering in the areas of reduced scale-interval may be
different from that of the rest of the measure. The position, size, shape,
colour and contrast of the numbers shall be adapted to the scale and to the
scale-marks to which they relate.
Whatever the value of the scale-interval fixed in item 4.2 the numbered
scale-marks shall he numbered in metres, in decimetres, in centimetres or
in millimetres without indication of the corresponding symbol.
The number of numbered scale-marks shall be such that the reading is not
ambiguous.
When the numbering unit is other than the metre, the metre scale-marks
may however be numbered in metres. The numbers of the metres shall
then be followed by the symbol ‘m’.
In addition, the number of preceding metres may be repeated in the same
way in front of the other numbered scale-marks.
When the value of the interval of a scale with lines is in the form of 2 × 10n
and not less than 2 centimetres, all the scale-marks shall be numbered.
4.7. When a measure carries more than one scale, the scale-intervals may be
different, and the numbering may increase in the same direction or the
opposite direction.1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 5
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5.Nominal length
5.1. The nominal length of the measures shall be one of the following values:
0·5, 1, 1·5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 m or a multiple of 5 m.
5.2. However, other values may be authorized for specific uses provided that
the need to use a measure of such nominal length is justified at the time
of the request for pattern approval, and that the specific use for which it is
reserved is indicated on the measure.
5.3. Some of the nominal lengths in subparagraph 5.1 are not allowed for the
measures referred to in paragraph 9.4.2.
6.Inscriptions
6.1. The following inscriptions shall appear on measures of length:
6.1.1. Inscriptions, compulsory in all cases:
6.1.1.1. nominal length;
6.1.1.2. manufacturer's identification mark or his trade name;6.1.1.3. indication of the class of accuracy: I, II or III;6.1.1.4. EEC pattern approval sign.
6.1.2. Inscriptions, compulsory in certain cases:
6.1.2.1. reference temperature if it is other than 20 ºC;
6.1.2.2. tractive force;
6.1.2.3. specific use for which the measure is reserved in the cases
provided for in points 4.2 and 5.2.
6.2. The nominal length, the tension and the temperature shall be expressed in
units of measurement authorized by the Council Directive of 18 October
1971 (
1) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating
to units of measurement, or in one of their decimal multiples or
submultiples, followed by the corresponding legal symbol.
6.3. All these inscriptions shall be given visibly and legibly, starting at the
beginning of the measure.
However, in agreement with the national authority concerned, certain
inscriptions may appear on an integral part of the instrument. In this case,
the EEC pattern approval certificate shall state where these inscriptions
are to be placed.
Furthermore, where the width of the measure of length does not enable
the EEC pattern approval sign to appear legibly, that sign may appear,
notwithstanding the provisions of point 3.1 of Annex I to the Council
Directive of 26 July 1971 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring
instruments and methods of metrological control, and in accordance with
point 3.5 of this Annex, in the form of the following signs, arranged in
succession:
— the stylized letter ε,
— the distinguishing letter(s) of the Member State which has granted
EEC pattern approval,
— the last two digits of the year of EEC pattern approval,
— the reference number of the EEC pattern approval, (e.g. εF 75 5345).
6.4. At the sole responsibility of the manufacturer, the coefficient of linear
thermal expansion of the material of which the measure is made, in the
form: α= …, may be indicated.
6.5. In addition, measures may bear other details of a non-metrological nature
otherwise laid down by regulation or authorized by the competent
national authority.
6.6. If the inscriptions are not in code, they shall be expressed in the official
languages of the Member States of destination.
6.7. Advertising inscriptions may appear on measures of length provided that
their positioning satisfies the provisions laid down in point 6.8.1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 6
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6.8. The inscriptions, including advertising inscriptions, shall be arranged in
such a way that they in no way interfere with the use of the instrument as
a measure. The obligatory inscriptions, with the exception of the EEC
pattern approval sign, and the location of advertising inscriptions shall
appear on the model which is the subject of the EEC pattern approval.
7.Maximum permissible errors
7.1. The measures of length defined in this Directive shall be divided into
three classes, designated I, II and III, according to their degree of
accuracy.
On EEC initial verification of measures of length, the maximum
permissible error, plus or minus:
(a) on the nominal length, and
(b) on the distance between any two non-consecutive scale marks,
shall be expressed as a function of the length in question by a formula in
the form (a + bL) mm in which:
— L is the length in question, rounded up to the next whole metre above,
— a and b are coefficients fixed for each class of accuracy according to
the following table:
Class of accuracy a b
I 0·1 0·1
II 0·3 0·2
III 0·6 0·4
7.2.
7.2.1. The maximum permissible error, plus or minus, on the length i of
the intervals not exceeding 1 cm shall be fixed for each class of
accuracy according to the following table:
Length i of the interval in
questionMaximum permissible error (in mm)
for class of accuracy
I II III
i≤1 mm 0·1 0·2 0·3
1m m< i ≤1 cm 0·2 0·4 0·6
In the case of intervals exceeding 1 cm, the maximum permissible
error shall be expressed as a function of the length of the interval
by the formula (a + bL) mm, where the values of the parameters a
and b are equal to those given in point 7.1 and where L is the
length in question, rounded up to the next whole metre above.
7.2.2. The maximum permissible difference between the lengths i of two
consecutive intervals not exceeding 1 cm shall be fixed for each
class of accuracy according to the following table:
Length i of the interval in
questionMaximum permissible difference (in
mm) for class of accuracy
I II III
i≤1 mm 0·1 0·2 0·3
1m m< i ≤1 cm 0·2 0·4 0·6
In the case of intervals exceeding 1 cm, the maximum permissible
difference between the lengths i of two consecutive intervals shall
be expressed as a function of the length of the interval by the
formula (a + bL) mm, as defined in point 7.2.1.1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 7
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7.3. However, for an end or composite measure of length, the maximum
permissible error, plus or minus, on the length of the terminal interval
bounded by a surface shall be increased:
— by 0·1 mm for measures of class I,
— by 0·2 mm for measures of class II,
— by 0·3 mm for measures of class III.
Moreover, the provisions set out in points 7.1 and 7.2.2 do not apply:
— when one of the non-consecutive scale-marks as referred to in point
7.1 (b) is formed by a surface, and
— when one of the two consecutive intervals as referred to in point 7.2.2
is a terminal interval bounded by a surface.
7.4. The maximum permissible error for measures in service shall be equal to
twice the maximum permissible error in the initial verification fixed in
paragraph 7.1.
7.5. The maximum permissible errors shall be subject to the following
reference conditions:
7.5.1. The reference temperature shall normally be 20 ºC. However, for
certain measures specified in item 9 below, a different reference
temperature may exceptionally be adopted.
7.5.2. Measures of length for which a tractive force is indicated in item 9
below, shall undergo tests, sustained over the whole length under
inspection, in practice without friction, on a horizontal plane and
under the tractive force indicated on the measure.
8.Verification marks
Every measure of length shall be made so that it can accommodate the
verification marks laid down by the Council Directive of 26 July 1971 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common
provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological
control. A place near the beginning of the measure shall be provided for this
purpose on the measure itself or on an integral additional device.
9.Different kinds of measures of length referred to by the Directive
9.1. End, line or composite tape measures made of fibreglass and plastics
Nominal length between 0·5 and 100 m.
The tractive force, of about 20 N, shall be shown on the measure.
The free ends of end and composite measures shall be provided with a
band or tip resistant to wear.
These measures shall belong to class of accuracy I, II or III.
9.2. Measures made in one piece, rigid or semi-rigid, in metal or other
material
Nominal length between 0·5 and 5 m.
The reference temperature may, in certain cases, be other than 20 ºC.These measures also include dipsticks used for checking the level of
liquids.
The end of a rigid dipstick shall be provided with a butt or tip resistant to
impact and wear. It shall not cause sparking on impact.
These measures shall belong to class of accuracy I or II.
9.3. Folding measures made of metal or other material.
Nominal length between 0·5 and 5 metres.
The parts shall have equal lengths between joints.Their jointing and their alignment in the open position shall be ensured by
an effective device so constructed as not to cause an additional error at
the joint exceeding 0·3 mm, for measures in classes of accuracy I and II
and 0·5 mm for measures in class III.
These measures shall belong to classes of accuracy I, II or III.1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 8
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9.4. Steel tape measures
9.4.1. End, line or composite measures on a winder.
Nominal length between 0·5 and 10 m; the blades of measures
between 5 and 10 m shall be of a cambered cross-section.
These measures may be contained in a case, one of whose
dimensions may be included in the part used for measuring,
particularly for measuring internal dimensions; the free end of
these measures shall be provided with a fixed or sliding hook or
tongue.
These measures shall belong to class of accuracy I or II.
9.4.2. End or line measures, designed for measuring lengths greater than
the nominal length of the measure.
Nominal length: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 or 200 m.
The tractive force, of about 50 N, shall be shown on the measure.
These measures shall be equipped with handles or rings at the two
ends.
If the handles are included in the nominal length, they shall be
constructed in such a way that their jointing does not introduce any
inaccuracy of measurement.
These measures shall belong to class of accuracy I or II.
9.4.3. Line or composite measures on a winder not designed for the
measuring of lengths greater than the nominal length.
Nominal length between 5 and 200 m.
The reference temperature may, in certain cases, be other than
20 ºC.
The tractive force, of about 50 N, shall be shown on the measure.
The free end shall include a handle, ring or hook which shall not
be included in the nominal length.
These measures shall belong to class of accuracy I or II.
9.5. Composite dip-tapes made of metal, with sinkers, used for checking the
level of liquids
Nominal length between 5 and 50 m.
The reference temperature may, in certain cases, be other than 20 ºC.The tractive force, sufficient to stretch the tape correctly, must be shown
on the measure.
This tractive force shall be exerted on the measure with the aid of a sinker
which must bear an indication of its mass.
The principal scale mark, beginning the scale, shall be constituted by the
base of a sinker of appropriate shape and of a material not liable to cause
sparking on impact.
The sinker shall be attached to the tape in a fixed or detachable way so
that this attachment or jointing does not introduce any inaccuracy of
measurement.
The entire length of the tape shall be graduated in millimetres and the
graduation shall continue on one flat side of the sinker.
The other end of the measure may be equipped with a winder.
These measures shall belong to class of accuarcy I or II.However, the maximum permissible error of the instrument in position
for use with the sinker shall never be less than 0·6 mm.1973L0362 — EN — 22.06.1978 — 001.001 — 9