and what can the manufacturer of such a device do if they want an NTEP certificate? As noted ear - lier in this column, NTEP must first make sure the device in question definitively falls under a code in NIST Handbook 44 and that there is an applicable checklist in NCWM Publication 14. If not, NTEP ad- ministration must reject the requested application. If NCWM believes a new technology or device war- rants the development of evaluation criteria, NTEP can be directed to assist in that endeavor by form- ing and supporting a Work Group whose focus is the development of the necessary documents or supporting the effort through one of the NTEP Technical Sectors. Hopefully, this article has helped eliminate some of the confusion and answer questions that may have been on your mind. If you have additional ques- tions or would like to discuss the content of this article, contact Darrell Flocken at darrell.flocken@ ncwm.com
criteria exist in NIST Handbook 44 (e.g. electronic scales); and to new technologies or device applica- tions where the development of criteria is deemed necessary. In general, type evaluations will be conducted on all equipment that affect the measurement process or the validity of the transaction (e.g. electronic cash registers interfaced with scales and service station consoles interfaced with retail fuel dispensers); and all equipment to the point of the first indicated or re - corded representation of the final quantity on which the transaction will be based.” The first two sentences in the first paragraph acknowledge that not all devices will be evaluated. Typical examples are timing devices, odometers, and linear measures. In order for NTEP to evaluate a device, there must be an applicable code in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44 and a formal NTEP device evaluation technical policy and checklist. As we know, weights and measures officials are accustomed to performing initial and subsequent verifications on devices and main elements of devices traceable to an NTEP Certificate of Con - formance (CC). However, that is not true for all devices. There are always exceptions when it is deemed necessary and appropriate. For example, recently, NTEP worked with manufacturers of a product dispensing device to bring it into compli- ance with NIST Handbook 44 scales code. The device was originally labeled a product vending machine and was turned away by NTEP because the device did not fit under any code in NIST Hand - book 44. After the device manufacturer made some modifications to the device’s operation, it became a weighing device / point-of-sale system. Some peo- ple are stating the project is a significant example of NCWM and NTEP working in professional co- operation with stakeholders to help develop device and evaluation criteria for devices not specifically mentioned in any of the NIST Handbook 44 codes. There are other reasons why NTEP does not eval- uate all devices. First, NTEP does not have the resources to evaluate all types of devices subject to Handbook 44 regulation. There are a limited number of labs and evaluators. Second, some de- vices are subject to such a simple test, e.g., timing devices, that they can be effectively controlled by field enforcement testing. So how does NTEP make these kinds of decisions
NTEP Column The National Type Evaluation Program does not Evaluate and Issue Certificates fo All Types of Devices -- Why Not? Darrell Flocken, NTEP Administrator
We should first look at the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) Publication 14, NTEP Administrative Policy, Section 3, titled “ De- vices to be Submitted for Type Evaluation ”. The first two paragraphs of this section state: “More equipment is subject to weights and measures enforcement than is subject to NTEP evaluation. The additional equipment is controlled through routine field inspections. The scope of NTEP evaluations is typically limited to devices for which formal type evaluation criteria exist; to devices for which definitive
Portions of this article were originally written by Mr. James Truex and published in a 2018 NCWM News- letter to help explain why the National Type Evalu- ation Program (NTEP) does not evaluate all types of devices. Recently, NTEP has been contacted by manufacturers of water dispensers, drinks dispens- ers, and cordage measures devices and it seems appropriate to share the information from the origi- nal article as many want to know why NTEP has rejected these requests. We will attempt to explain the rationale for those decisions in this article.
4 NCWM-News
NCWM-News 5
2022 Issue 3
2022 Issue 3
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