Understanding Legal Metrology & Certified Scale Calibration

Legal metrology is the administration of measuring and weighing through legislation and regulations. It ensures a consistent standard of measure, promoting fairness and establishing confidence between consumers and vendors. Certified scale calibration plays a crucial role in maintaining these standards, ensuring that all measurements are accurate and reliable.

By adhering to these regulations, businesses can guarantee their scales are precise, fostering trust and integrity in their transactions. Whether in retail, manufacturing, or any industry relying on accurate measurements, certified scale calibration is essential for upholding the principles of legal metrology.

The Importance of Legal Metrology

Because it authorizes a standard and precise concept of weight and measures, legal metrology is essential to the equitable sale of goods and the safe combining of products, chemicals, and ingredients. In Canada, weights and measures, and therefore scale calibration, are governed by the Measurement Canada Weights and Measures Act.

It is essential to follow all the regulations of the Act if you sell products by weight in Alberta or elsewhere in Canada. Failing to do so can result in fines and business closures. It can also cost you revenue, because if your business is not using a certified scale, your product may not be at its specified weight. This means you are either over or underselling, both of which affect your bottom line and your reputation. They could also result in customer complaints being made against you to Measurement Canada, which has the authority to investigate complaints and inspect your weighing equipment.

Compliance for Weighing Equipment

Since 2014, it has become a requirement for all weight-based businesses in Alberta and across the country to have their scales and pumps inspected by an authorized Measurement Canada service provider. The regularity of these inspections varies from sector to sector and device to device but ranges from one year to five years. You can find the specific requirements to ensure a certified scale on the Government of Canada website.

Sectors that Require Inspections

You must have a certified scale if you sell within the following sectors:

• Dairy
• Fishing
• Forestry
• Grain and field crops
• Mining
• Oil and gas
• Some retail

Scale Calibration Standards

For a scale to be considered a certified scale in Alberta, it must be serviced and calibrated by Measurement Canada requirements. After device approval, you are responsible for maintaining your weighing equipment through service, scale calibration, and monitoring of accuracy.
It is best to keep your certified scale protected from the elements and only use it to weigh the type of material it is calibrated and designed to weigh.

Where to Find a Measurement Canada Authorized Service Provider in Alberta

If you are looking to rent or buy a certified scale or seeking a scale repair, calibration, or inspection for your weighing equipment, contact Accurate Western Scale.

Located in Calgary, we sell, rent, and repair scales of all kinds, from industrial, heavy-capacity, livestock, and commercial and retail scales. We are at the forefront of smart scales and provide support and sales of software applications for your certified digital scales.