GEN-47—Requirements for the examination of devices at secondary locations

Category: Bulletin
Issue date: February 16, 2022
Effective date: February 16, 2022
Revision number: Rev. 2
Supersedes: GEN-47 (rev. 1)

Table of contents

1.0 Scope

This bulletin applies to examinations of weighing and measuring devices performed at a location other than the final installation location of the device (i.e. a secondary location).

2.0 Purpose

This bulletin provides guidance to Measurement Canada inspectors and recognized technicians employed by authorized service providers (ASPs) who conduct examinations at secondary locations to ensure that:

  • devices are correctly marked
  • the correct device type and trade sector are captured in Measurement Canada's Online Reporting Application (ORA)
  • the correct final installation location of devices is captured in ORA

3.0 References

4.0 Definitions

Device transfer
(transfert d’instrument)
The process of transferring device information, in Measurement Canada's Online Reporting Application, from a person or an establishment in possession of a device to a new person or establishment.
Examination
(examen)
Testing of a device to determine if it meets the requirements of the Weights and Measures Act and Regulations. Examinations can only be carried out by Measurement Canada inspectors or authorized service providers. Examinations were previously referred to as inspections.
Examination mark
(marque d’examen)
A mark that indicates the year a device was initially examined. The mark is applied to a device after being found compliant during an initial examination.
Examination sticker
(étiquette d’examen)
A self-adhesive sticker that indicates the month and year in which a device was examined and, if applicable, the month and year of the next examination.
Intermediary
(intermédiaire)
A person or business that takes possession of and/or stores a weighing or measuring device, but is not a trader as defined in the Weights and Measures Act (e.g. a device distributor or installation contractor). Shipping and delivery businesses are not considered intermediaries
Mandatory periodic examination
(examen périodique obligatoire)
An examination carried out at prescribed intervals.
Next examination due date
(date d'échéance du prochain examen)
The date by which a device must be examined. This date appears on the examination sticker as an expiry date, the device examination certificate and the device transfer notice.
Secondary location
(emplacement secondaire)
Any place other than the final installation location of the weighing and measuring device. This may be a factory, a shop or other place.
Trade sector
(secteur commercial)
An industry sector in which specific commodities are bought and sold on the basis of measure. The terms "marketplace sector" and "category of trade" are also used and have the same meaning.

5.0 Examinations of devices at a secondary location

Inspectors may examine devices at a secondary location provided that the installation or use requirements of the devices do not prohibit it.

Recognized technicians of ASPs cannot examine devices at a secondary location if the final trade sector of use of the devices is not known.

Note: As per bulletin M-23, for gravimetric devices, the Gravity Tolerance Application must be used to confirm adequate calibration.

Following a successful examination, the inspector must:

  1. Generate a certificate in ORA.
  2. Place an examination mark and sticker on the device.
  3. Place copies of the fact sheet on mandatory periodic examinations in the device's shipping box, if applicable (see section 5.3).
  4. Place copies of the instruction sheet for reporting the location of a device in the device's shipping box, if applicable (see section 7.0).

5.1 Generate a certificate in ORA

Inspectors and recognized technicians must be careful to enter the correct device type and trade sector of use in ORA as it will dictate the length of time between mandatory periodic examinations. ASPs may be subject to enforcement actions if their recognized technicians select the wrong device type or trade sector.

Enter the trade sector on the certificate as follows:

  • If the trade sector of use is known, enter the known trade sector.
  • If the trade sector of use for a scale is not known, enter the Mass (9001) trade sector.
  • If the trade sector of use for a volumetric device is not known, enter the most likely trade sector based on the device type.
  • If the trade sector of use for a propane meter is not known, enter the retail petroleum trade sector.

Enter the name and address on the certificate as follows:

  • If the device will be sent to an intermediary, enter the name of the intermediary and the address where the device will be sent or stored.
  • If the final installation location of the device is known and the device will not be sent to an intermediary, enter the name and address of the establishment who will be in possession of the device for use in trade
  • If the final installation location of the device is not known, enter the address of the location where the device was examined or where it will be stored.

The next examination due date (NEDD) will appear on the certificate when the device is required to undergo a mandatory periodic examination. The appendix details how NEDDs are determined. If the device is not subject to mandatory periodic examinations, no NEDD will appear on the certificate.

5.2 Examination mark and sticker

Place an examination mark and an examination sticker on the device following a successful examination.

Examination mark (of a sticker or steel die type)

  • Place the examination mark on or near the plate on the device bearing the device markings.

Note: The prescribed method of marking the device is to use a steel die as it is more durable than a sticker. An examination sticker should only be used when a steel die may not be appropriate because of the possibility of damaging the device.

Examination sticker

  • Indicate the examination and expiration dates. If the device is used in a trade sector that is not subject to mandatory periodic examinations, indicate "N/A".
  • Affix the examination sticker to the device in a place that is visible to the consumer, as per bulletin GEN-48.

5.3 Devices subject to mandatory periodic examinations

If the device is used in a trade sector that is subject to mandatory periodic examinations, place copies of the two-page fact sheet When to get your device examined in the device shipping box, in a prominent place.

Note: This fact sheet is available in English and in French. Copies of both the English and French versions of the fact sheet are to be included. They can each be printed double-sided.

6.0 Device transfers

ASPs must perform a device transfer in ORA when a device examined at a secondary location is sent to an intermediary or to the final installation location, and the information on the device examination certificate is no longer accurate. See the ORA User Manual for instructions on how to perform a device transfer.

If the device is sent to its final installation location, ensure the NEDD on the device transfer notice is the same as the NEDD on the original certificate. If not, place a new examination sticker on the device with the revised NEDD. If there is no NEDD on the device transfer notice, indicate "N/A" on the new examination sticker and place it on the device.

If the device is sent to an intermediary, the NEDD is not updated.

7.0 Devices sent to an intermediary

When a device examined at a secondary location is sent to an intermediary, place copies of the instruction sheet, as indicated below, in a prominent place in the device's shipping box, along with the original certificate.

Note: This sheet is available in English and in French. Recognized technicians are to include copies of both the French and English versions in the shipping box.

8.0 Revisions

The purpose of revision 2 was to:

  • restructure and reword the bulletin to improve clarity;
  • provide a device transfer instruction sheet to be included with devices sent to an intermediary;
  • provide a fact sheet on mandatory examinations to be included with all devices inspected at a secondary location.

The purpose of revision 1 was to update the:

  • example for computing counter scales in section 8.0;
  • instructions for the name on the device examination certificate.

Appendix—Next examination due date

A 1.0 Examination periods

Devices used in the following trade sectors are required to undergo a mandatory periodic examination within the prescribed examination periods shown in Table 1.

  • Dairy
  • Downstream petroleum
  • Fishing
  • Forestry
  • Grain and field crops
  • Mining
  • Retail food
  • Retail petroleum
Table 1: Examination periods
Device Category of trade Period
Weighing machine Wholesale trade of dairy products 2 years
Meter Wholesale trade of dairy products 1 year
Any device Downstream petroleum trade 2 years
Any device Wholesale trade of fishing products 1 year
Weighing machine Trade of forestry products 1 year
Device other than a weighing machine used in a grain elevator licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission Wholesale trade of grain and field crop products and services 2 years
Weighing machine used in a grain elevator licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission Wholesale trade of grain and field crop products and services 1 year
Any device Wholesale trade of mining products 2 years
Any device Retail food trade 5 years
Device other than a propane meter Retail petroleum trade 2 years
Propane meter Retail petroleum trade 1 year

A 2.0 Indication of the next examination due date

After a device is certified, the next examination due date (NEDD) is indicated on the:

  • device examination certificate;
  • examination sticker under "expires".

After a device has been transferred in ORA, the NEDD appears on the device transfer notice.

A 3.0 Determination of the next examination due date

The NEDD is calculated based on the examination periods set out in Schedule 1 of the Weights and Measures Regulations and in Table 1 of this document's appendix.

ORA automatically assigns the NEDD that will appear on the certificate based on the trade sector and device type you select as you enter the examination details. The date punched on the examination sticker is the same as the date that appears on the device examination certificate and in ORA.

A 4.0 Application of the next examination due date

Which NEDD is applied to devices that are used in more than one trade sector?

The NEDD is calculated based on the shortest examination period (see Table 1) for all the trade sectors in which the device could be used.

Which NEDD is applied to devices if the end-user trade sector is unknown at the time of the examination?

The NEDD of a device certified before the sector of use is known is calculated based on the shortest examination period for that device type in any of the categories of trade in Schedule 1 of the Weights and Measures Regulations. For example:

  • Platform scales: 1 year
  • Computing counter scales: 5 years
  • Prepack scales: 1 year
  • Propane meters: 1 year

Note: Where the device is transferred to an intermediary and the trade sector of the end user is still not known, the shortest examination period remains in effect.

What happens if the device is never used in one of the trade sectors subject to mandatory periodic examinations?

A NEDD won't be assigned to devices that are never used in one of the trade sectors subject to mandatory periodic examinations. ORA automatically leaves the NEDD field on the certificate blank. You must affix an examination sticker to the device and punch "N/A".

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