Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations

These Regulations, made under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960 (the Act), set out the Commonwealth’s national legal definitions of measurement units and the legal machinery for maintaining standards of measurement. They do two mechanical things.

First, Part II (Units of Measurement) identifies the permitted units across a wide set of physical quantities, fixes their relationships to specified base units, and declares a number of specific conversion factors to be the legal conversions "for all legal purposes" (see regs 5-76). The Regulations define base units or identify internationally accepted prototypes: the metre (reg 6(1)), the kilogramme as the International prototype kilogramme (reg 12(1)), the second (reg 25(1)), the ampere (reg 50), the candela (regs 66-67) and others. The Schedules list the families of units (length, area, mass/weight, volume, density, time interval, frequency, velocity, acceleration, force, work/energy, power, pressure, viscosity, electric quantities, temperature scales, luminous quantities, illumination and luminance) and provide the numeric relations or symbols to be used (First Schedule through Twenty-third Schedule; see reg 2 and the Schedules).

Second, Part III (Standards of Measurement, regs 77-81) establishes institutional mechanics for verification and reverification of standards of measurement. The Commission (the statutory body under the Act) has power to appoint persons or bodies as verifying authorities (reg 77). Verification and reverification may be performed by the Organization, by an appointed verifying authority, or under the supervision of a verifying authority (reg 80(1)). Certificates issued on verification or reverification are evidence of the matters stated and admissible in court (regs 79(3)-(4), 80(8)-(9)). Certificates may be cancelled by the Commission, the Organization or the relevant verifying authority, and a cancelled certificate must be stamped or written across with the word "Cancelled" (reg 81).

STATUTORY RULES.

1961. No. 142.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (NATIONAL STANDARDS) ACT 1960.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960.

Dated this twenty-fifth day of December, 1961.

DE L’ISLE

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

DONALD A. CAMERON

Minister of State for Health, acting for and on

behalf of the Prime Minister.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (NATIONAL STANDARDS) REGULATIONS.

Part I.—Preliminary.

Citation.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations.

Parts.

2. These Regulations are divided into Parts, as follows:—

Part I.—Preliminary (Regulations 1-3).

Part II.—Units of Measurement.

Division 1.—Preliminary (Regulation 4).

Division 2.—Length (Regulations 5-6).

Division 3.—Area (Regulations 7-9).

Division 4.—Mass and Weight (Regulations 10-14).

Division 5.—Volume (Regulations 15-20).

Division 6.—Density (Regulations 21-23).

Division 7.—Time Interval (Regulations 24-26).

Division 8.—Frequency (Regulations 27-28).

Division 9.—Velocity and Speed (Regulations 29-31).

Division 10.—Acceleration (Regulations 32-34).

Division 11.—Force (Regulations 35-37).

Division 12.—Work and Energy (Regulations 38-40).

Division 13.—Power (Regulations 41-43).

Division 14.—Pressure (Regulations 44-46).

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 27th November, 1961.

2204/54.—Price 1s. 3d. 18/9.10.1961

Division 15.—Viscosity and Kinematic Viscosity (Regulations 47-48).

Division 16.—Electric Current (Regulations 49-50).

Division 17.—Electric Charge (Regulations 51-52).

Division 18.—Potential Difference and Electromotive Force (Regulations 53-55).

Division 19.—Electrical Resistance (Regulations 56-57).

Division 20.—Electrical Conductance (Regulations 58-59).

Division 21.—Electrical Capacitance (Regulations 60-61).

Division 22.—Electrical Inductance (Regulations 62-63).

Division 23.—Temperature (Regulations 64-65).

Division 24.—Luminous Intensity (Regulations 66-68).

Division 25.—Luminous Flux (Regulations 69-70).

Division 26.—Illumination (Regulations 71-73).

Division 27.—Luminance (Regulations 74-76).

Part III.—Standards of Measurement (Regulations 77-81).

Interpretation.

3.—(1.) In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“the Act” means the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960;

“time interval” means time interval not related to the calendar;

“verifying authority”, in relation to the verification or reverification of a standard of measurement, means a person who is a verifying authority in relation to the verification and reverification of such a standard of measurement by virtue of an appointment under regulation 77 of these Regulations.

(2.) In these Regulations, a reference to a Schedule by number shall be read as a reference to the Schedule to these Regulations so numbered.

Part II.—Units of Measurement.

Division 1.—Preliminary.

Part II. to take effect on 1st January, 1964.

This Part shall take effect on the first day of January, 1964.

Division 2.—Length.

Units of measurement of length.

5.—(1.) The units of measurement of length are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the First Schedule; and

(b) the point.

(2.) The units of measurement of length specified in the first column of the First Schedule are related to the metre or the yard, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(3.) A unit of measurement of length specified in the first column of the First Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol (if any) specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The metre, the yard and the point.

6.—(1.) The metre is the length equal to 1,650,763.73 wave-lengths in vacuum of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the levels 2p10 and 5d5 of the krypton-86 atom.

(2.) The yard is 0.9144 metre.

(3.) The point is 1/100th part of one inch.

Division 3.—Area.

Units of measurement of area.

7.—(1.) The units of measurement of area are the units specified in the first column of the Second Schedule and are related to the square metre or the square yard, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of area specified in the first column of the Second Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The square metre and the square yard.

8.—(1.) The square metre is the area of a square each side of which is one metre in length.

(2.) The square yard is the area of a square each side of which is one yard in length.

Conversion factor.

One square yard shall, for all legal purposes, be deemed to be equal to 0.83613 square metre.

Division 4.—Mass and Weight.

Units of measurement of mass.

The units of measurement of mass are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Third Schedule; and

(b) the units specified in the first column of the Fourth Schedule.

Units specified in the Third Schedule.

11.—(1.) The units of measurement of mass specified in the first column of the Third Schedule are related to the kilogramme or the pound, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of mass specified in the first column of the Third Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol (if any) specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The kilogramme and the pound.

12.—(1.) The kilogramme is the International kilogramme, being the mass of the cylinder that—

(a) is deposited in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; and

(b) was declared by the First General Conference on Weights and Measures held in Paris in the year 1889 to be the International Prototype Kilogramme.

(2.) The pound is 0.45359237 kilogramme.

Units specified in the Fourth Schedule.

13.—(1.) The units of measurement of mass specified in the first column of the Fourth Schedule are related to the gramme, the pound or the grain, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of mass specified in the first column of the Fourth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol (if any) specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

Units of measurement of weight.

14. The units of measurement of weight—

(a) have the same names, and may be referred to by the same abbreviations or symbols, as the units of measurement of mass; and

(b) are such that the weight of an object expressed in terms of any one of them is numerically the same as the mass of the object expressed in terms of the unit of measurement of mass having the same name.

Division 5.—Volume.

Units of measurement of volume.

15. The units of measurement of volume are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Fifth Schedule;

(b) the units specified in the first column of the Sixth Schedule; and

Units specified in the Fifth Schedule.

16.—(1.) The units of measurement of volume specified in the first column of the Fifth Schedule are related to the cubic metre, the cubic yard, the litre or the gallon, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of volume specified in the first column of the Fifth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol (if any) specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The cubic metre, cubic yard, &c.

17.—(1.) The cubic metre is the volume of a cube each side of which is one metre in length.

(2.) The cubic yard is the volume of a cube each side of which is one yard in length.

(3.) The litre is the volume of one kilogramme of pure water at its maximum density when at a pressure of one atmosphere.

(4.) The gallon is 4.54596 litres.

Conversion factors.

18. For all legal purposes—

(a) one cubic yard shall be deemed to be equal to 0.764555 cubic metre;

(b) one litre shall be deemed to be equal to 0.001000028 cubic metre; and

Units specified in the Sixth Schedule.

19.—(1.) The units of measurement of volume specified in the first column of the Sixth Schedule are related to the gallon as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) The bushel may be referred to by the abbreviation “bus”.

The cord, the superficial foot and the acre-foot.

20.—(1.) The cord is one hundred and twenty-eight cubic feet.

(2.) The superficial foot is one hundred and forty-four cubic inches.

(3.) The acre-foot is 1,613⅓ cubic yards.

Division 6.—Density.

Units of measurement of density.

21.—(1.) The units of measurement of density are the units specified in the first column of the Seventh Schedule and are related to the kilogramme per cubic metre, the kilogramme per litre, the pound per cubic foot or the pound per gallon, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of density specified in the first column of the Seventh Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The kilogramme per cubic metre, kilogramme per litre, &c.

22.—(1.) The kilogramme per cubic metre is the density of a uniform substance a mass of one kilogramme of which occupies a volume of one cubic metre.

(2.) The kilogramme per litre is the density of a uniform substance a mass of one kilogramme of which occupies a volume of one litre.

(3.) The pound per cubic foot is the density of a uniform substance a mass of one pound of which occupies a volume of one cubic foot.

(4.) The pound per gallon is the density of a uniform substance a mass of one pound of which occupies a volume of one gallon.

Conversion factors.

For all legal purposes—

(a) one kilogramme per litre shall be deemed to be equal to 999.972 kilogrammes per cubic metre;

(b) one pound per cubic foot shall be deemed to be equal to 16.0185 kilogrammes per cubic metre; and

Division 7.—Time Interval.

Units of measurement of time interval.

24.—(1.) The units of measurement of time interval are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Eighth Schedule; and

(b) the mean solar second.

(2.) The units of measurement of time interval specified in the first column of the Eighth Schedule are related to the second as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(3.) A unit of measurement of time interval specified in the first column of the Eighth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The second and the mean solar second.

25.—(1.) The second is 10,000/315,569,259,747th parts of the length of the tropical year for 1900.0.

(2.) The mean solar second is 1/86,400th part of the mean time interval between successive upper transits of the sun across a particular meridian.

Conversion factor.

For all legal purposes, one second shall be deemed to be equal to one mean solar second.

Division 8.—Frequency.

Units of measurement of frequency.

27.—(1.) The units of measurement of frequency are the units specified in the first column of the Ninth Schedule and are related to the cycle per second as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of frequency specified in the first column of the Ninth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The cycle per second.

The cycle per second is the frequency of a regularly recurrent phenomenon that repeats itself once each second.

Division 9.—Velocity and Speed.

Units of measurement of velocity and speed.

29.—(1.) The units of measurement of velocity and speed are the units specified in the first column of the Tenth Schedule and are related to the metre per second or the foot per second, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of velocity and speed specified in the first column of the Tenth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The metre per second and the foot per second.

30.—(1.) The metre per second is the mean velocity or the mean speed of a point that moves its position rectilinearly a distance of one metre in one second.

(2.) The foot per second is the mean velocity or the mean speed of a point that moves its position rectilinearly a distance of one foot in one second.

Conversion factor.

For all legal purposes, one foot per second shall be deemed to be equal to 0.3048 metre per second.

Division 10.—Acceleration.

Units of measurement of acceleration.

32.—(1.) The units of measurement of acceleration are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Eleventh Schedule; and

(b) the foot per second per second.

(2.) The units of measurement of acceleration specified in the first column of the Eleventh Schedule are related to the metre per second per second as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(3.) A unit of measurement of acceleration specified in the first column of the Eleventh Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

(4.) The foot per second per second may be referred to by the abbreviation “ft/sec2”.

The metre per second per second and the foot per second per second.

33.—(1.) The metre per second per second is the mean acceleration of a point that changes its velocity by one metre per second in one second.

(2.) The foot per second per second is the mean acceleration of a point that changes its velocity by one foot per second in one second.

Conversion factor.

For all legal purposes, one foot per second per second shall be deemed to be equal to 0.3048 metre per second per second.

Division 11.—Force.

Units of measurement of force.

35.—(1.) The units of measurement of force are the units specified in the first column of the Twelfth Schedule and are related to the newton or the poundal, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of force specified in the first column of the Twelfth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation (if any) specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The newton and the poundal.

36.—(1.) The newton is the force which, when applied to a body having a mass of one kilogramme, causes an acceleration of one metre per second per second in the direction of application of the force.

(2.) The poundal is the force which, when applied to a body having a mass of one pound, causes an acceleration of one foot per second per second in the direction of the application of the force.

Conversion factor.

For all legal purposes, one poundal shall be deemed to be equal to 0.138255 newton.

Division 12.—Work and Energy.

Units of measurement of work and energy.

38.—(1.) The units of measurement of work and energy are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Thirteenth Schedule; and

(b) the water kilocalorie, the water calorie and the water British thermal unit.

(2.) The units of measurement of work and energy specified in the first column of the Thirteenth Schedule are related to the joule or the foot poundal, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(3.) A unit of measurement of work and energy specified in the first column of the Thirteenth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation (if any) specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

(4.) The water kilocalorie, the water calorie and the water British thermal unit may be referred to by the abbreviations “water kcal”, “water cal” and “water Btu”, respectively.

The joule, foot-poundal, &c.

39.—(1.) The joule is the work done or the energy expended when a force of one newton moves the point of application a distance of one metre in the direction of that force.

(2.) The foot poundal is the work done or the energy expended when a force of one poundal moves the point of application a distance of one foot in the direction of that force.

(3.) The water kilocalorie is the work done or the energy expended in heating one kilogramme of pure water from 14.5 Celsius degrees to 15.5 Celsius degrees at an invariable pressure of one atmosphere.

(4.) The water calorie is 0.001 water kilocalorie.

(5.) The water British thermal unit is the work done or the energy expended in heating one pound of pure water from sixty Fahrenheit degrees to sixty-one Fahrenheit degrees at an invariable pressure of one atmosphere.

Conversion factors.

For all legal purposes—

(a) one foot poundal shall be deemed to be equal to 0.0421401 joule;

(b) one water kilocalorie shall be deemed to be equal to 4,185.5 joules; and

Division 13.—Power.

Units of measurement of power.

41.—(1.) The units of measurement of power are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Fourteenth Schedule; and

(b) the horsepower.

(2.) The units of measurement of power specified in the first column of the Fourteenth Schedule are related to the watt as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(3.) A unit of measurement of power specified in the first column of the Fourteenth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

(4.) The horsepower may be referred to by the abbreviation “hp”.

The watt and the horsepower.

42.—(1.) The watt is the power used when work is done or energy is expended at the rate of one joule per second.

(2.) The horsepower is the power used when work is done or energy is expended at the rate of five hundred and fifty foot pounds-force per second.

Conversion factor.

For all legal purposes, one horsepower shall be deemed to be equal to 745.7 watts.

Division 14.—Pressure.

Units of measurement of pressure.

44.—(1.) The units of measurement of pressure are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Fifteenth Schedule;

(b) the inch of water; and

(2.) The units of measurement of pressure specified in the first column of the Fifteenth Schedule are related to the newton per square metre, the pound-force per square inch or the centimetre of mercury, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(3.) A unit of measurement of pressure specified in the first column of the Fifteenth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

(4.) The inch of water may be referred to by the abbreviation “inH2O” and the inch of mercury may be referred to by the abbreviation “inHg”.

The newton per square metre, pound-force per square inch, &c.

45.—(1.) The newton per square metre is the pressure resulting from a force of one newton applied uniformly over an area of one square metre.

(2.) The pound-force per square inch is the pressure resulting from a force of 32.174 poundals applied uniformly over an area of one square inch.

(3.) The centimetre of mercury is the pressure exerted by the weight of a vertical column of pure mercury one centimetre high at a temperature of zero Celsius degrees and a pressure of one atmosphere and subject to a gravitational acceleration of 980.665 centimetres per second per second.

(4.) The inch of water is the pressure exerted by the weight of a vertical column of pure water one inch high at a temperature of twenty Celsius degrees and a pressure of one atmosphere and subject to a gravitational acceleration of 32.174 feet per second per second.

(5.) The inch of mercury is the pressure exerted by the weight of a vertical column of pure mercury one inch high at a temperature of zero Celsius degrees and a pressure of one atmosphere and subject to a gravitational acceleration of 32.174 feet per second per second.

Conversion factors.

For all legal purposes—

(a) one pound-force per square inch shall be deemed to be equal to 6,894.76 newtons per square metre;

(b) one centimetre of mercury shall be deemed to be equal to 1,333.224 newtons per square metre;

(d) one inch of water shall be deemed to be equal to 0.036062 pound-force per square inch; and

(e) one inch of mercury shall be deemed to be equal to 2.54 centimetres of mercury.

Division 15.—Viscosity and Kinematic Viscosity.

Units of measurement of viscosity and kinematic viscosity.

47.—(1.) The units of measurement of viscosity and kinematic viscosity are the units specified in the first column of the Sixteenth Schedule and are related to the poise or the stokes, as the case may be, as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of viscosity or kinematic viscosity specified in the first column of the Sixteenth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The poise and the stokes.

48.—(1.) The poise is the viscosity of a fluid for which there is a tangential force of one dyne on one square centimetre of either of two infinite parallel planes one centimetre apart when—

(a) the space between those planes is filled with the fluid;

(b) one of the planes moves with a velocity of one centimetre per second in its own plane relative to the other; and

(2.) The stokes is the kinematic viscosity of a fluid having a viscosity of one poise and a density of one gramme per cubic centimetre.

Division 16.—Electric Current.

Units of measurement of electric current.

49.—(1.) The units of measurement of electric current are the units specified in the first column of the Seventeenth Schedule and are related to the ampere as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of electric current specified in the first column of the Seventeenth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The ampere.

The ampere is the unvarying electric current that, when flowing in each of two parallel straight conductors of infinite length of negligible circular cross section separated by a distance of one metre from each other in free space, produces between those conductors a force equal to 0.0000002 newton per metre length of conductor.

Division 17.—Electric Charge.

Unit of measurement of electric charge.

51.—(1.) The unit of measurement of electric charge is the coulomb.

(2.) The coulomb may be referred to by the abbreviation “C”.

The coulomb.

The coulomb is the quantity of electric charge that is transferred each second by an electric current of one ampere.

Division 18.—Potential Difference and Electromotive Force.

Units of measurement of potential difference.

53.—(1.) The units of measurement of potential difference are the units specified in the first column of the Eighteenth Schedule and are related to the volt as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of potential difference specified in the first column of the Eighteenth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The volt.

The volt is the potential difference that exists between two points on a conductor carrying an unvarying electric current of one ampere when the power dissipated between those points is equal to one watt.

Units of measurement of electromotive force.

The units of measurement of electromotive force—

(a) have the same names, and may be referred to by the same abbreviations or symbols, as the units of measurement of potential difference; and

(b) are such that the electromotive force necessary to maintain a potential difference between two points in a circuit, expressed in terms of any one of them, is numerically the same as that potential difference expressed in terms of the unit of measurement of potential difference having the same name.

Division 19.—Electrical Resistance.

Units of measurement of electrical resistance.

56.—(1.) The units of measurement of electrical resistance are the units specified in the first column of the Nineteenth Schedule and are related to the ohm as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of electrical resistance specified in the first column of the Nineteenth Schedule may be referred to by the symbol specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The ohm.

The ohm is the electrical resistance between two points on a conductor which does not contain any source of electromotive force when a constant potential difference of one volt maintained between those points results in a current of one ampere in the conductor.

Division 20.—Electrical Conductance.

Units of measurement of electrical conductance.

The units of measurement of electrical conductance are the mho and the micromho.

The mho and the micromho.

59.—(1.) The mho is the electrical conductance of a conductor that has an electrical resistance of one ohm.

(2.) The micromho is 0.000001 mho.

Division 21.—Electrical Capacitance.

Units of measurement of electrical capacitance.

60.—(1.) The units of measurement of electrical capacitance are the units specified in the first column of the Twentieth Schedule and are related to the farad as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of electrical capacitance specified in the first column of the Twentieth Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The farad.

The farad is the electrical capacitance that exists between two conductors when the transfer of an electric charge of one coulomb from one to the other changes the potential difference between them by one volt.

Division 22.—Electrical Inductance.

Units of measurement of electrical inductance.

62.—(1.) The units of measurement of electrical inductance are the units specified in the first column of the Twenty-first Schedule and are related to the henry as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(2.) A unit of measurement of electrical inductance specified in the first column of the Twenty-first Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation or symbol specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

The henry.

The henry is the electrical inductance of a closed circuit in which an electromotive force of one volt is produced when the electric current that traverses the circuit varies uniformly at the rate of one ampere per second.

Division 23.—Temperature.

Units of measurement of temperature.

64.—(1.) The units of measurement of temperature are—

(a) Celsius degrees, being degrees of temperature on the International Practical Temperature Scale;

(b) Fahrenheit degrees, being degrees of temperature on the Fahrenheit Temperature Scale;

(d) Rankine degrees, being degrees of temperature on the Rankine Temperature Scale.

(2.) Celsius degrees may also be referred to as Centigrade degrees.

Temperature Scales.

65.—(1.) The International Practical Temperature Scale is the International Practical Temperature Scale of 1948 described in the Proceedings of the Eleventh General Conference on Weights and Measures held in Paris in the year 1960 and adopted by that Conference.

(2.) The Fahrenheit Temperature Scale is such that the numerical value of a temperature on that scale is related to the numerical value of that temperature on the International Practical Temperature Scale by the formula—

Start formula t degrees F equals 32 plus start fraction 9 over 5 end fraction t degrees C end formula

where—

t°F is the numerical value of a temperature on the Fahrenheit Temperature Scale; and

t°C is the numerical value of that temperature on the International Practical Temperature Scale.

(3.) The Kelvin Temperature Scale is such that the numerical value of a temperature on that scale is greater by 273.15 than the numerical value of that temperature on the International Practical Temperature Scale.

(4.) The Rankine Temperature Scale is such that the numerical value of a temperature on that scale is greater by 459.67 than the numerical value of that temperature on the Fahrenheit Temperature Scale.

(5.) Temperatures on the International Practical Temperature Scale, the Fahrenheit Temperature Scale, the Kelvin Temperature Scale and the Rankine Temperature Scale may be referred to by the symbols “°C”, “°F”, “°K” and “°R”, respectively.

(6.) Temperature intervals on the International Practical Temperature Scale, the Fahrenheit Temperature Scale, the Kelvin Temperature Scale and the Rankine Temperature Scale may be referred to by the abbreviations “degC”, “degF”, “degK” and “degR”, respectively.

Division 24.—Luminous Intensity.

Unit of measurement of luminous intensity.

66.—(1.) The unit of measurement of luminous intensity is the candela.

(2.) The candela may be referred to by the abbreviation “cd”.

(3.) The candela may also be referred to as the candle.

The candela.

The candela is one sixtieth part of the luminous intensity of a projected area of one square centimetre of a black body radiator at the temperature of solidification of platinum.

Determination of luminous intensity.

The luminous intensity of a light source shall be determined in terms of the candela in accordance with the relation between luminosity and wave-length adopted by the International Committee on Weights and Measures in the year 1933 and approved by the Ninth General Conference on Weights and Measures held in Paris in the year 1948.

Division 25.—Luminous Flux.

Unit of measurement of luminous flux.

69.—(1.) The unit of measurement of luminous flux is the lumen.

(2.) The lumen may be referred to by the abbreviation “lm”.

The lumen.

The lumen is the luminous flux emitted into unit solid angle by an isotropic point source having a luminous intensity of one candela.

Division 26.—Illumination.

Units of measurement of illumination.

71.—(1.) The units of measurement of illumination are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Twenty-second Schedule; and

(b) the lumen per square metre.

(2.) The units of measurement of illumination specified in the first column of the Twenty-second Schedule are related to the lumen per square foot as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(3.) A unit of measurement of illumination specified in the first column of the Twenty-second Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

(4.) The lumen per square metre may be referred to by the abbreviation “lm/sq m” or “lm/m2”.

(5.) The lumen per square metre may also be referred to as the lux.

The lumen per square metre and the lumen per square foot.

72.—(1.) The lumen per square metre is the illumination produced at the surface of a sphere having a radius of one metre by a point source that—

(a) is situated at its centre; and

(b) has a luminous intensity of one candela in all directions.

(2.) The lumen per square foot is the illumination produced at the surface of a sphere having a radius of one foot by a point source that—

(a) is situated at its centre; and

(b) has a luminous intensity of one candela in all directions.

Conversion factor.

For all legal purposes, one lumen per square foot shall be deemed to be equal to 10.764 lumens per square metre.

Division 27.—Luminance.

Units of measurement of luminance.

74.—(1.) The units of measurement of luminance are—

(a) the units specified in the first column of the Twenty-third Schedule; and

(b) the candela per square metre.

(2.) The units of measurement of luminance specified in the first column of the Twenty-third Schedule are related to the candela per square foot as respectively specified in the second column of that Schedule.

(3.) A unit of measurement of luminance specified in the first column of the Twenty-third Schedule may be referred to by the abbreviation (if any) specified in the third column of that Schedule opposite the reference to that unit in the first column.

(4.) The candela per square metre may be referred to by the abbreviation “cd/sq m” or “cd/m2”.

(5.) The candela per square metre may also be referred to as the candle per square metre.

The candela per square metre and the candela per square foot.

75.—(1.) The candela per square metre is the luminance of a surface that has a uniform luminous intensity of one candela per square metre of projected area.

(2.) The candela per square foot is the luminance of a surface that has a uniform luminous intensity of one candela per square foot of projected area.

Conversion factor.

For all legal purposes, one candela per square foot shall be deemed to be equal to 10.764 candelas per square metre.

Part III.—Standards of Measurement.

Verifying authorities.

77.—(1.) The Commission may, by instrument in writing, appoint a person (including a body corporate) to be a verifying authority in relation to the verification and reverification of standards of measurement as subsidiary standards of measurement.

(2.) An appointment under this regulation may be an appointment of the person for the time being holding, or performing the duties of, a specified office of—

(a) the Commonwealth or a State or Territory of the Commonwealth; or

(b) a body corporate.

(3.) An appointment under this regulation may be in relation to the verification and reverification of standards of measurement generally or the verification and reverification of the standards of measurement included in a particular class or particular classes of standards of measurement.

Distinguishing marks.

78.—(1.) Subject to this regulation, a standard of measurement shall not be verified or reverified under these Regulations unless a distinguishing mark has been stamped or otherwise legibly and permanently affixed on or to it.

(2.) The last preceding sub-regulation does not apply in relation to a standard of measurement if it is impracticable, by reason of its size or nature, so to stamp or affix a distinguishing mark on or to it.

Verification, &c. of standards of measurement to which section 9 of the Act applies.

79.—(1.) Where a standard of measurement to which section 9 of the Act applies is verified or reverified in accordance with that section, an officer or employee of the Organization authorized by the Organization in writing for the purpose or, where the standard of measurement is verified or reverified on behalf of the Organization, any person authorized by the Organization in writing for the purpose may sign and issue a certificate under this regulation.

(2.) There shall be stated in every such certificate the date on which the standard of measurement was verified or reverified, as the case may be, its distinguishing mark (if any), its value, in terms of a Commonwealth legal unit of measurement or Commonwealth legal units of measurement, ascertained upon the verification or reverification and the period within which it is, by virtue of a direction of the Commission under section 9 of the Act, to be reverified or reverified again, as the case requires, and that the standard was verified or reverified in accordance with that section.

(3.) A certificate under this regulation is evidence of the matters stated in it.

(4.) A document purporting to be a certificate under this regulation may be received in evidence as such a certificate in any court (whether exercising federal jurisdiction or not) or in proceedings before a person authorized by a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory of the Commonwealth or by consent of parties to hear, receive and examine evidence.

Verification, &c., of standards of measurement as subsidiary standards.

80.—(1.) The verification and reverification of a standard of measurement as a subsidiary standard of measurement for the purposes of the Act shall be carried out—

(a) by the Organization;

(b) by a verifying authority being a body corporate; or

in accordance with this regulation.

(2.) The verification or reverification shall be carried out in a manner that, having regard to the nature of the standard to be verified or reverified, is appropriate for the purpose and, if it is carried out by, or under the supervision of, a verifying authority, is a manner for the time being approved by the Commission for the purpose.

(3.) Where a standard of measurement is verified or reverified as a subsidiary standard of measurement by the Organization, the Organization shall specify the period within which the standard is to be reverified or reverified again, as the case requires, and the standard shall be reverified within that period.

(4.) Where a standard of measurement is verified or reverified as a subsidiary standard of measurement by, or under the supervision of, a verifying authority, the standard shall be reverified, or reverified again, as the case requires, within such period as the Commission directs for the purposes of this sub-regulation.

(5.) A direction by the Commission for the purposes of the last preceding sub-regulation may relate to a particular standard of measurement or to all the standards of measurement included in a particular class of standards of measurement.

(6.) Where a standard of measurement is verified or reverified in accordance with this regulation—

(a) if the verification or reverification is carried out by the Organization or a verifying authority being a body corporate—an officer or employee of the Organization or of the verifying authority authorized in writing for the purpose by the Organization or the verifying authority, as the case may be; or

(b) if the verification or reverification is carried out by, or under the supervision of, a verifying authority not being a body corporate—the verifying authority,

may sign and issue a certificate under this regulation.

(7.) There shall be stated in every such certificate the date on which the standard of measurement was verified or reverified, as the case may be, its distinguishing mark (if any), its value, in terms of a Commonwealth legal unit of measurement or Commonwealth legal units of measurement, ascertained upon the verification or reverification and the period within which it is to be reverified or reverified again, as the case may be, and that the standard was verified or reverified as a subsidiary standard of measurement by the Organization or by, or under the supervision of, a specified verifying authority, as the case may be, in accordance with these Regulations.

(8.) A certificate under this regulation is evidence of the matters stated in it.

(9.) A document purporting to be a certificate under this regulation may be received in evidence as such a certificate in any court (whether exercising federal jurisdiction or not) or in proceedings before a person authorized by a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory of the Commonwealth or by consent of parties to hear, receive and examine evidence.

Cancellation of certificate.

81.—(1.) A certificate issued under either of the last two preceding regulations may be cancelled at any time by the Commission.

(2.) A certificate issued under regulation 79 of these Regulations may be cancelled at any time by the Organization.

(3.) A certificate issued under regulation 80 of these Regulations by an officer or employee of the Organization may be cancelled at any time by the Organization and a certificate issued under that regulation by a verifying authority or an officer or employee of a verifying authority may be cancelled at any time by that verifying authority.

(4.) Where a certificate is cancelled in pursuance of this regulation, the Commission, the Organization or the verifying authority, as the case requires, shall cause the word “Cancelled” to be stamped or written across the certificate.

THE SCHEDULES.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

Regulation 5.

Units of Measurement of Length.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Length in Metres or Yards.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
	Metres.
International nautical mile.....	1 852......................	..
Kilometre................	1 000......................	km
Hectometre...............	100......................	..
Dekametre................	10......................	..
Metre...................	1......................	m
Decimetre................	0.1.....................	dm
Centimetre................	0.01....................	cm
Millimetre................	0.001...................	mm
Micron or micrometre........	0.000 001................	µ or µm
Millimicron or nanometre......	0.000 000 001.............	mµ or nm
Angstrom................	0.000 000 000 1............	Å or A
	Yards.
Admiralty nautical mile.......	2 026⅔.....................	..
Mile....................	1 760......................	..
Furlong..................	220......................	fur
Chain...................	22......................	ch
Link....................	.......................	lk
Fathom..................	2......................	fm
Yard....................	1......................	yd
Foot....................	⅓.....................	ft or ′
Inch....................	.......................	in or ″
Microinch................	.......................	µin

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Regulation 7.

Units of Measurement of Area.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Area in Square Metres or Square Yards.	Abbreviation.
	Square Metres.
Square kilometre............	1 000 000...................	sq km or km2
Hectare..................	10 000...................	ha
Arc....................	100...................	a
Centiare.................	1..................	ca
Square metre..............	1..................	sq m or m2
Square decimetre...........	0.01................	sq dm or dm2
Square centimetre...........	0.000 1..............	sq cm or cm2
Square millimetre...........	0.000 001.............	sq mm or mm2
	Square Yards.
Square mile...............	3 097 600...................	sq mile
Acre....................	4 840...................	ac
Rood...................	1 210...................	rd
Square chain..............	484...................	sq ch or ch2
Perch...................	30¼.................	p
Square yard...............	1..................	sq yd or yd2
Square foot...............	⅑..................	sq ft or ft2
Square inch...............	.....................	sq in or in2

THIRD SCHEDULE.

Regulations 10, 11 and 14.

Units of Measurement of Mass and Weight.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Mass or Weight in Kilogrammes or Pounds.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
	Kilogrammes.
Tonne or metric ton..........	1 000.......................	t
Quintal..................	100.......................	q
Myriagramme.............	10........................	..
Kilogramme...............	1.......................	kg
Hectogramme..............	0.1......................	..
Dekagramme..............	0.01.....................	..
Gramme.................	0.001....................	g
Decigramme..............	0.000 1...................	dg
Centigramme..............	0.000 01..................	cg
Milligramme..............	0.000 001..................	mg
Microgramme.............	0.000 000 001...............	µg or γ
	Pounds.
Ton....................	2 240.......................	..
Short ton.................	2 000.......................	sh tn
Hundredweight.............	112.......................	cwt
Cental...................	100.......................	ctl
Quarter..................	28.......................	qr
Stone...................	14.......................	..
Pound...................	1......................	lb
Ounce...................	.......................	oz
Dram...................	.......................	dr
Grain...................	.......................	gr

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

Regulations 10, 13 and 14.

Special Units of Measurement of Mass and Weight.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Mass or Weight in Grammes, Pounds or Grains.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
	Grammes.
Metric carat...............	0.2......................	CM
	Pounds.
Slug....................	32.174.....................	..
	Grains.
Troy ounce...............	480........................	oz tr
Pennyweight..............	24........................	dwt
Apothecaries ounce..........	480........................	℥ or oz apoth
Drachm..................	60........................	ʒ
Scruple..................	20........................	Э

FIFTH SCHEDULE.

Regulations 15 and 16.

Units of Measurement of Volume.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Volume in Cubic Metres, Cubic Yards, Litres or Gallons.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
	Cubic Metres.
Cubic metre...............	1......................	cu m or m3
Cubic decimetre............	0.001...................	cu dm or dm3
Cubic centimetre............	0.000 001.................	cc or cm3
Cubic millimetre............	0.000 000 001..............	cu mm or mm3
	Cubic Yards.
Cubic yard................	1......................	cu yd or yd3
Cubic foot................	.......................	cu ft or ft3
Cubic inch................	.......................	cu in or in3
	Litres.
Kilolitre.................	1 000.......................	..
Hectolitre................	100.......................	..
Dekalitre.................	10.......................	..
Litre....................	1......................	l
Decilitre.................	0.1.....................	dl
Centilitre.................	0.01....................	cl
Millilitre.................	0.001...................	ml
	Gallons.
Gallon..................	1......................	gal
Quart...................	¼......................	qt
Pint....................	⅛......................	pt
Gill....................	.......................	..
Fluid ounce...............	.......................	fl oz or ℥
Fluid drachm..............	.......................	ʒ
Minim..................	.......................	♏ or min

SIXTH SCHEDULE.

Regulation 15 and 19.

Special Units of Measurement of Volume.

First Column.	Second Column.
Name of Unit.	Volume in Gallons.
Hogshead...........................................	52
Barrel..............................................	35
Half-hogshead........................................	26
Kilderkin............................................	17
Bushel..............................................	8
Reputed quart.........................................	⅙
Reputed pint..........................................

SEVENTH SCHEDULE.

Regulation 21.

Units of Measurement of Density.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Density in Kilogrammes per Cubic Metre, Kilogrammes per Litre, Pounds per Cubic Foot or Pounds per Gallon.	Abbreviation.
	Kilogrammes per Cubic Metre.
Gramme per cubic centimetre....	1 000.......................	g/cc or g/cm3
Kilogramme per cubic metre ....	1......................	kg/cu m or kg/m3
	Kilogrammes per Litre.
Kilogramme per litre..........	1......................	kg/l
Gramme per millilitre.........	1......................	g/ml
	Pounds per Cubic Foot.
Pound per cubic inch..........	1 728.......................	lb/cu in or lb/in3
Pound per cubic foot..........	l.......................	lb/cu ft or lb/ft3
	Pounds per Gallon.
Pound per gallon............	1......................	lb/gal
Pound per bushel............	⅛......................	lb/bus

EIGHTH SCHEDULE.

Regulation 24.

Units of Measurement of Time Interval.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Time Interval in Seconds.	Abbreviation.
Day.....................	86 400......................	d
Hour....................	3 600......................	h or hr
Minute...................	60.....................	min
Second...................	1.....................	s or sec
Millisecond................	0.001..................	ms
Microsecond...............	0.000 001...............	µs

NINTH SCHEDULE.

Units of Measurement of Frequency. Regulation 27.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Frequency in Cycles per Second.	Abbreviation.
Megacycle per second or megahertz	1 000 000....................	Mc/s or MHz
Kilocycle per second or kilohertz..	1 000....................	kc/s or kHz
Cycle per second or hertz.......	1....................	c/s or Hz
Revolution per minute.........	.....................	rev/min or rpm

TENTH SCHEDULE.

Units of Measurement of Velocity and Speed. Regulation 29.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Velocity and Speed in Metres per Second or Feet per Second.	Abbreviation.
	Metres per Second.
Metre per second............	1..........................	m/sec or mps
Kilometre per hour...........	..........................	kmph
Centimetre per second.........	0.01.......................	cm/sec or cmps
	Feet per Second.
Knot....................	..........................	kt
Mile per hour...............	..........................	mph
Foot per second.............	1..........................	ft/sec or fps
Foot per minute.............	..........................	ft/min or fpm

ELEVENTH SCHEDULE.

Units of Measurement of Acceleration. Regulation 32.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Acceleration in Metres per Second per Second.	Abbreviation.
Metre per second per second.....	1..........................	m/sec2
Centimetre per second per second.	0.01.......................	cm/sec2

TWELFTH SCHEDULE.

Units of Measurement of Force. Regulation 35.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Force in Newtons or Poundals.	Abbreviation.
	Newtons.
Kilogramme-force...........	9.806 65................	kgf
Newton..................	1.....................	N
Dyne....................	0.000 01................	dyn
	Poundals.
Ton-force.................	72 069.76....................	tonf
Kip.....................	32 174......................	..
Pound-force...............	32.174...................	lbf
Poundal..................	1.....................	pdl

THIRTEENTH SCHEDULE.

Units of Measurement of Work and Energy. Regulation 38.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Work and Energy in Joules or Foot poundals.	Abbreviation.
	Joules.
Kilojoule.................	1 000...................	kJ
Joule....................	1...................	J
Erg.....................	0.000 000 1............	..
Kilowatt-hour..............	3 600 000...................	kWh
Watt-hour.................	3 600..................	Wh
Kilocalorie................	4 186.8.................	kcal
Calorie...................	4.186 8..............	cal
Therm...................	105 506 000..................	..
British thermal unit...........	1 055.06................	Btu
	Foot poundals.
Horsepower-hour............	63 705 000.................	hph
Foot pound-force or foot-pound..	32.174...............	ft lbf or ft lb
Foot poundal...............	1..................	ft pdl

FOURTEENTH SCHEDULE.

Units of Measurement of Power. Regulation 41.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Power in Watts.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
Megawatt.................	1 000 000....................	MW
Kilowatt..................	1 000...................	kW
Watt....................	1...................	W
Milliwatt.................	0.001................	mW
Microwatt.................	0.000 001.............	µW

FIFTEENTH SCHEDULE.

Units of Measurement of Pressure. Regulation 44.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Pressure in Newtons per Square Metre, Pounds-force per Square Inch or Centimetres of Mercury.	Abbreviation.
	Newtons per Square Metre.
Atmosphere................	101 325	atm
Bar.....................	100 000	b
Kilogramme-force per square centimetre or kilogramme per square centimetre	98 066.5................	kgf/sq cm or kgf/cm2 or kg/sq cm or kg/cm2
Millibar..................	100.................	mbar or mb
Newton per square metre.......	1.................	N/sq m or N/m2
Dyne per square centimetre.....	0.1................	dyn/sq cm or dyn/cm2
	Pounds-force per Square Inch.
Kip per square inch...........	1 00017...............	kip/sq in or kip/in2
Kip per square foot...........	618...............	kip/sq ft or kip/ft2
Pound-force per square inch or pound per square inch	1.................	lbf/sq in or lbf/in2 or lb/sq in or lb/in2 or psi
Pound-force per square foot or pound per square foot	..................	lbf/sq ft or lbf/ft2 or lb/sq ft or lb/ft2 or psf
	Centimetres of Mercury.
Centimetre of mercury.........	1.................	cmHg
Millimetre of mercury.........	0.1................	mmHg

SIXTEENTH SCHEDULE.

Regulation 47.

Units of Measurement of Viscosity and Kinematic Viscosity.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Viscosity in Poises or Kinematic Viscosity in Stokes.	Abbreviation.
Viscosity.
Poise....................	1.........................	P
Centipoise.................	0.01.......................	cP
Kinematic Viscosity.
Stokes...................	1.........................	S
Centistokes................	0.01.......................	cS

SEVENTEENTH SCHEDULE.

Regulation 49.

Units of Measurement of Electric Current.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Electric Current in Amperes.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
Ampere..................	1.........................	A or amp
Milliampere...............	0.001.......................	mA
Microampere...............	0.000 001....................	µA

EIGHTEENTH SCHEDULE.

Regulations 53 and 55.

Units of Measurement of Potential Difference and Electromotive Force.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Potential Difference or Electromotive Force in Volts.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
Megavolt.................	1 000 000....................	MV
Kilovolt..................	1 000...................	kV
Volt.....................	1...................	V
Millivolt..................	0.001................	mV
Microvolt.................	0.000 001.............	µV

NINETEENTH SCHEDULE.

Regulation 56.

Units of Measurement of Electrical Resistance.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Electrical Resistance in Ohms.	Symbol,
Megohm..................	1 000 000....................	MΩ
Ohm....................	1...................	Ω
Microhm.................	0.000 001.............	µΩ

TWENTIETH SCHEDULE.

Regulation 60.

Units of Measurement of Electrical Capacitance.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Electrical Capacitance in Farads.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
Farad....................	1.........................	F
Microfarad................	0.000 001....................	µF
Micromicrofarad or picofarad....	0.000 000 000 001..............	µµF or pF

TWENTY-FIRST SCHEDULE.

Regulation 62.

Units of Measurement of Electrical Inductance.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Electrical Inductance in Henrys.	Abbreviation or Symbol.
Henry...................	1.........................	H
Millihenry.................	0.001.......................	mH
Microhenry................	0.000 001....................	µH

TWENTY-SECOND SCHEDULE.

Regulation 71.

Units of Measurement of Illumination.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Illumination in Lumens per Square Foot.	Abbreviation.
Lumen per square foot.........	1.........................	lm/sq ft or lm/ft2
Foot-candela or foot-candle.....	1.........................	ft cd

TWENTY-THIRD SCHEDULE.

Regulation 74.

Units of Measurement of Luminance.

First Column.	Second Column.	Third Column.
Name of Unit.	Luminance in Candelas per Square Foot.	Abbreviation.
Candela per square inch or candle per square inch	144........................	cd/sq in or cd/in2
Candela per square foot or candle per square foot	1.......................	cd/sq ft or cd/ft2
Foot-lambert...............	0.318 3...................	..

By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

1 Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations

STATUTORY RULES.

1961. No. 142.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (NATIONAL STANDARDS) ACT 1960.*

Dated this twenty-fifth day of December, 1961.

DE L’ISLE

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

DONALD A. CAMERON

Minister of State for Health, acting for and on

behalf of the Prime Minister.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (NATIONAL STANDARDS) REGULATIONS.

Part I.—Preliminary.

Citation.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations.

Parts.

2. These Regulations are divided into Parts, as follows:—

Part I.—Preliminary (Regulations 1-3).

Part II.—Units of Measurement.

Division 1.—Preliminary (Regulation 4).

Division 2.—Length (Regulations 5-6).

Division 3.—Area (Regulations 7-9).

Division 4.—Mass and Weight (Regulations 10-14).

Division 5.—Volume (Regulations 15-20).

Division 6.—Density (Regulations 21-23).

Division 7.—Time Interval (Regulations 24-26).

Division 8.—Frequency (Regulations 27-28).

Division 9.—Velocity and Speed (Regulations 29-31).

Division 10.—Acceleration (Regulations 32-34).

Division 11.—Force (Regulations 35-37).

Division 12.—Work and Energy (Regulations 38-40).

Division 13.—Power (Regulations 41-43).

Division 14.—Pressure (Regulations 44-46).

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 27th November, 1961.

2204/54.—Price 1s. 3d. 18/9.10.1961

Division 15.—Viscosity and Kinematic Viscosity (Regulations 47-48).

Division 16.—Electric Current (Regulations 49-50).

Division 17.—Electric Charge (Regulations 51-52).

Division 18.—Potential Difference and Electromotive Force (Regulations 53-55).

Division 19.—Electrical Resistance (Regulations 56-57).

Division 20.—Electrical Conductance (Regulations 58-59).

The Regulations organise two linked bodies of rules: unit definitions and the institutional framework for standards.

Units and legal conversions

Schedules and Divisions. Part II is divided into many Divisions, each addressing a quantity class (length, area, mass, volume, density, time interval, frequency, velocity and speed, acceleration, force, work and energy, power, pressure, viscosity, electrical quantities, temperature, luminous intensity, luminous flux, illumination and luminance). Each Division either (a) states the units to be used by name and symbol and relates them to a base unit, or (b) defines a base unit precisely (for example, metre, kilogramme, second) (regs 5-76; Schedules). The First Schedule (reg 5) lists length units and their relations to the metre or yard. Similar structure recurs across Schedules.
Base unit definitions. Certain base units are given substantive definitions rather than merely tabular conversions: the metre is defined in terms of the krypton-86 radiation (reg 6(1)); the kilogramme is the International kilogramme deposited at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (reg 12(1)); the second is defined in astronomical terms as a fraction of the tropical year for 1900.0 (reg 25(1)); the ampere is defined by the force between conductors (reg 50); the candela is defined in relation to radiation from a black body (regs 66-67).
Legal conversion rules. The Regulations repeatedly use the statutory formula "for all legal purposes" to fix conversions between certain imperial and metric units. Examples include square yard to square metre (reg 9), cubic yard, litre and gallon conversions (reg 18), density conversions (reg 23), velocity and acceleration foot-to-metre conversions (regs 31 and 34), and many pressure, energy and luminous conversions (regs 37, 40, 43, 46, 73, 76). Where that phrase appears, the numeric equality is conclusive for legal purposes.

Standards, verification and certificates

Verifying authorities. The Commission may appoint persons or bodies to be verifying authorities for the verification and reverification of subsidiary standards (reg 77). Appointments may be of office-holders of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory, or a body corporate (reg 77(2)). Appointments can be global or class-specific (reg 77(3)).
Distinguishing marks. A standard will not be verified or reverified under the Regulations unless a distinguishing mark has been stamped or permanently affixed, unless impracticable by reason of size or nature (reg 78(1)-(2)).
Who may verify and how. Verification as to standards to which s 9 of the Act applies is achieved by the Organization or persons authorised by it (reg 79). Verification as subsidiary standards may be carried out by the Organization, by a verifying authority that is a body corporate, or by/under the supervision of a verifying authority that is not a body corporate (reg 80(1)). The manner of verification must be appropriate to the standard and, if carried out by a verifying authority, in a manner approved by the Commission (reg 80(2)).
Certificates and legal effect. Certificates must state the date of verification/reverification, distinguishing mark (if any), the value in Commonwealth legal units ascertained on verification, and the period within which re-verification is required; certificates are evidence of the matters stated and admissible in courts and proceedings (regs 79(2)-(4), 80(7)-(9)).
Cancellation. Certificates may be cancelled by the Commission, the Organization or the relevant verifying authority; cancelled certificates must be marked "Cancelled" (reg 81).

Practical structure

Part II takes effect on a specified future date (1 January 1964) to provide time for transition (reg 4).
The Regulations incorporate international references and international standards of measurement where relevant, adopting internationally defined scales and units (e.g., International Practical Temperature Scale, International kilogramme) (reg 12(1), reg 65(1)).

Together, the unit definitions create legal uniformity for measurement terms and conversions. The standards regime centralises control of verification and evidentiary certification through the Commission, the Organization and appointed verifying authorities.

The Regulations target several groups by virtue of setting legal definitions and appointing verification processes. The text itself identifies the relevant decision-makers, actors and affected categories.

Standards holders and technical users

Any person or entity that owns, uses or relies on a standard of measurement is affected by the verification and reverification rules. The Regulations make verification conditional on distinguishing marks (reg 78) and lay down the forms and evidentiary consequences of certificates (regs 79-80). A standards holder seeking legal recognition for a subsidiary standard must ensure it is verified or reverified in accordance with the Regulations.

Government and statutory bodies

The Commission is given appointment powers and supervisory authority over methods of verification (regs 77, 80(2), 80(4)-(5)). The Organization is repeatedly referenced as performing verification, specifying reverification periods where it itself verifies (reg 80(3)), or issuing certificates under reg 79 (reg 79(1)-(2)). The text contemplates officers or employees of the Organization authorised in writing to sign certificates (reg 79(1), 80(6)). The Commission, the Organization and verifying authorities each have the power to cancel certificates (reg 81).

Appointed verifying authorities and bodies corporate

Verifying authorities, once appointed by the Commission, are empowered to verify or reverify standards and to issue certificates when authorised (reg 77, reg 80(6)-(7)). Appointments may be to office-holders of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or to bodies corporate (reg 77(2)). Appointees receive the concentrated power of issuing legally-evidential certificates and supervising reverification under Commission directions.

Commercial parties and contract drafters

Anyone who uses measurement terms in contracts, statutory instruments, product labelling or regulatory compliance will be affected by the unit definitions and the legal conversion rules. Multiple Regulations expressly make certain conversions binding "for all legal purposes" (for example reg 9, reg 18(a)-(c), reg 23, reg 31, reg 34, reg 37, reg 40, reg 43, reg 46, regs 73 and 76). That means contractual references to imperial or metric units will be read against these legal conversions unless contracts specify otherwise subject to applicable law.

Laboratories, calibration service providers and manufacturers

Entities that produce measuring instruments, calibrate standards or offer calibration services will operate within the framework: verifying authorities (whether commercial bodies or government labs) must be appointed by the Commission to have statutory verification powers (reg 77). Where verification is to be carried out by a verifying authority, the Commission approves the manner (reg 80(2)). The duty to ensure standards carry distinguishing marks, or are otherwise capable of identification for verification, falls into the verification process (reg 78).

Courts and regulators

Courts and administrative decision-makers will receive certificates as evidence of verification and reverification and may admit such documents without further proof (regs 79(3)-(4), 80(8)-(9)). The Regulations therefore alter the proof calculus in disputes about measurement values or the provenance of standards.

Notably absent or unspecified in the text

The text does not specify fees, detailed procedural requirements for applications for appointment, or detailed technical criteria for verification methods beyond "appropriate" and "approved by the Commission" (reg 80(2)). The instrument also refers to "the Organization" but does not define that entity within the Regulations themselves; readers must consult the Act for the statutory definitions. The text does not include transitional rules for existing instruments beyond the effective date for Part II (reg 4).

In short, the Regulations affect standards holders, verifying authorities, government bodies (Commission and Organization), commercial parties using measurement units in law, and any entity engaged in calibration or metrology, by creating mandatory legal unit definitions, binding conversion factors and an administrative verification regime (regs 4-81 and Schedules).

The Regulations allocate formal duties and confer rights largely through requirements on verification and by fixing legal unit definitions and conversion values. The following items extract key duties and rights from the text.

Duties under the unit regime

Use of units listed. The Regulations prescribe the permitted units for each quantity category (for example, reg 5 for length, reg 10 for mass, reg 15 for volume). There is a duty, in practical terms, to use units that are among those identified where legal conformity is required, because the Schedules define the units and provide their relationships.
Reliance on legal conversions. Where the Regulations state specific conversion factors "for all legal purposes" (for example reg 9, reg 18, reg 23, reg 31, reg 34, reg 37, reg 40, reg 43, reg 46, reg 73, reg 76), the legal obligation is to recognise those numeric equalities in legal contexts. Contracting parties, regulators and courts must treat those conversions as the lawful standard.

Duties under the standards regime

Distinguishing marks for verification. A standard shall not be verified or reverified under the Regulations unless a distinguishing mark has been stamped or legibly and permanently affixed to it, except where impracticable due to size or nature (reg 78(1)-(2)). The verification process therefore requires such marking.
Verification and reverification timing. Where the Organization verifies a subsidiary standard, it must specify the period within which the standard is to be reverified and the standard must be reverified within that period (reg 80(3)). Where a verifying authority performs verification under supervision, the Commission directs the period for reverification (reg 80(4)-(5)). Those provisions impose concrete timing duties tied to the verifying party.
Verification methods. Verification and reverification must be carried out in a manner appropriate to the nature of the standard and, if performed by a verifying authority, in a manner approved by the Commission (reg 80(2)). This creates a duty to conform to Commission-approved methodologies where such approval applies.

Rights and legal effects

Appointment and authority. The Commission has the right to appoint verifying authorities (reg 77). A verifying authority so appointed obtains the authority to perform verified acts and to issue certificates that carry legal weight (reg 77, reg 80).
Certificate as evidence. Certificates issued under regs 79 or 80 are declared to be evidence of the matters they state (regs 79(3), 80(8)). Documents purporting to be such certificates may be received in evidence in courts and proceedings (regs 79(4), 80(9)). This grants substantial evidentiary effect and streamlines proof.
Cancellation power. The Commission, the Organization and verifying authorities have the right to cancel certificates they issued or have authority over, and must cause the word "Cancelled" to be stamped or written across cancelled certificates (reg 81). This is a formal control mechanism over the ongoing legal status of certificates.

Administrative discretions and procedural rights

Scope of appointments. Appointments under reg 77 may be general or limited to particular classes of standards. That gives the Commission discretion to tailor the delegated verification market.
Direction-making by Commission. The Commission may direct reverification periods and approve methods for verification where verifying authorities are used (regs 80(2), 80(4)-(5)). Those directions are a source of administrative decision-making for which the Regulations do not prescribe procedural constraints.

Part II commencement and transitional implication

Part II takes effect 1 January 1964 (reg 4). Entities must comply with the unit definitions from that date forward, which creates a temporal duty to adopt the prescribed units and conversions from that commencement date.

The Regulations therefore create duties on those who hold standards, on verifying authorities and on the Organization to ensure standards are verified and reverified in the prescribed manner and within prescribed periods. They create rights and legal effects in the form of statutory certificates and Commission appointment powers, while leaving certain administrative discretions with the Commission and the Organization (regs 77-81).

The Regulations themselves do not set out a schedule of monetary fines or criminal penalties. Their enforcement architecture is administrative and evidentiary, rather than punitive within the text provided. From the text the following enforcement mechanisms and legal effects are apparent.

Evidentiary force of certificates

Certificates issued under reg 79 or reg 80 are explicitly made evidence of the facts they state (regs 79(3), 80(8)) and may be received in evidence as such in any court or proceeding (regs 79(4), 80(9)). This provision strengthens enforcement by making verification certificates a straightforward admissible proof of the value and verification status of a standard of measurement. It reduces the evidentiary burden on a party seeking to prove the legal value of a measurement.

Administrative cancellation powers

Certificates can be cancelled by the Commission, the Organization or the verifying authority that issued them, depending on which issued the certificate (reg 81(1)-(3)). A cancelled certificate must be stamped or written across with the word "Cancelled" (reg 81(4)). Cancellation provides a mechanism to withdraw a certificate’s evidentiary status and informs regulators, courts and market participants that a certificate is no longer operative.

Commission discretion and supervisory controls

The Commission’s power to appoint verifying authorities (reg 77), to approve verification methods (reg 80(2)), and to direct periods for reverification (reg 80(4)-(5)) creates administrative levers that affect enforcement indirectly. For example, the Commission may decline to approve methods or refuse appointments, which would limit an entity’s ability to verify standards that would otherwise be admissible evidence.

Absence of penalty provisions in the Regulations text

The Regulations do not themselves specify offences, penalties, or enforcement sanctions such as fines, imprisonment, or civil penalties for non-compliance with verification or unit provisions. Where criminal or civil enforcement is relevant, that enforcement must appear in the Act or other statutes or regulations not reproduced here. The text confines itself to setting standards and administrative mechanisms for verification and evidence.

Court reliance and admissibility

Because certificates are admissible evidence and because documents purporting to be certificates may be received as such, courts and adjudicators are likely to treat the presence or absence of a valid certificate as central to disputes about measurement values. This creates an enforcement dynamic through civil litigation and regulatory adjudication, rather than through express sanctions within the Regulations.

Operational enforcement

The practical enforcement effect is that a party claiming a measurement standard’s value in a legal dispute will typically need a certificate complying with regs 79 or 80 to prove it easily. Conversely, regulators or other litigants can challenge the legal status of a measurement by pointing to the absence or cancellation of a certificate.

In short, enforcement under these Regulations is primarily evidentiary and administrative: the Regulations enable control through appointments, approval of methods, setting reverification intervals, issuance and cancellation of certificates, and by making those certificates evidence in courts (regs 77-81). The Regulations do not themselves create specific penalty provisions within the text provided.

The Regulations are framed as subordinate legislation made under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960. Within the text, interactions with other legal instruments are signalled in several ways.

Parent Act dependency

The Regulations are explicitly made under the Act, and they define "the Act" within reg 3(1). The Commission, the Organization and the powers to appoint or direct are exercised under the statutory framework the Act establishes. Several provisions refer to section 9 of the Act (reg 79), and the operation of verification for standards to which s 9 applies is performed "in accordance with that section." Therefore the Regulations assume the Act provides the overarching legal powers and definitions, and some procedural or substantive matters (for example, the identity and powers of the Commission and the Organization) are left to the Act.

Evidentiary interplay with courts and statutory decision-makers

Certificates issued under regs 79 and 80 may be received in evidence in any court or in proceedings before any person authorised by Commonwealth, State or Territory law to hear, receive and examine evidence (regs 79(4), 80(9)). This explicitly links the Regulations to the evidentiary processes of courts and administrative decision-makers across jurisdictions.

International standards and external bodies

The Regulations adopt international definitions and scales: for example, the metre is defined using radiation of krypton-86 (reg 6(1)), and the kilogramme references the International Prototype Kilogramme deposited at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (reg 12(1)). The International Practical Temperature Scale of 1948 is adopted and referenced (reg 65(1)). Those references tie domestic legal measurement standards to international standards, thereby aligning the Regulations with international metrology practice. Interaction with international bodies is therefore contractual and definitional rather than procedural, but it does mean international metrology developments may be relevant when interpreting certain base unit definitions.

Relations with State and Territory bodies

The Commission’s appointment power allows it to appoint officers holding, or performing duties of, specified offices of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory (reg 77(2)). That provision expressly contemplates intergovernmental cooperation and delegation, and means that State or Territory offices designated under the Act may be integrated into the verification regime. The Regulations therefore permit interaction with existing State/Territory institutions.

No detailed conflict or precedence clauses

The Regulations do not contain clauses dealing with conflicts with other Commonwealth statutes, federal/state inconsistency, or the mechanics where other statutes use different units. The starting assumption is that the Regulations apply as subordinate law under the Act and provide legal unit definitions and conversion factors where relevant. Where other laws impose different measurement requirements, resolving conflicts would require reference to the Act and broader constitutional principle, none of which the Regulations themselves address.

Undefined references requiring the Act

The Regulations make repeated reference to "the Organization" and "the Commission" without defining them in the Regulations themselves (reg 3 defines only "the Act" and "verifying authority"). Those entities are presumably defined in the Act. Consequently, to understand the full interactional effect, including dispute resolution, appeals, and enforcement, the Act must be consulted.

In summary, the Regulations operate as subordinate rules under the Act, embed international standards in domestic law, provide evidentiary instruments admissible across jurisdictions, and envisage cooperative appointments across Commonwealth, State and Territory offices (regs 3, 12(1), 65(1), 77, 79-81). For fuller interactional analysis, the Act is the necessary companion instrument.

The Regulations as presented include internal dating and Gazette notification information, but contain no enumerated amendments, schedules of amendment, or later modification notes within the provided text. The following are the factual items recorded in the instrument itself.

Original making and notification

The Regulations were made by the Governor-General on the advice of the Federal Executive Council and are dated 25 December 1961 in the preamble. The printed instrument shows the Minister's name and that it was made under authority of the Act (preamble). A footnote indicates the Regulations were "Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 27th November, 1961." The text therefore records dates connected to their making and notification.

Commencement of Part II

The Regulations expressly defer the coming into force of Part II until 1 January 1964 (reg 4). That is an internal commencement rule, providing a delayed operative date for the unit definitions set out in Part II.

Absence of recorded subsequent amendments

The document as supplied contains no further schedules or notes of subsequent amendments. There are no later reg numbers, amending instruments, revocation notes or transitional modification clauses present in the provided text. Therefore, based solely on this document, one must conclude there is no amendment history recorded here.

Printing and Gazette references

The printed instrument includes a publication or printing note "2204/54.,Price 1s. 3d. 18/9.10.1961" and a final By Authority line with the Government Printer. Those entries record the printing and public notification metadata current at the time of issue.

How to find subsequent amendments (procedural)

The Regulations themselves do not include procedural instructions for locating later amendments. To establish whether these Regulations have been amended subsequently, one must consult the Federal Register of Legislation, Commonwealth Gazette archives, or the Act’s amendment history. That step is external to the text provided here.

In short, the provided Regulations record their making and Gazette notification dates and set a commencement date for Part II (reg 4). They do not contain an internal amendment record or any later amendment instrument within the text supplied.

The Regulations themselves do not include or cite any cases, judicial decisions or proceedings. The text contains no references to litigation, appeals, or judicial interpretations. Consequently, from the source provided there is no litigation history to summarise.

What the Regulations do supply that is litigation-relevant

The Regulations create evidentiary instruments intended for use in litigation or administrative proceedings: certificates issued under regs 79 and 80 are expressly admissible as evidence and may be received in any court or in proceedings before persons authorised by law to hear and receive evidence (regs 79(4), 80(9)). That provision anticipates use of certificates in court rather than recounting any particular litigation.

Implication for litigation practitioners

Because certificates are admissible and declared to be evidence of the matters stated (regs 79(3), 80(8)), litigators and regulators dealing with disputes about the value of a measurement, calibration compliance, or the authenticity of a standard will treat the existence, validity and potential cancellation of such a certificate as a decisive procedural and evidentiary issue. However, the Regulations do not record any judicial treatment of such certificates or provide examples or precedents.

If judicial history is required

To obtain litigation history involving these Regulations, one must search the judicial archives, reported decisions and tribunal records. Those searches are outside the scope of the Regulations text provided. The Regulations themselves neither assert nor summarise any litigation outcomes.

Therefore, on the basis of the source document, there is no litigation history to report; the Regulations merely set the legal framework for evidentiary use of verification certificates in courts and proceedings (regs 79-80).

The Regulations contain several features and drafting choices that create practical pitfalls for users, drafters and compliance officers. These are concrete mechanisms, not value judgments, drawn from the text.

Many conversions are declared legally conclusive

Several conversion rules are expressed as "For all legal purposes" (for example reg 9, reg 18(a)-(c), reg 23, reg 31, reg 34, reg 37, reg 40, reg 43, reg 46, regs 73, 76). That phrase locks the numerical equivalence into legal contexts. Practitioners should note that a contract or regulatory instrument that uses, for example, "one gallon" will be read using the conversion the Regulations declare, unless the contract expressly provides otherwise and the resolving law permits. It is a gotcha if one assumes informal or colloquial conversion rates differ; the Regulations prescribe the legal conversion.

Base units are defined with precise technical references

The metre is defined in terms of krypton-86 radiation (reg 6(1)); the kilogramme is defined by reference to the International Prototype (reg 12(1)); the second is defined astronomically (reg 25(1)); the ampere by a physical electromagnetic definition (reg 50). Those precise definitions may render older, informal definitions obsolete for legal purposes from the Part II commencement date (reg 4). Contracts or standards that reference older base definitions may therefore be subject to reinterpretation.

"The Organization" and "the Commission" are referenced but not defined here

The Regulations repeatedly refer to "the Organization" and to the Commission without defining them within the Regulations text. Readers must consult the Act for those definitions and for details of powers, appeals, internal procedures and personnel. Treat the references in regs 79-81 and 77-80 as pointing to entities defined in the parent Act.

Certificates are powerful but revocable

A certificate issued under regs 79 or 80 is evidence and admissible in court (regs 79(3)-(4), 80(8)-(9)). But certificates can be cancelled by the issuing or supervising entity (reg 81). The legal status of a measurement may therefore hinge on whether a certificate has been cancelled or superseded; verifying certificate status should be a routine due diligence step.

Distinguishing marks are mandatory for verification but there is an exception

A standard "shall not" be verified unless it carries a distinguishing mark, but the rule does not apply if it is impracticable to stamp or affix a mark by reason of size or nature (reg 78(1)-(2)). This exception can become a technical issue in practice, particularly with small, delicate or temporary standards.

Commission discretion over methods and periods

The Commission approves verification methods where verifying authorities are used and directs reverification periods (reg 80(2), (4)-(5)). The Regulations do not specify the criteria the Commission must apply when approving methods or setting periods. That leaves a discretionary zone that can affect businesses dependent on frequency and method of calibration.

Part II delayed commencement

Part II takes effect on 1 January 1964 (reg 4). Users must be careful about instruments, contracts or labels dated before that date. The Regulations themselves do not include transitional rules for instruments executed before that date, so transitional treatment must be read from the Act or interpreted.

Temperature scale formula and symbols

The Fahrenheit conversion formula is included (reg 65(2)), and Kelvin and Rankine offsets are specified (reg 65(3)-(4)). The Regulation prescribes symbols and abbreviations for temperature scales and intervals (reg 65(5)-(6)). Drafting instruments should employ these symbols and abide by the formula when converting temperatures for legal or regulatory purposes.

Abbreviations and alternative names permitted

The Schedules permit specific abbreviations and alternative names (for example, "Celsius degrees may also be referred to as Centigrade degrees", reg 64(2)). That can be helpful, but it also means that inconsistent labelling should be interpretable against the Schedule rather than creating ambiguity.

No express sanctions in the Regulations

The Regulations lack explicit penalty clauses. Enforcement therefore relies on the evidentiary status of certificates and on the parent Act or other laws for sanctions. Users who expect immediate statutory penalties in the Regulations must check the Act.

Each of these items arises directly from the wording of the Regulations and is a practical point to check when drafting contracts, calibrating equipment, applying for appointments, or litigating about measurements (regs 4, 6, 9, 12, 25, 50, 64-76, 77-81).

Compliance under the Regulations splits into two strands: (A) conforming to the unit and conversion rules in Part II, and (B) complying with the verification, certification and reverification regime in Part III. Below are practical, source-grounded steps.

A. Complying with the unit and conversion rules (Part II, regs 4-76 and Schedules)

Check the effective date

Part II comes into force 1 January 1964 (reg 4). Ensure any use of the prescribed units and conversions applies from that date forward.

Use only prescribed units where legal accuracy is required

For legal instruments, statutory compliance or labels, use the units listed in the relevant Schedule for the quantity at issue (eg, length units in First Schedule, mass units in Third and Fourth Schedules, volume in Fifth and Sixth Schedules) as those are the legal units the Regulations set out (reg 5, reg 10, reg 15, etc.).

Apply the legally prescribed conversions

Where the Regulations state conversions "for all legal purposes", apply those exact numeric conversions. Examples include: one square yard = 0.83613 square metre (reg 9); one cubic yard = 0.764555 cubic metre and one litre = 0.001000028 cubic metre and one gallon = 277.42 cubic inches (reg 18); one kilogramme per litre = 999.972 kilogrammes per cubic metre (reg 23); one foot per second = 0.3048 metre per second (reg 31); one horsepower = 745.7 watts (reg 43); one candela per square foot = 10.764 candelas per square metre (reg 76). Use those exact conversions in drafting and compliance.

Use prescribed symbols and abbreviations

The Schedules list permissible abbreviations and symbols (for example, "m" for metre, "kg" for kilogramme, "°C" for Celsius degrees) (see First Schedule and many other entries). Adopt those abbreviations in labels and documentation to align with the Regulations.

Respect base unit definitions

Recognise that the Regulations define certain base units precisely, e.g., the metre (reg 6(1)), the kilogramme (reg 12(1)), the second (reg 25(1)) and the ampere (reg 50). When high-precision legal definitions matter, adopt those definitions and be aware that older colloquial definitions may no longer suffice.

B. Complying with verification and standards rules (Part III, regs 77-81)

Determine whether a standard requires verification under the Act and Regulations

The Regulations apply to standards of measurement and distinguish standards to which s 9 of the Act applies (reg 79). Consult the Act to determine whether a particular standard falls under s 9 or is to be treated as a subsidiary standard under reg 80.

Ensure a distinguishing mark is present where verification is required

A standard shall not be verified unless a distinguishing mark is stamped or otherwise legibly and permanently affixed, except where impracticable due to size or nature (reg 78). Before submitting a standard for verification, ensure it is capable of being so marked or allow for the impracticability exception.

Identify the verifier and understand applicable procedures

If verification is to be carried out by the Organization, note that the Organization specifies the reverification period (reg 80(3)). If a verifying authority will carry out verification, ensure the verifying authority is appointed by the Commission (reg 77) and that it verifies in a manner approved by the Commission (reg 80(2)). Check whether the verifying authority is a body corporate or an individual office-holder, since the Regulations distinguish the roles (reg 80(1), (6)).

Maintain and retain certificates

Certificates issued under regs 79 or 80 must state the date of verification/reverification, any distinguishing mark, the value in Commonwealth legal units ascertained on verification, and the period within which reverification is required (regs 79(2), 80(7)). Keep these certificates, as they are evidence of the matters stated and admissible in court (regs 79(3)-(4), 80(8)-(9)).

Monitor reverification periods and Commission directions

If the Organization verifies the standard, follow the reverification period it specifies (reg 80(3)). If a verifying authority performs the verification under supervision, the Commission will direct the period (reg 80(4)). Track those dates to ensure reverification occurs within the prescribed periods.

Be alert to certificate cancellation

Certificates can be cancelled by the issuing or supervisory entity (reg 81). If you rely on a certificate, verify that it has not been cancelled and that any cancelled certificate is appropriately marked "Cancelled" (reg 81(4)).

For verifying authorities, secure appointment and Commission approvals

Entities that wish to act as verifying authorities must be appointed by the Commission under reg 77. If a verifying authority will operate, it must carry out verification in a manner approved by the Commission (reg 80(2)). Applicants should prepare to satisfy the Commission’s standards, and to be bound by any directions about reverification periods (reg 80(4)-(5)).

Documents and court use

When using verification certificates in legal or administrative proceedings, rely on their statutory admissibility (regs 79(4), 80(9)). Maintain originals or documents properly authenticated, as they are likely to be decisive evidence.

Coordinate with the Act

Because the Regulations operate under and refer to the Act (reg 3(1)), full compliance requires reading the Act to understand definitions such as "Organization" and the scope of section 9. Do not treat the Regulations in isolation.

Drafting contracts and labels

Use the precise unit names, symbols and conversion values from the Schedules when measurement accuracy has legal consequences. Avoid ambiguous unit language that may invite construction against the legal conversions set out in the Regulations.

Following the steps above will align practical operations with the units, conversions and verification mechanics expressly set out in the Regulations (regs 4-81 and the Schedules).

Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations

Plain English Summary

Deep Dive

What it does

Current sections

Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations

Source text: opening excerpt

1 Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations

Main concepts

Who it affects

Key duties and rights

Penalties and enforcement

How it interacts with other laws

Amendment history

Litigation history

Gotchas

How to comply