Amendment General Rules, the 5th April 2004

To be published in the Gazette of India Extra ordinary, Part II section 3, sub-section (i) dated ………….] 

                                                                         Government of India

                                        Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

                                                              Department of Consumer Affairs

                                                                             NOTIFICATION

                                                                  New Delhi, the 5th, April, 2004

 GSR 253(E)– In exercise of the powers conferred by section 83 of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 (60 of 1976), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Standards of Weights and Measures (General) Rules, 1987, namely:-

1. (1) These rules may be called the Standards of Weights and Measures (General) Amendment Rules, 2004.

(2)  It shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the Standards of Weights and Measures (General) Rules, 1987, for Parts VI and VII of the Sixth Schedule, the following shall be substituted, namely:-

“PART VI – FABRIC OR PLASTIC TAPE MEASURE

GENERAL

(a) This part deals with fabric or plastic tape measures, which are used for measurements where the use of rigid length measures is not convenient or practicable.

(b) Tape measures of 0.5 m to 5 m, made of materials specified in sub-clause (b) of clause 4, are intended to be used for, measurements required in the tailoring trade, anatomical measurements or household measurements.  Tape measures of 5 m and above made of materials specified in sub-clause

(c) of clause 4 are intended to be used for measurements of buildings, roads, timber and timber products and for other similar measurements but not for measurements of land, storage tanks, fermentation vats and other similar measurements.

 CLASSES OF ACCURACY

 Fabric or plastic tape measure shall be divided into three classes of accuracy,

 namely, Class I, Class II and Class III, in accordance with their accuracy.

 NOMINAL LENGTHS

 (a) Fabric or plastic tape measures shall be made in nominal lengths of 0.5 m, 1m, 1.5 m, 2 m, 3m, 4m, 5m or multiples of 5 metres, provided that the maximum nominal length shall not exceed 100 metres.

 NOTE:  The nominal length of a fabric or plastic tape measure is the distance at the reference temperature of 20°C between the initial and terminal graduation lines, when the tape measure is stretched, in the   wet or dry condition, and without friction, on a horizontal plane surface, under a extension of 20 Newtons.  The length so measured shall be equal, within the limits of maximum permissible errors, to the nominal   length of the tape measure.

 MATERIAL

 (a) The materials used shall be adequately strong, stable and resistant to atmospheric conditions under the normal conditions of use and shall comply with the following requirements:

 (i)When ordinarily used at temperatures between ±8°C of the reference temperature, the variation in length of the tape measure shall not exceed the maximum permissible error;

 (ii)When used with a change of ±10 per cent in the tension, the variation in length of the tape measure shall not exceed the maximum permissible error.

 (b) Tape measures of nominal length 0.5m to 5m:

 (i) The tape measure may be made from a suitable fabric or plastic material.

 (ii) The fabric shall be coated with suitable paints, enamels or other suitable coating so as to give the tape measure a good finish.  All coatings shall be non-cracking and water resistant.

 (c) Tape measure of nominal length above 5 m:

 (i) If made from fabrics, the fabric may be reinforced length-wise with rust-proof and rigid wires of metal or other equivalent material.

 (ii) If made from plastic materials, the tape measure shall be reinforced length-wise by means of rust-proof and rigid wires of metal or glass fiber. If made from any other material, the tape measure shall satisfy   the conditions specified in sub-clause (a) of clause 4.

 MANUFACTURE

 (a) General

 (i) Tape measures shall be well-made, robust and carefully finished.

 (ii) The cross section of the tape measures shall have such dimensions and shape that, under normal conditions of use it allows the tape measure to have the accuracy specified for its class. 

 (iii)Tape measures shall be so made that when they are stretched over a plane surface their edges are practically straight and parallel.

 (iv)The rings, winding, devices or other devices shall be attached to the tape in such a manner that they do not cause any inaccuracy or permanent deformation in the tape.

 (b) Tape measures of nominal length 0.5m to 5m:

 (i)Tape measures of nominal length 0.5m to 5m shall have a width of not less than 5mm and not more than 25 mm.

 (ii)If not wound on a spool or in a case, both the ends of the tape measure shall be reinforced with plastic or metal strips, of the same width as the tape measure, over a length of not less than 10mm or more   than 100 mm.

 (iii)If wound on a spool or in a case, the tape measure shall have a metal ring or other device securely attached to the outer end of the tape measure.  A device for retraction or winding of the tape shall be   provided.

 (c) Tape measure so nominal length above 5 m:

 (i) The tape measures shall have a width of not less than 10mm and a thickness between 0.3 and 0.6 mm.

 (ii) A metal ring shall be securely attached to the outer end of each tape measure. The ring shall be securely fastened to the tape measure by a metal strip of the same width as the tape.

 (iii)The outer end of the tape measure shall be reinforced over a length of not less than 100 mm by a strip of leather or other suitable material of the same width as the tape measure.  The strip shall pass round   the inner end of the ring and under the metal strip.

 NOTE: This strip, besides serving as a protective device shall also be utilised for affixing the stamp of verification.

 (iv)The tape measure shall be rolled into a suitable container or wound on a winding device, made of metal, plastic, leather or other suitable material.