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Weights and Measures Technical Assistance on Weighing and Measuring Devices, Laws, and Practices |
Division Contact: Henry V. Oppermann
In 1836, the Office of Weights and Measures was formed to promote uniformity among the states in weights and measures standards, laws, and practices to facilitate trade and protect U.S. businesses and consumers. This effort is now maintained by NIST. NIST cooperates with the 50 states, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, other federal agencies, and industry to achieve national uniformity in weights and measures standards, laws, and practices. NIST provides technical guidance to the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM), an organization of state and local weights and measures officials and representatives of industry, consumer groups, and federal agencies. Working with the NCWM, industry associations, other federal agencies, consumer groups, and other organizations NIST operates a multifaceted program to develop uniform laws and practices, testing and quality assurance procedures, and methods of practice that are published in NIST handbooks. It is estimated that these laws and regulations impact U.S. sales of products and services totaling over $4.5 trillion annually. Technical Assistance on Weighing and Measuring Devices, Laws, and Practices NIST develops procedures for testing weighing and measuring devices and prepackaged commodities and for uniform implementation of weights and measures laws and practices. NIST conducts training in these areas for weights and measures officials and industry. Program staff provides technical assistance to the NCWM Technical Committees, industry, weights and measures officials, and the NCWM National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP), which evaluates models of commercial weighing and measuring equipment to determine compliance with NIST Handbook 44. Contact: Tina Butcher (Devices) or Ken Butcher (Laws and Practices) Government and Commercial Weights and Measures Laboratories NIST supports the state and commercial weights and measures laboratories, providing the basis for ensuring traceability of weights and measures standards to NIST. Programs include the development of training materials and conducting numerous seminars and workshops for metrologists from the states, industry, and other countries. Contact: Georgia Harris NIST supports U.S. industry and provides technical support for public and private-sector standardization and standards-related activities through its management of U.S. representation and participation in the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), a treaty organization that promotes global trade through harmonization of performance requirements for measuring instruments used to ensure equity in commerce, ensure public and worker health and safety, and monitor environmental protection. Contact: Charles Ehrlich NIST administers the Metric Program, which seeks to facilitate the nation's transition to the metric system, the preferred system of weights and measures for U.S. trade and commerce. Implementing the U.S. Metric Conversion Law, the program helps foster the metric transition activities of all federal agencies. It provides leadership and assistance on adoption and use of the metric system by businesses, state and local governments, standards organizations, trade associations, and the educational community. Contact: Kenneth
Butcher
Date
created:December
19, 2001 |