Lake County, Ohio USA

A Practical Guide to Weights and Measures

Edward H. Zupancic

Lake County Auditor

Table Of Contents

Introduction

Weights and Measures plays a vital role in our everyday lives. Our economy is intrinsically based on the monetary value placed on goods and services bought, sold and traded daily. That monetary value is ultimately determined by an accurate system, our orderly world would turn into chaos.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is the custodian of the Ohio Primary Standards of Weights and Measures, which are traceable to U.S. Standards of the National Institute of Standards and Technolohy (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The official standards of Mass, length and volume are defined in systems of measurement which include U.S. customary, metric, apothecary and troy.

In Ohio, the Director of Agriculture is the state Sealer of Weights and Measures. In this capacity, the Director promulgates rules and regulations necessary for the prompt and effective enforcement of Weights and Measures laws. A Deputy State Sealer, Chief of the division of Weights & Measures, is appointed by the Director and is responsible for the Administration and enforcement of all the laws.

The State Weights and Measures Laboratory, Which houses the Primary Standards, is located at the Department's laboratory complex in Reynoldsburg. The laboratory provides testing and calibration services for local weights and measures jurisdictions, government agencies (federal, state and local), industry, education and research.

All 88 Ohio counties have established weights and measures programs included as one of the responsibilities of the County Auditor's Office. Several Ohio cities have alos implemented weights and measures programs as part of their city services. The State Weights and Measures Office is obligated to advise, assist and train county and city officials.

While local jurisdictions are responsible for testing and inspecting all commercial weighing and measuring devices such as scales, gasoline pumps, taxi meters etc., the state assists them in the testing and inspection of vehicle and livestock scales, fuel meters (fuel oil, gasoline and L.P. gas) and packaged comsumer goods.

Tthoughout the year, the State conducts ongoing schools and seminars for local officials providing them with pertinent information on all facets of this ever changing technical field.

Other programs under the direction of the State Weights and Measures Office include the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) and the Voluntary Registration of Service Persons and Agencies Program (VRSPA).

As a participating NTEP laboratory certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Ohio evaluates weighing devices to be used for commercial use prior to their final approval by NIST.

Agencies and individuals who install, recondition and repair weighing and measuring devices may apply for registration through the state's VRSPA Program. Participants must meet prescribed requirements and successfully complete a state examination before being registered.

The delicate system of weights and measures keeps us all in balance, protecting us in all phases of the economy. From the purveyor of raw materials to the manufacturer, and from the distributor and retailer to the consumer, accurate weights and measures carefully regulate each link in our complex economic chain. Let's all do our share to be informed consumers and work to maintain and support an accurate system of Weights and Measures.