North East London Metrology Partnership:

Weights and Measures

The London Borough of Havering Trading Standards Service hosts the partnership, set up by the London Boroughs of Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Newham and Barking & Dagenham.

NELMP carries out weights and measures functions and has a measurement and calibration laboratory which can provide direct traceability to the United Kingdom Primary Standards and which is UKAS approved for mass calibration.

Background to the Partnership

Consumer Complaints about short weight, short measure or contaminated petrol.

Consumers should contact Consumer Direct where they will obtain expert help on their rights and the detail of their complaint will be passed to the partnership if their help is needed

Weights and Measures (Verification) appointments

If you have new or repaired weighing or measuring equipment (scales, petrol pumps, etc.) which needs to be passed as fit for use for trade and which are based in any of the above Boroughs NELMP can carry out this work.

For information, or to make an appointment please contact:

Trading.standards@havering.gov.uk

Telephone 01708 433427

Other Testing and Calibration Services

The NELMP laboratory has a proven track record of providing a testing and calibration service to both Local Authorities and Industry in areas including:

• Mass (weights) (including a UKAS[1] accredited service).
• Glass measures and flasks
• Metal capacity measures
• Tape measures and rules
• Weighing machines
• Tyre pressure gauges
• Brake testers

Our mass laboratory is housed in the London Borough of Havering and is UKAS accredited to test and calibrate weights between 1mg and 25kg to OIML Class M1 and F2.

Capacity measures from 1 ml to 20 litres are tested gravimetrically in accordance with British Standards and National Weights and Measures Laboratory requirements. The measures are tested and then reported at 20°C.

Metric rules and tape measures up to 30 metres in length are calibrated and certified to an accuracy level suitable for general purposes and for master tapes against which working tapes are compared. In some instances it may be possible to certify the accuracy of tape measures to 50 meters in length.

To help in the testing of measuring instruments we can mark and verify distances.

What is UKAS?

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is an independent accreditation organisation which assesses the work and procedures of laboratories, and if they meet the required standard, [ISO/IEC 17025] the laboratory gains accreditation to carry out the work in specified areas.

The laboratory can then issue UKAS certificates and reports for work done for clients in those areas they are accredited for.

Why Choose a UKAS Lab?

• You have the assurance that agreed and recognised procedures have been followed in your calibration
• A UKAS certificate of calibration is recognised at an international level
• You have the assurance that trained and competent personnel have carried out your calibration
• The laboratory operates a documented quality management system, and is involved in internal audits and reviews as well as external assessments and inter-lab comparisons.

If you would like more information on UKAS then click on this link www.ukas.com

Our service promises

• The laboratory has a customer focused approach and the technical officers are on hand to give free and impartial advice on the testing and calibration of weights and other equipment.
• All telephone and e-mail enquires will be responded to within one working day.
• The laboratory will provide immediate telephone quotations for standard items. All quotations are provide free with no obligation and we endeavour to be competitive. We provide immediate telephone quotations for standard items. For more unusual items or those involving the use of heavy equipment we are happy to visit your premises to see how far we can be of assistance.
• Calibration work can normally be undertaken without prior notice and delivery time is usually within 5 working days, although an express service may be available. If you have a deadline to meet please contact a member of the team who will endeavour to meet your requirements.
• For your convenience we can help with delivery and collection of loads of up to one tonne. We may also be able to provide a service direct from and to your premises. A fee will be charged for collection and delivery.
• As part of a partnership it may be possible to arrange collection from the trading standards services in the partner Boroughs.

Weights and measures

North East London Metrology Partnership:

Background to the Partnership:

The North East London Metrology Partnership isa joint enterprise funded by the Boroughs of Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge Waltham Forest and recently Newham for the provision of certain Weights and Measures functions required to be provided under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 in the respective administrative areas.

The partnership was formed in April 2002 by the four London Boroughs to allow the pooling of resources by providing a joint service to reduce administrative costs and provide a much better service to consumers and business alike.

The Partnership was set up to improve services, improve efficiency in meeting statutory requirements in the areas of verification and some specialist inspections under weights and measures. It was also hoped to establish a 'centre of excellence' to support consumers, commerce, industry and the profession.

Aim of the Service:

·Ensure the integrity and maintenance of one set of local standards reducing the costs by 25%

· Maintain a UKAS approved calibration and testing service and the maintenance of such equipment.

· Provide a testing and adjustment service of all working standards within 5 working days- cost absorbed in the membership fee.

· Provide one mass laboratory and a 'wet' laboratory to ensure the accurate testing of working standards and other equipment submitted for test.

· Provide one contact point for metrological service requests

· Provide a uniform service in the inspection and verification of weighing and measuring equipment.

· Provide a uniform approach to the inspection of premises under the Weights and measures Act 1985, in particular part V (Average quantity)