The new approach to measuring instruments directive

This Act, the metrological control of the State, of the instruments, equipment, means and measuring systems, may include: approval of model, primitive verification, verification after repair or modification, periodical verification and monitoring and inspection. But already in point 7.4 provided for the transfer of responsibilities to the autonomous communities. Later the Royal Decree 1616 / 1985 develops the law 3/1985 and establishes the metrological Control that performs the administration of the State.

As a result of the accession of the European communities, the legislative Royal Decree 1296 Spain / 1986, amended the law of metrology to adapt to Community law, by establishing, in addition to the control of the State, a control metrological EEC. This control is regulated by Royal Decree 597/1988.

Pursuant to article 143 of the Constitution, historical communities, Basque country, Catalonia, Navarre and Galicia, Andalusia, the Canary Islands and Valencia, entering its powers of weights and measures, to have it referred to in their respective statutes of autonomy.

Subsequently, the organic law 9/1992 transfer, pursuant to article 150.2 from the Constitution, responsibilities in weights and measures in the following autonomous communities: Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, Murcia, Aragon, Castile - La Mancha, Extremadura, SpainMadrid and Castile and León, Spain.

The organic 4/1996 Act amends the Statute of autonomy of the Canary Islands, incorporating competition in weights and measures.

Today all the C.C.A.A. have for both transferred these skills, except Galicia which has still not assumed them.

As a direct result of the accession to the EEC, there is the transposition of Community directives in force, published the corresponding technical orders. Including the order of 30 December 1988 which regulates materialized measures in length.

For the conduct of the trials of materialized measures of length, the length area of the Spanish Center of Metrology has a Bank of granite from 25 meters in length equipped with a Laser Interferometer. This Bank has characteristics that make them unique in Spain, allowing the calibration of tapes of great length with reduced values of uncertainty.

It has a mobile cart that incorporates the optical system (CCD camera, lighting) for fiber optics, digital generator of endoplasmic and reflector in interferometric system monitor. Resolution of the Interferometer, as well as the geometry of the set provides an accuracy of more than the required measure in metrological of these instruments.

The weighing 90/384 EEC directive provides for a new approach to EEC and presents a new more open philosophy, where it not only evaluates the instrument itself, but also the use given to the same.

But this way would require to have a new directive for each instrument. At beginning of 1990 began the work by the Commission for the development of the Metro directive, Workbench the core requirements of the instrument and the use that is going to do the same, as in the aforementioned directive 90/384.

The assessment of the conformity of a product is based on three basic principles:

• Establishment of modules that relate to the design and production phases.
• Compliance with the essential requirements by the product, prior to the placing on the market.
• Performance of the notified bodies, or the competent authorities to ensure compliance in the implementation of the modules and standards EN 29000.

As indicated, the different modules relate the different phases of design and production, intervening or not a notified body:

• Module a. Internal Control of production. This single module involves the manufacturer, which facilitates the technical documentation to the authority in the design phase, while in the production stage the manufacturer himself declares conformity with the requirements and puts the brand for CE.
• B. review EC type module. This module only works in the design phase. The manufacturer presents to a notified body the technical documentation and the model to consider. The notified body assesses the conformity through timely trials.
• Module C. conformity with the type. The implementation of this module is done on the production phase only. The manufacturer puts the CE mark on the product after declaring conformity with the model.
• D. the quality assurance of the production module. Also applies only in the production phase. The manufacturer adopts the system of quality ISO 9003 and declares conformity with the model. The notified body puts the CE mark and validates the quality system.
• E. the product quality assurance module. Only in production. The manufacturer adopts the system of quality ISO 9003, declares conformity with the model and puts the brand for CE. The notified body validates the quality system and monitors its implementation.
• F. product verification module. It also acts only in the production phase. The manufacturer declares conformity with the model and puts the CE mark. The notified body verifies such conformity.

• G. unit verification module. In this module manufacturer presented documentation to the authority in the design phase and in the production presents a model, declares conformity and puts the CE mark. The notified body involved in the production phase checking compliance with requirements by issuing a certificate of conformity.

• Module H. total quality. The manufacturer adopts the system of quality ISO 9001 in the design phase and in the production conformity declared and puts the CE mark. The notified body controls the quality system, verifies compliance with the design and acts in the production phase by controlling the system adopted.

The conformity assessment of a materialized measure of length with the requirements of this annex, may be made through the application of the following modules: F, D, B+D, H, G... The application of one or another alternative will be part of the company, thereby giving this greater independence, be able to choose the system that best suits their characteristics.

1. Law of Metrology (weights and measures), Ministry of public works (1999)

Conclusions

New more open philosophy of the metrological control, proposes a new approach based on the evaluation of conformity, Workbench the core requirements of the instrument and the use that is going to do the same, with the current approach of the state metrological control.

These aspects will cause a significant change in the near future, giving greater emphasis and responsibility to the company, compared to the current, most closed system.