Like many industries in South Africa, the weighing (or Metrology) industry has certain bodies set up to monitor, regulate and improve the industry. The 3 main bodies involved in the scale industry are; SANAS (South African National Accreditation System), NRCS (National Regulator for Compulsory Standards) and SACS (Scale Council for South Africa).

SANAS : SANAS is the body which accredits and audits the scale companies in terms of The Legal Metrology Act and its regulations. Any reputable scale company should be Accredited by SANAS for Weighing Equipment (SANS 10378) and should be able to produce their certificate.

NRCS : NRCS is the body which monitors and enforces compliance with the Act, they are the ones who conduct inspections at companies sites and ensure that the public is protected from harm. No scale company may Verify a scale unless they have a Certificate of Authority from the NRCS.

SACS: This is a voluntary industry organization for scale companies who are interested in maintaining high standards and improving the industry. There are currently more than 40 members, SACS holds its members to high standards ensuring that quality, integrity and honesty are maintained.

If the scale company you are using does not comply with the above, ask yourself “Why?”. There are many “fly-by-night” scale companies out there, many of them will undertake repairs, servicing or even Verification but if they are not properly accredited they may be breaking the law and ultimately it is the responsibility of the scale owner to ensure that it complies with the law. So next time you need a scale company, make sure they are properly accredited and affiliated or you could end up facing some serious consequences.

Premier Scale Services is an accredited Verification Laboratory (LTF0101) by SANAS, has valid Authority to Verify from NRCS and is a member of SACS. Make the right choice, choose to use an accredited company.