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S.I. No. 235/1983 - European Communities ((Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1983.

S.I. No. 235/1983 - European Communities ((Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1983. Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

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  3. s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile Statutory InstrumentsIonstraimí Reachtúla 1983 S.I. No. 235/1983 - European Communities ((Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1983. S.I. No. 235/1983 - European Communities ((Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1983. AmendmentsLeasuithe S.I. No. 235 of 1983. EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ((UNITS OF MEASUREMENT) REGULATIONS, 1983. I, FRANK CLUSKEY, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3 of the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972), hereby make the following Regulations: 1 Citation and Commencement. 1.

(1)These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1983.
(2)These Regulations will come into effect on the 1st day of November,
  1. 2 Revocation.
  2. The European Communities (Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1976, are hereby revoked. 3 Council Directive on Units of Measurement.
  3. In these Regulations "the Council Directive on units of measurement" means Council Directive No. 80/181/EEC of 20th December, 19791 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States of the European Communities relating to units of measurement and on the repeal of Council Directive No. 71/354/EEC of 18th October,
  4. 1O.J. No. L39, 15/2/80, p.
  5. 2O.J. No. L243, 29/10/7l, p.
  6. 4 Legal units of measurement. 4.
(1)The units of measurement named in Chapter I (set out in Schedule 1 of these Regulations) of the Annex to the Council Directive on units of measurement are authorised for use in the State and all units of measurement in the metric system shall be determined in accordance with that Chapter.
(2)The units of measurement named in Chapter II (set out in Schedule 2 of these Regulations) of the Annex to the Council Directive on units of measurement are authorised for use in the State until 31st December,
  1. 5 National metric standards.
  2. The national standards for the metre (the unit of measurement of length) and the kilogram (the unit of measurement of mass) are described in Schedule 3 of these Regulations and deposited in the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards. They shall be the standards by reference to which all other standards of those units and of any other unit of measurement derived wholly or partly from any of those units shall be maintained. 6 Unauthorised units of measurement.
  3. With effect from the commencement of these Regulations and subject to Regulations 7
(2), 10 and 11
(2), the units of measurement named in Schedule 4 of these Regulations shall cease to be authorised for use in the State. 7 Contravention of Regulations. 7.
(1)A person who uses any unit of measurement in contravention of Regulation 6 as applied by Regulation 11 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £800.
(2)Except in the case of a retail transaction or a transaction relating to packaged goods where an unauthorised unit of measurement is used without its metric equivalent, it shall not be unlawful to use in any transaction, by agreement between the parties thereto, any unit of measurement which was hitherto customarily used in trade in like transactions. 8 Effect on contracts.
  1. Section 19 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1878, shall cease to have effect insofar as it makes void any transaction not made according to a weight or measure to which that section refers. 9 Existing Contracts.
  2. Where a contract entered into before the commencement of these Regulations falls to be performed or to be performed partly on or after that date and the contract refers to a unit of measurement named in Schedule 4 of these Regulations, that reference shall on and after the commencement of these Regulations be deemed to be a reference to the value set out in the appropriate column of that Schedule in relation to that unit; and accordingly any calculation that has under the contract to be made by reference to that unit shall instead be made by reference to that value. 10 Use of unauthorised unit. 10.
(1)( a ) A unit which ceases to be authorised may continue to be used as a supplementary indication accompanying an indication of quantity expressed in an authorised unit. ( b ) The indication expressed in an authorised unit shall predominate and a supplementary indication shall be expressed in characters no larger than those of the corresponding indication in an authorised unit. ( c ) In the case of conflict between an indication of quantity expressed in an authorised unit and a supplementary indication the latter shall be disregarded.
(2)A unit of measurement which ceases to be authorised may continue to be used for— ( a ) products and equipment already on the market or in service on the commencement of these Regulations, ( b ) components and parts of products and of equipment necessary to supplement or replace components or parts of the said products and equipment. 11 Application. 11.
(1)These Regulations apply to measuring instruments used, measurements made and dimensions or quantities expressed in units, whether for trade or for any economic, public health, public safety or administrative purpose in the State.
(2)These Regulations shall not affect the use in the field of air and sea transport and rail traffic of units, other than those authorised by these Regulations, which have been laid down in international conventions or agreements binding the Community or the Member States. 12 Modification of legislation. 12.
(1)The provisions of the Weights and Measures Acts, 1878 to 1961, and any other relevant enactment shall be construed together with and subject to these Regulations and, in the event of any inconsistency between these Regulations and any such provision, that provision shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, cease to have the force of law.
(2)( a ) Every reference in any such enactment to a unit of measurement which by virtue of these Regulations ceases to be authorised shall be construed as a reference to the appropriate unit authorised by these Regulations or otherwise by law. ( b ) Every reference in any such enactment to a measurement in a unit of measurement which by virtue of these Regulations ceases to be authorised shall be construed as a reference to the equivalent measurement in a unit authorised by these Regulations or otherwise by law. SCHEDULE 1. LEGAL UNITS OF MEASUREMENT REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 4
(1)1. SI UNITS AND THEIR DECIMAL MULTIPLES AND SUBMULTIPLES 1.1 SI base units Quantity Unit Name Symbol Length metre m Mass kilogram kg Time second s Electric current ampere A Thermodynamic temperature kelvin K Amount of substance mole mol Luminous intensity candela cd Definitions of SI base units: Unit of length The metre is the length equal to 1 650 763.73 wavelengths in vacuum of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the levels 2p10 and 5d5 of the krypton-86 atom. Unit of mass The kilogram is the unit of mass; it is equal to the mass of the international prototype of the kilogram. Unit of time The second is the duration of 9 192 631 770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom. Unit of electric current The ampere is that constant current, which if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and placed one metre apart in vacuum, would produce between those conductors a force equal to 2 x 10-7 newton per metre of length. Unit of thermodynamic temperature The kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature, is the fraction ½73.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water. Unit of amount of substance
(1)The mole is the amount of substance of a system which contains as many elementary entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kilogram of carbon 12.
(2)When the mole is used, the elementary entities must be specified and may be atoms, molecules, ions, electrons, other particles, or specified groups of such particles. Unit of luminous intensity The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency of 540 x 1012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of (1/683) watt per steradian. 1.1.1 Special name and symbol of the SI unit of temperature for expressing Celsius temperature Quantity Unit Name Symbol Celsius temperature degree Celsius °C Celsius temperature t is defined as the difference t = T-T0 between the two thermodynamic temperatures T and T0 where T0 = 273.15 kelvins. An interval of or difference in temperature may be expressed either in kelvins or in degrees Celsius. The unit 'degree Celsius' is equal to the unit 'kelvin'. 1.2 Other SI units 1.2.
  1. SI supplementary units Quantity Unit Name Symbol Plane angle radian rad Solid angle steradian sr Definitions of SI supplementary units: Unit of plane angle The radian is the plane angle between two radii of a circle which cut off on the circumference an arc equal in length to the radius. Unit of solid angle The steradian is the solid angle which, having its vertex at the centre of a sphere, cuts off an area on the surface of the sphere equal to that of a square with sides of length equal to the radius of the sphere. 1.2.
  2. SI derived units Units derived coherently from SI base units and SI supplementary units are given as algebraic expressions in the form of products of powers of the SI base units and/or SI supplementary units with a numerical factor equal to
  3. 1.2.
  4. SI derived units having names and symbols Quantity Unit Expression Name Symbol In other SI units In terms of SI base or supplementary units Frequency hertz Hz s-1 Force newton N m·kg·s-2 Pressure, stress pascal Pa N·m-2 m-1·kg·s-2 Energy, work; quantity of heat joule J N·m m2·kg·s-2 Power ,
(1)radiant flux watt W J·s-1 m2·kg·s-3 Quantity of electricity, electric charge coulomb C s·A Electric potential, potential difference, electromotive force volt V W·A-1 m2·kg·s-3·A-1 Electric resistance ohm Ω V·A-1 m2.kg·s-3·A-2 Conductance siemens S A·V-1 m-2·kg-1·s3·A2 Capacitance farad F C·V-1 m-2·kg-1·s4·A2 Magnetic flux weber Wb V·s m2·kg·s-2·A-1 Magnetic flux density tesla T Wb·m-2 kg·s-2·A-1 Inductance henry H Wb·A-1 m2·kg·s-2·A-2 Luminous flux lumen lm cd·sr Illuminance lux lx lm·m-2 m-2·cd·sr Activity (of a radionuclide) becquerel Bq s-1 Absorbed dose, specific energy inparted, kerma, absorbed dose index gray Gy J·kg-1 m2·s-2 Dose equivalent sievert Sv J·kg-1 m2·s-2
(1)Special names for the unit of power: the name volt-ampere (symbol 'VA') when it is used to express the apparent power of alternating electric current, and var (symbol 'var') when it is used to express reactive electric power. _____________________________________________________________________ Units derived from SI base units or supplementary units may be expressed in terms of the units named in Schedule
  1. In particular, SI derived units may be expressed by the special names and symbols given in the above table; for example, the SI unit of dynamic viscosity may be expressed as m-1.kg.s-1 or N.s.m-2 or Pa.s 1.
  2. Prefixes and their symbols used to designate certain decimal multiples and submultiples Factor Prefix Symbol Factor Prefix Symbol 1018 exa E 10-1 deci d 1015 peta P 10-2 centi c 1012 tera T 10-3 milli m 109 giga G 10-6 micro μ 106 mega M 10-9 nano n 103 kilo k 10-12 pico p 102 hecto h 10-15 femto f 101 deca da 10-18 atto a The names and symbols of the decimal multiples and submultiples of the unit of mass are formed by attaching prefixes to the word 'gram' and their symbols to the symbol 'g'. Where a derived unit is expressed as a fraction, its decimal multiples and submultiples may be designated by attaching a prefix to units in the numerator or the denominator, or in both these parts. Compound prefixes, that is to say prefixes formed by the juxtaposition of several of the above prefixes, may not be used. 1.
  3. Special authorized names and symbols of decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Volume litre l or L
(1)1 l = 1 dm3 = 10-3m3 Mass tonne t 1 t = 1 Mg = 103 kg Pressure, stress bar bar 1 bar = 105 Pa
(1)The two symbols 'l' and 'L' may be used for the litre unit. Note: The prefixes and their symbols listed in 1.3 may be used in conjunction with the units and symbols contained in Table 1.4. 2. UNITS WHICH ARE DEFINED ON THE BASIS OF SI UNITS BUT ARE NOT DECIMAL MULTIPLES OR SUBMULTIPLES THEREOF Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Plane angle revolution (
  1. a)1 revolution= 2 π rad grade or gon gon degree ° minute of angle ' second of angle " Time minute hour day min h d 1 min = 60 s 1 h = 3 600 s 1 d = 86 400 s (
  2. a)No international symbol exists. Note: The prefixes listed in 1.3 may only be used in conjunction with the names 'grade' or 'gon' and the symbol 'gon' 3. UNITS DEFINED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE SEVEN SI BASE UNITS The unified atomic mass unit is one-twelfth of the mass of an atom of the nuclide 12C. The electronvolt is the kinetic energy acquired by an electron passing in a vacuum from one point to another whose potential is one volt higher. Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Mass unified atomic mass unit u 1u ≈ 1.660 565 × 10-27 kg Energy electronvolt eV 1eV ≈ 1.602 189 × 10-19 J The value of these units, expressed in SI units, is not known exactly. The above values are taken from CODATA Bulletin No 11 of December 1973 of the International Council of Scientific Unions. Note: The prefixes and their symbols listed in 1.3 may be used in conjunction with these two units and with their symbols. 4. UNITS AND NAMES OF UNITS PERMITTED IN SPECIALIZED FIELDS ONLY Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Vergency of optical systems dioptre 1 dioptre = 1 m-1 Mass of precious stones metric carat 1 metric carat = 2 × 10-4kg Area of farmland and building land are a 1 a = 102m2 Mass per unit length of textile yarns and threads tex tex 1 tex = 10-6kg.m-1 Note: The prefixes listed in 1.3 may be used in conjunction with the above units. The multiple 10a is, however, called a hectare'. 5. COMPOUND UNITS Combinations of the units named in Schedule 1 form compound units. SCHEDULE 2. LEGAL UNITS OF MEASUREMENT REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 4
(2). QUANTITIES, NAMES OF UNITS, SYMBOLS AND VALUES Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Blood pressure millimetre of mercury mm Hg 1 mm Hg = 133.322 Pa Plane angle g
(1)Activity (of a radionuclide) curie Ci 1 Ci = 3·7 × 1010 Bq Absorbed dose rad rad
(2)1 rad = 10-2Gy Dose equivalent rem rem 1 rem = 10-2Sv Exposure (X and y rays röntgen R 1 R = 2.58.10-4 C.kg-1 Dynamic poise P 1 P = 10-1 Pa·s viscosity Kinematic stokes St 1 St = 10-4m ·s-1 viscosity
(1)Symbol for 'grade'.
(2)When there is risk of confusion with the symbol for radian, rd may be used as symbol for rad. Note: The prefixes and their symbols listed in 1.3 of SCHEDULE 1 may be used in conjunction with the units and symbols contained in this section, with the exception of millimetre of mercury and its symbol and the symbol 'g'. Until the date indicated in Regulation 4
(2), the units named in Schedule 2 may be combined with each other or with those in Schedule 1 to form compound units. SCHEDULE
  1. NATIONAL METRIC STANDARDS Part 1 Description of national standard of the metre The Irish copy of the international metre being a bar about 1030 millimetres long, of simple H section, 24 millimetres wide by 24 millimetres high, made of 58% nickel steel having the upper face of web in neutral plane and a polished scale engraved thereon, bearing the inscription An Méadar Naísiunta, Eire 1969 The metre bar has also the following markings on the face: ( a ) NI 58% No. 15481 20°C ( b ) SIP Geneve Made in Switzerland ( c ) X NI 58% at its left extremity ( d ) 5036 at its right extremity Part 2 Description of national standard of the kilogram The Irish copy of the international prototype of the kilogram being a mass of stainless steel "Immaculate V" (25% chrome, 20% nickel) in the form of a cylinder of revolution, of diameter approximately equal to its height, and has rounded edges. It is constructed of a single polished piece, without an interior cavity or attached pieces; on the upper face is placed the following identification mark: É 1Kg 69 SCHEDULE 4 UNITS OF MEASUREMENT WHICH CEASE TO BE AUTHORISED
  2. IMPERIAL UNITS Quantities, Names of Units, Symbols and Approximate Values: Quantity Unit Name Symbol Approximate Value Length hand 1 hand = 0.1016 m chain 1 chain = 20.12 m furlong 1 furlong = 201.2 m nautical mile (UK) 1 nautical mile (UK) = 1853m Area square inch sq. in. 1 sq. in. = 6.452 × 10-4 m rood 1 rood = 1012 m square mile sq. mile 1 sq. mile = 2.59 × 106 m2 Volume cubic inch cu. in. 1 cu. in. = 16.39 × 10-6 m3 cubic foot cu. ft. 1 cu. ft. = 0·0283 m3 cubic yard cu. yd. 1 cu. yd. = 0.7646 m3 bushel
(1)bu. 1 bu. = 36.37 × 10-3 m3 cran 1 cran = 170.5 × 10-3 m3 Mass grain gr. 1 gr. = 0.0648 × 10-3 kg dram dr. 1 dr. = 1.772 × 10-3 kg stone st. 1st. = 6.35 kg quarter qr. 1 qr. = 12.70 kg cental ctl. 1 ctl. = 45.36 kg hundredweight cwt. 1 cwt. = 50.80 kg ton 1 ton = 1016 kg Pressure inch of water in. H2O 1 in. H2O = 249.089 Pa Force pound force 1 bf 1 lbf = 4.448 N ton force tonf 1 tonf = 9.964 × 103 N Illuminance foot candle ft. candle 1 ft. candle = 10.76 1x Speed knot (UK) 1 knot (UK) = 0.51477 m.s.-1 Energy British Thermal Btu 1 Btu = 1055.06 J Unit foot pound force ft. lbf 1 ft. lbf = 1.356 J Power horsepower
(2)hp. 1 hp. = 745.7 W. degree Temperature Fahrenheit °F 1° F = (5/9) K
(1)This does not affect the unit of measurement of mass (pound per bushel) and Regulation 7 of the European Communities (Standard Mass per Storage Volume of Grain) Regulations, 1976 ( S.I. No. 111 of 1976 ), continues to have effect.
(2)This does not apply to the unit employed for the purposes of excise duty on mechanically propelled vehicles used on public roads. 2. CGS UNITS Quantities, Names of Units, Symbols and Values. Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Force dyne dyn 1 dyn=10-5N Energy erg erg l erg=10-7J Acceleration of free fall gal Gal 1 Gal= 10-2 M·S-2 3. OTHER UNITS Quantities, names of units, symbols and values. Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Wavelength, atomic distances angstrom A 1 A = 10-10m Effective cross -sectional area barn b 1 b = 10-28 m2 Mass quintal (
  1. a)1 quintal = 10kg Pressure standard atmosphere atm 1 atm = 101 325 Pa Volume (forestry and timber trade) stere st 1 st = 1 m3 (
  2. a)No international symbol exists. 4. SPECIAL UNITS Quantities, names of units, symbols and values. Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Volume Festmeter Fm 1 Fm = 1 m3 (forestry and timber industry) Raummeter Rm 1 Rm = 1 m3 Force kilogram force kgf 1 kgf = 9.806 65 N kilopond kp l kp = 9.806 65 N Pressure torr torr technical atmosphere at 1 at = 98 066.5 Pa meter of water (conventionally: 1 m H2O) mH2O 1 mH2O = 9 806.65 Pa millimetre mmHg 1 mmHg=133.322 Pa of mercury
(1)(conventionally: 1 mm Hg) Power Pferdstarke PS 1 Ps = 735.498 75W paardekracht pk 1 pk = 735.498 75 W cheval vapeur CV 1 CV = 735.498 75 W cavollo vapore cv 1 cv = 735.498 75 W Quantity of heat calorie 15°C cal 15 1 cal 15 = 4.185 5 J thermie th 1 th = 4.185 5 × 106J frigorie fg 1 fg = 4.185 5 × 103J calorie IT calIT calrr = 4.186 8J thermo-chemical calth ch 1 cal th,ch = 4.184J calorie Luminance stilb sb 1 sb = 104 cd.m-2 Temperature degree kelvin °K 1°K=1K
(1)Except where this unit is used for measuring blood pressure (see Schedule 2). GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 28th day of July,
  1. FRANK CLUSKEY, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. EXPLANATORY NOTE. These Regulations are made to give effect to Council Directive 80/181/EEC on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to units of measurement. The Regulations provide for the withdrawal of certain imperial and other non-SI units of measurement on enactment, and of further units at the end of
  2. They also include a list of the SI (metric) units of measurement which are authorised for use in Ireland. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

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