S.I. No. 255/1992 - European Communities (Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1992.

(1)These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1992.

(2)These Regulations shall come into operation on the 9th day of September,

2. The European Communities (Units of Measurement) Regulations, 1983 ( S.I. No. 235 of 1983 ), and the European Communities (Units of Measurement) (Amendment), Regulations, 1985 ( S.I. No. 228 of 1985 ), are hereby revoked. 3.

(1)In these Regulations "the Directive" means Council Directive No. 80/181/EEC of 20 December, 19792 as amended by Council Directive No. 85/1/EEC of 18 December, 19843 and Council Directive No. 89/617/EEC of 27 November, 1989.

(2)A word or expression that is used in these Regulations and is also used in the Council Directive has, unless the contrary intention appears, the meaning in these Regulations that it has in the Council Directive. 4.

(1)The use of the units of measurement specified in Chapter 1 (set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations) of the Annex to the Council Directive is hereby authorised and all units of measurement in the metric system shall be determined in accordance with that Chapter.

(2)Subject to Regulations 7, 8

(2)and 9— 1 O.J. No. L357, 7.12.89, p.

1. 2 O.J. No. L39, 15.2.80, p.
2. 3 O.J. No. L2, 3.1.85, p.
3. ( a ) the unit of measurement, therm for gas supply, specified in Chapter IV of the Annex to the Council Directive may be used until the 31st day of December, 1992, and shall not be used thereafter, ( b ) the other units of measurement specified in Chapters III and IV of the Annex to the Council Directive and set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations may be used until the 31st day of December, 1993, and shall not be used thereafter, ( c ) for the specific fields of application specified in Chapters II and IV of the Annex to the Council Directive and set out in Schedule 3 to these Regulations, the units of measurement listed therein may be used until the 31st day of December 1998, and shall not be used thereafter, and ( d ) for the specific fields of application specified in Chapter II of the Annex to the Council Directive and set out in Schedule 4 to these Regulations, the units of measurement listed therein may be used until such date as may be specified in regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972).
4. 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 5 to these Regulations and deposited in EOLAS— The Irish Science and Technology Agency. 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.
5. Section 19 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1878, shall cease to have effect insofar as it makes void any transaction made according to a weight or measure authorised by these Regulations and prohibits sales by any denomination of weight or measure authorised by these Regulations. 7.

(1)( a ) A unit which ceases to be authorised may continue to be used until the 31st day of December, 1999, as a supplementary indication accompanying an indication of a 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 case of conflict between an indication of quantity expressed in an authorised unit and a supplementary indication, the latter shall be disregarded.

(2)Subject to paragraph

(3), 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.

(3)A person shall not on or after the 1st day of January, 1993, offer or supply for sale, rental or lease any weighing instruments, for retail use, other than instruments indicating only in metric units. 8.

(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 agreement binding the Community or the Member States. 9.

(1)Subject to paragraph

(2)of this Regulation, a person who contravenes Regulation 4

(2)(as applied by Regulation 8) or 7

(3)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 an offence or 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. 10.

(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 effect.

(2)( a ) A 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. ( b ) A 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. 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 of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second. (Seventeenth CGPM

(1983), Resolution 1). Unit of mass The kilogram is the unit of mass; it is equal to the mass of the international prototype of the kilogram. (Third CGPM

(1901), page 70 of the conference report). 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. (Thirteenth CGPM

(1967), resolution 1). 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 a vacuum, would produce between the conductors a force equal to 2 x 10-7 newton per metre of length. (CIPM

(1946), resolution 2, approved by the ninth CGPM

(1948)). Unit of thermodynamic temperature The kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature, is the fraction 1/273 16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water. (Thirteenth CGPM

(1967), resolution 4). Unit of amount of substance The mole is the amount of substance of a system which contains as many elementary entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon 12. 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. (Fourteenth CGPM

(1971), resolution 3). Unit of luminous intensity The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source which emits monochromatic rays with a frequency of 540 x 1012 hertz and whose energy intensity in that direction is 1/683 watt per steradian. (Sixteenth CGPM

(1979), resolution 3). 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 of 'degree Celsius' is equal to the unit 'kelvin'. 1.2 Other SI units 1.2.
2. Supplementary SI units Quantity Unit Name Symbol Plane angle radian rad Solid angle steradian sr (Eleventh CGPM, 1960, resolution 12). Definitions of supplementary SI units: Plane angle unit The radian is the plane angle between two radii which, on the circumference of a circle, cut an arc equal in length to the radius. (International standard ISO 31-1, December 1965). Solid angle unit The steradian is the solid angle which has its apex at the centre of a sphere and which describes on the surface of the sphere an area equal to that of a square having as its side the radius of the sphere. (International Standard ISO 31-1, December 1965) 1.2.
3. Derived SI units Units derived coherently from SI base units and supplementary SI units are given as algebraic expressions in the form of products of powers of the SI base units and/or supplementary SI units with a numerical factor equal to
4. 1.2.
5. Derived SI units having names and symbols Quantity Unit Expression Name Symbol In other SI units In terms of base or supplementary SI units Frequency hertz Hz s-1 Force newton N m. kg. s-2 Pressure, stress pascal Pa N. m2 m-1 kg. s-2 Energy, work; quantity of heat joule J N.m m
6. kg. s-2 Power

(1), radiant flux watt W J.s-1 m

1. kg. s-3 Quanity 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 V.A-1 m2.kg. s-3.A-2 Conductance siemens S A.V-1 m-2.kg-
2. s3.A2 Capacitance farad F C.V-1 m-2.kg-
3. 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 1m.m-2 m-2.cd.sr Activity (of a radionuclide) becquerel Bq s-1 Absorbed dose, specific energy imported, 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. The 'var' is not included in CGPM resolutions. Units derived from SI base units or supplementary units may be expressed in terms of the units listed in Chapter I. In particular, derived SI 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.

1. 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.
2. Special authorised names and symbols of decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units Quantity Unit Name Symbol Value Volume litre 1 or L

(1)1 l = 1dm3 = 10-3 m-3 Mass tonne t 1 t = 1 Mg = 103 kg Pressure, stress bar bar

(2)1 bar = 105 Pa

(1)The two symbols 'l' and 'L' may be used for the litre unit. (Sixteenth CGPM

(1979), resolution 5).

(2)Unit listed in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures booklet as among the units to be permitted temporarily. 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 rad grade* or gon* gon* degree ° minute of angle ' second of angle '' Time minute min 1 min = 60 s hour h 1 h=3 600 s day d 1 d = 86 400 s

(1)The character (*) after a unit name or symbol indicates that it does not appear in the lists drawn up by the CGPM or CIPM or BIPM. This applies to the whole of this Annex. (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'.

1. 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 unifed atomic mass unit u 1u » 1.660 565 5 x 10-27 kg Energy electronvolt eV 1eV » 1.602 189 2 x 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.
2. UNITS AND NAMES OF UNITS PERMITTED IN SPECIALISED 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 x 10-4 kg Area of farmland and building land are a 1 a = 102m2 Mass per unit length of textile yarns and threads tex* tex* 1 tex = 10-6 kg.m-1 Blood pressure and pressure of other body fluids millimetre of mercury mm Hg 1 mm Hg = 133,322 Pa. Effective cross-sectional area barn b 1 b = 10-28 m Note: The prefixes and their symbols listed in 1.3 may be used in conjunction with the above units and symbols, with the exception of the millimetre of mercury and its symbol. The multiple of 10 a is, however, called a 'hectare'.
3. COMPOUND UNITS Combinations of the units named in Schedule 1 form compound units. SCHEDULE 2 LEGAL UNITS OF MEASUREMENT REFERRED TO IN REGULATIONS 4

(2)(b) UNITS IN GENERAL USE Quantities, Names of Units Symbols and Approximate Values Energy therm 1 therm = 105.506 x 106 J Length inch 1 in. = 2.54 x 10-2 m foot 1 ft. = 0.3048 m yard 1 yard = 0.9144 m mile 1 mile = 1609 m Area square foot 1 sq. ft. = 0.929 x 10-1 m square yard 1 sq. yd. = 0.8361 m acre 1 ac = 4047 m Volume fluid ounce 1 fl. oz. = 28.41 x 10-6 m3 gill 1 gill = 0.1421 x 10-3 m3 pint 1 pt. = 0.5683 x 10-3 m3 quart 1 qt. = 1.137 x 10-3 m3 gallon 1 gal. = 4.546 x 10-3 m3 Mass ounce (avoirdupois) 1 oz. = 28.35 x 10-3 kg troy ounce 1 oz. tr. = 31.10 x 10-3 kg pound 1 lb. = 0.4536 kg UNITS IN SPECIALISED FIELDS OF APPLICATION Field of Application Unit Name Symbol Approximate Value Spirit Drinks gill gill 1 gill = 0.1421 × 10-3 m3 Goods sold loose from bulk ounce oz. 1 oz. = 28.35 × 10-3 kg pound lb. 1 lb. = 0.4536 kg Until the date specified in Regulation 4

(2)(b) of these Regulations, the units listed above may be combined with each other or with those in Schedule 1 to these Regulation to form compound units. SCHEDULE 3 LEGAL UNITS OF MEASUREMENT REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 4

(2)(c) Field of Application Unit Name Symbol Approximate Value Beer, cider, waters, lemonades and fruit juices in returnable containers pint fluid ounce pt fl. oz. 1 pt. = 0.5683 x 10-3 m3 1 fl. oz. = 28.41 x 10-6 m3 Land registration acre ac. 1 ac. = 4047 m Marine navigation fathom fm. 1 fm. = 1.829 m Milk in returnable containers pint pt. 1 pt. = 0.5683 x 10-3 m3 Road traffic signs, distance and speed measurement mile yard foot inch mile yd. ft. in. 1 mile = 1609 m 1 yd. = 0.9144 m 1 ft. = 0.3048 m 1 in. = 2.54 x 10-m Until the date specified in Regulation 4

(2)(c) of these Regulations, the units listed in this Schedule may be combined with each other or with those in Schedule 1 to these Regulations to form compound units. SCHEDULE 4 LEGAL UNITS OF MEASUREMENT REFERRED TO IN REGULATION 4

(2)(d) Field of Application Unit Name Symbol Approximate Value Dispensing of draught beer and cider pint pt. 1 pt. = 0.5683 x 10-3 m3 Transaction in precious metals troy ounce oz. tr. 1 oz. tr. = 31.10 x 10-3 kg Until the date referred to in Regulation 4

(2)(d), the units listed in this Schedule may be combined with each other or with those in Schedule 1 to these Regulations to form compound units. SCHEDULE 5 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% mickel steel having the upper face of web in neutral plane and a polished scale engraved thereon, bearing the inscription An Méadar Náisiúnta, Éire 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 1 Kg 69 GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 9th day of September, 1992. DESMOND O'MALLEY EXPLANATORY NOTE. These Regulations are made to give effect to Council Directive 89/617/EEC amending Council Directive 80/181/EEC as amended by Council Directive 85/1/EEC on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to units of measurement. The Regulations provide for the phased withdrawal of practically all remaining imperial units of measurement. 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