Legal Devices - Training Materials

• Videos

• NIST Handbook 44 Self-Study Course

• Study Guides

• Technical Articles

• Other Resources

Videos

Retail Motor-Fuel Dispenser Video

Full-Length Video:

The following is a link to a full-length video which includes demonstrations of the minimum tests of a retail motor-fuel dispenser (gasoline pump) in accordance with NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Examination Procedure Outlines.

• Retail Motor-Fuel Dispenser Training Video - Full-Length

Short Video Clips:

The following links are to short video clips excerpted from the full-length video referenced above.  Each clip illustrates a procedure with the within overall process of testing a retail motor-fuel dispenser.

NIST Handbook 44 Self-Study Course

This NIST Handbook 44 course covers the history, organization, and intended use of NIST Handbook 44.  It also provides instruction on NIST Handbook 44 terminology; how to locate specific paragraphs; use of the National Conference on Weights and Measures Final reports to understand the application of specific sections; and use of requirements in conjunction with the NIST Examination Procedure Outlines.  While this course is particularly relevant for newer inspectors, it is also valuable for more experienced inspectors to enhance their understanding and use of the NIST Handbook 44.

This course is designed for use as a self-study activity, meaning that it is designed to enable you to work on your own, without an instructor.  However, the course can also be used for group activities and discussion.  The only materials you will need are the course manual below and a copy of the current edition of NIST Handbook 44, which is available for download at no charge from this website using the “Publications” tab on the left side of this page.

Cover and Table of Contents DOC

Chapter 1 – Introduction to the Course DOC

Chapter 2 - Background DOC

Chapter 3 – Organization and Format of NIST Handbook 44 DOC

Chapter 4 - How to Use NIST Handbook 44 DOC

Chapter 5 - Basic Principles Underlying NIST Handbook 44 DOC

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Study Guides

NIST OWM “Study Guides” are designed for use by weights and measures officials and service personnel to enhance and strengthen their knowledge of specific areas of legal metrology inspection and testing.  These study guides are not intended to be a comprehensive summary of all training and development opportunities recommended for inspectors working in a specific topic area.  Rather, they are intended to help individuals in their professional development by targeting the use of information and resources available on the NIST OWM website.  Study guides are particularly ideal for use by individuals who are working remotely and are striving to enhance and strengthen their technical knowledge.
Included in each study guide are the following.

• An overview of resources available on the NIST OWM website, including self-study course material; videos; and newsletter articles and guidance documents on legal metrology issues.
• Suggestions for how each of these resources might be used for either independent, individual study or by groups of inspectors/service personnel led by an instructor or supervisor.
• Information on other training opportunities, including both on-line training and in-person instructor-led training and other resources for professional development.

These study guides are intended for use in conjunction with other resources on the NIST OWM website, including NIST Handbooks 44, 130, and 133.

Below are links to study guides for a number of field inspection areas:

• Grain Moisture Meters and NIR Grain Analyzers
• Measuring - Retail Motor-Fuel Dispensers
• Measuring – Large Meters
• Measuring - Liquefied Petroleum Gas Liquid-Measuring Devices
• Packaging and Labeling Inspections
• Weighing - Small Scales
• Weighing - Large Scales

Please contact NIST OWM at owm@nist.gov if you have questions about any of these guides or suggestions for improvement.

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Technical Articles

Periodically, NIST OWM staff develop and publish technical articles on a variety of legal metrology topics to encourage and promote uniformity in weights and measures requirements and their implementation and methods of inspection.

Below is a recently developed article, which will be published in the next edition of NIST OWM’s newsletter.  This article, developed by Rick Harshman (NIST OWM), addresses multiple questions that have arisen regarding the use of a marking (“Min”) found on some Class I and Class II scales.

This article is accompanied by a “Knowledge Check.”  The Knowledge Check is simply a mini quiz to help a reader check his or her knowledge of the principles covered in the article after reviewing it.  Also included is an Answer Key for the Knowledge Check questions.

• Article:  Making Sense of the “Min” Marking on Class I and Class II Scales
  • Knowledge Check:  Knowledge Check for “Making Sense of the “Min” Marking on Class I and Class II Scales
  • Answer Key:  Answer Key for Knowledge Check

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Other Resources:

NIST OWM has a number of other training opportunities scheduled. For more information:

• OWM Calendar of Events
• Request training using the Weights and Measures Contact Management System