Lifting the Exemption for Water Meters
Update
March 2014
1.
INTRODUCTION
This paper provides an update on the proposal to lift the exemption for certain sizes of water meters
under the National Measurement Act 1960 (Cth) (the Act).
It should be noted that the requirements of the Act, associated Regulations and the content of this
paper only apply to water meters used for trade or billing purposes.
2.
CURRENT EXEMPTION
At present, Regulation 5.6 of the National Trade Measurement Regulations 2009 (Cth) (the
Regulations) exempts certain classes of utility meters from the requirements of the Act, i.e. pattern
approval and verification.
Water meters currently exempt from pattern approval and verification requirements are:
all water meters installed before 1 July 2004; and
all water meters installed on or after 1 July 2004 except cold water meters with a maximum
continuous flowrate (Q3) equal to or less than 4 kL/h.
3.
LIFTING THE EXEMPTION
It is proposed that the exemption for cold water meters with a maximum continuous flowrate (Q 3)
equal to or less than 16 kL/h be lifted on1 July 2014.
The exemption would be lifted via an amendment to Regulation 5.6 of the National Trade
Measurement Regulations 2009 (Cth).
4.
IMPACT OF THE LIFTED EXEMPTION
In practice, once the exemption has been lifted the following requirements will apply:
All cold water meters installed on or after 1 July 2004 with Q3 ≤ 4 kL/h shall be pattern
approved and verified.
All cold water meters installed on or after 1 July 2014 with Q3 ≤ 16 kL/h shall be pattern
approved and verified.
All cold water meters with a Q3 greater than 4 kL/h, but equal to or less than 16 kL/h
(i.e. 4 kL < Q3 ≤ 16 kL), and installed before 1 July 2014 will remain exempt.
All cold water meters installed before 1 July 2004 will remain exempt.
All cold water meters with a Q3 > 16 kL/h will remain exempt.
All hot water meters will remain exempt.
5.
WATER METER TEMPERATURE CLASSES
Cold water meters are generally defined as those that are designed to accurately measure water up to
a temperature of 30 °C. Pattern approved cold water meters are required to withstand exposure to
50 °C without affecting the accuracy of the meter.
However, if a water meter is designed to operate over a range of water temperatures, for example
from 0.1 °C to 70 °C,then the water meter will still need to comply with the requirements of the Act, as
a cold water meter.
More information on water meter temperature classes can be found in NMI R 49-1.
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6.
SUB-METERS
NMI does not make a distinction between meters and sub-meters in use for trade. Sub-meters are
generally considered to be meters installed downstream from a metered connection point or master
meter. For example, apartment blocks or business complexes may have a single meter used by the
utility or retailer to charge for water supplied to the site; and individual units may be invoiced based on
sub-meters installed and used by the property management company. The requirements of the Act
apply to sub-meters in use for trade between any individuals or organisations.
7.
HOW TO BE COMPLIANT
For water meters that are required to comply with the Act (see clause 4), the following actions are
provided as guidance for the respective persons and organisations to assist in complying with the
requirements of the Act and Regulations.
7.1 Meter Suppliers
Meter suppliers should ensure that water meters supplied for trade or billing use are:
a) pattern approved as evidenced by an NMI issued pattern approval certificate.
b) marked with the pattern approval number corresponding to the pattern approval certificate.
c) verified by a utility meter verifier.
Meter suppliers should provide the pattern approval certificate, and where relevant, the certificate of
verification to any customer upon the sale of a water meter.
7.2 Utility Meter Verifiers
Utility Meter verifiers are responsible for verifying utility meters in accordance with National Instrument
Test Procedure 14 (NITP 14). This includes providing evidence of verification either by:
a) marking each meter with a verification mark; or
b) issuing a certificate of verification to the meter supplier and NMI.
7.3 Meter Users
A ‘meter user’ includes any individual or organisation that uses a water meter for trade or billing
purposes, such as water service providers. Meter users are responsible for ensuring that installed
water meters, used for trade or billing purposes, are:
a) pattern approved
b) verified
c) installed appropriately and in accordance with conditions specified on the pattern approval
certificate (e.g. upstream/downstream pipe lengths).
Meter users should request evidence of pattern approval and verification upon purchase or
acquisition. Meter users should also retain evidence of pattern approval and verification of all water
meters used for trade or billing purposes for the operational lifetime of the meter.
8.
EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE
8.1 Pattern Approval Certificates
All current pattern approval certificates for water meters are available on the NMI website.
8.2 Pattern Approval Number
All pattern approved meters should be clearly marked with the relevant pattern approval number; in
the form “NMI 14/3/XX” (numbers on older meters may be in the form “NSC 14/3/XX”). An
example is given in Figure 1.
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Figure 1. Meter Markings
8.3 Verification Mark
Evidence of verification may be exhibited either by the inscription of a verification mark on the water
meter (Figure 2), or by the water meter being identified via its pattern approval number and serial
number on a certificate of verification issued by a utility meter verifier.
Figure 2. Verification Mark
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8.4 Certificate of Verification
Certificates of verification shall only be issue by NMI appointed utility meter verifiers in accordance
with NITP 14 Utility Meters. The format for a certificate of verification is provided as an Appendix to
NITP 14.
9.
PREVIOUS CONSULTATIONS
NMI previously released consultation papers in September 2011 and November 2012 concerning the
proposal to lift the exemption on water meters. .
10. NMI CONTACT DETAILS
NMI can be contacted regarding this update by:
Email: [email protected]
Mail:
Attention: Water Meters
Legal Metrology Policy
National Measurement Institute
PO Box 264
Lindfield NSW 2070
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