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Procedures for Selection, Approval, Maintenance and Use of National Measurement Standards and Reference Measurement Standards, List of Justified Expenditures Made for Maintenance, Development, Calibration and International Comparison of National Measurement Standards and Reference Measurement Standards, and List of National Measurement Standards and Reference Measurement Standards

Passed 18.04.2019 No. 28

The Regulation is established pursuant to subsection 4 (6) of the Metrology Act.

§ 1.  Selection and approval of national measurement standards and reference measurement standards

 (1) Aa national measurement standard and reference measurement standard shall be selected for approval for the list based on:
 1) necessity deriving from the economy;
 2) necessity deriving from public administration;
 3) necessity deriving from scientific and research activities;
 4) obligation deriving from an international agreement.

 (2) A national measurement standard and reference measurement standard indicates a physical quantity in accordance with the definition of the unit of measurement, and is connected with an appropriate unit of measurement whether as an artefact chosen by convention, based on a primary reference measurement procedure or through the measurement standards of other states which have proven traceability.

 (3) To approve a measurement standard as a national measurement standard or reference measurement standard, a laboratory shall submit a need analysis and cost-benefit analysis for the measurement standard and the following data for ensuring the maintenance and use of the properties of the measurement standard to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications:
 1) information on existence of measuring instruments and accessories that form a part of the measurement standard;
 2) information on the existence of premises and on the existence of personnel for the maintenance and use of the measurement standard;
 3) documents evidencing the metrological properties of the measurement standard.

 (4) The need analysis for the measurement standard shall indicate the connection of the selection specified in subsection (1) with the target group, and the cost-benefit analysis shall indicate the time period needed for the benefit from using the measurement standard to cover the costs incurred.

 (5) A national measurement standard and a reference measurement standard shall be approved by a directive of the minister responsible for the area.

 (6) The list of national measurement standards and reference measurement standards shall be formed of the national measurement standards and reference measurement standards approved pursuant to subsection (5). The list of national measurement standards and reference measurement standards shall be published on the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

§ 2.  Maintenance and use of national measurement standards

 (1) National measurement standards shall be maintained in a laboratory complying with the requirements specified in § 19 of the Metrology Act.

 (2) The national measurement standard laboratory shall use a national measurement standard for the purpose of ensuring the reliability and traceability of measurement.

 (3) National measurement standards shall be maintained and used in accordance with international practice.

 (4) The documents recording the maintenance, use, development and inspection of national measurement standards shall be maintained in the national measurement standard laboratory for an indefinite period of time.

§ 3.  Maintenance and use of reference measurement standards

 (1) Reference measurement standards shall be maintained in a laboratory which meets the requirements specified in § 20 of the Metrology Act.

 (2) The reference measurement standard laboratory shall use a reference measurement standard for the purpose specified in subsection 2 (2).

 (3) The documents recording the maintenance and use of reference measurement standards shall be maintained in the reference measurement standard laboratory for an indefinite period of time.

 (4) The reference measurement standard laboratory shall inform the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications as soon as practicable if the metrological properties of the reference measurement standard change down to the level which is lower than for the reference measurement standard approved by a directive of the minister responsible for the area pursuant to subsection 1 (5).

§ 4.  Justified expenditures related to national measurement standards

 (1) The justified expenditures of the national measurement standard laboratory in the maintenance, development, calibration and international comparison of a national measurement standard are the following:
 1) personnel engaging in the fulfilment of tasks related to the measurement standard;
 2) acquisition and maintenance of reference equipment and accessories necessary for maintaining the best measurement capability;
 3) maintenance of the air conditioning and ventilation equipment of the laboratory;
 4) acquisition of materials necessary for the purpose of maintenance and improvement of the measurement system connected with the measurement standard;
 5) carrying out calibration and international comparison of reference equipment;
 6) performance of lease and management obligations;
 7) accreditation services of the laboratory;
 8) carrying out the recognition of an international database of calibration and measurement capability for national measurement standards;
 9) liability insurance premiums.

 (2) The expenditures specified in clause (1) 1) shall be covered in relation to the following activities:
 1) participating in international comparison measurements and calibrations;
 2) checking the condition of the measurement standard;
 3) maintenance of the measurement standard;
 4) preparing documents for entering the best measurement capability in an international database;
 5) preparing documents and procedures necessary for accreditation of the national measurement standard laboratory and holding the accreditation;
 6) training of the keeper of the measurement standard;
 7) development of necessary procedures and measurement methods.

§ 5.  Justified expenditures related to reference measurement standards

 (1) The expenditures of a reference measurement standard laboratory in the maintenance, development, calibration and international comparison of a reference measurement standard set out in clauses 4 (1) 1)–6) are justified.

 (2) The staff expenditures referred to in subsection (1) shall be covered in connection with the activities specified in clauses 4 (2) 1)–3).