landard Specification for leighing Devices Used in the Testing of Materials \SHTO Designation: M 231-95 (2002) . SCOPE i ‘This specification covers requirements for scales and balances, and the loose standard masses used with balances, used in the testing of construction materials, The requirements included are descriptive of the balances required by a number of AASHTO test methods. The general-purpose balances described herein may not be sufficiently accurate for certain tests, especially where a bigh degree of accuracy is required at large capacities. In such instances, the requirements for the balance should be included in the test method. The requirements included herein are not sufficiently descriptive to be used as purchase specifications without amplification by the potential purchaser. The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. CLASSIFICATION Weighing devices are divided into two classes of analytical balances, designated A and B, and five classes of general purpose scales or balances, designated G1, G2, G5, G20, and G10, based oon readability, ; Standard masses classified as Class 1, 2,3, and 4, listed in ASTM E 617, may be used with the analytical balances. Standard masses listed in Table 2, Section 2.23 of NIST Handbook 44 (1992 Edition) may be used with general-purpose balances, TERMINOLOGY — E acceptance tolerance—the maximum permissible deviation from correct indication for new standard masses or balances, and standard masses or balances having received major servicing. Usually equal to one-half of the maintenance tolerance. ‘accuracy—-maximum permissible deviation of indications of a balance or scale from the true value within applicable tolerances. M2311 ‘AASHTO3. 38. 32 3.10. 3.12. 3.13. 3.14, 44 TS1b weighing devices of a relatively high degree of accuracy used for determin the laboratory, cither automatically indicated, or is indicated by means of a calibrated weighbeam, throu or a portion of the range of the balance. equal-arm balance—~a balance having a beam supported exactly in the middle, having WO suspended from its extremities, in which the mass of unknown quantity on one pan is compl with a set of standards of mass in the other pan, There may or may not be a weighbeam, general-purpose masses—standard masses wed for general mass determination, generally less accurate than standard analytical masses. ‘maintenance tolerance balances in service maximum permissible deviation from correct indication for masses 0 off-center loading —application of a Yoad to the pan of a balance or scale at a point displaced il the center of the support axis of the load-receiving eter readability —the smallest unit of mass that can be read without estimation over the given rg ‘measurement either directly or by use of a vernier or micrometer. seale—an instrument or machine woed for mass determination, usually embodying a system af ‘multiplying levers. Generally considered to have a lesser degree of accuracy than balances sensitivity —mass required to produce a discernible movement in the indicating system ofthe balance or scale. sensitivity requirement—the minimum change in the position of rest of the indicating element aff scale or balance in response to a specified change in test load on the load-receiving element oft seale or balance. simple balance—a balance designed primarily for use in conjunction with a set of standard masses. There may or may not be a weighbeam, standard analytical masses—working standards of mass used for analytical work, having relatively small tolerances from the stated values, REQUIREMENTS Analytical Balances—Avalytical balances of the class specified shall conform to the requirements of Table |, These requirements apply bath to balances with built-in masses and balances used wilt separate masses. The class for standard masses is suggested to provide the required accuracy (Note 1). M231-2 ‘AASHTOfable 1—Standard Analytical Balances Class of Standard Balance Class __ Accuracy Sensitivity __ Readability” Masses! Capacity A 0.002 1.0001 g 0.0001 ¢ 12,0r3 200g 5 Tesh of marine on dest reading lane Cs ged ow 0.001 001g 3 2008 Macimim capacity gener va wh balance of he sey an sey india fore las. Vr depending om te nasufisurer ad wether Note 1—The tolerances for standard masses are such that a single mass deviating by the full tolerance may cause the balance to exceed the accuracy requirement. In general, an individual ‘mass will deviate only slightly from the stated value, and groups of masses will have some with & positive variation and some with a negative variation, whicb will tend to be compensating, General Purpose Balances and Seales—General purpose weighing devices shall conform to the accuracy, realability, and sensitivity indicated in Table 2. Within any interval equal to 10 percent of the capacity of the balance, the difference in the load indications shall be accurate to within (0.1 percent of the difference in masses (Note 2). The device shall not be loaded in excess of its ‘nominal or stated capacity ble 2— General Purpose Balances and Scales “Accuracy” D2 gor Lt percent ® 2gor0. perce S eor0 1 percent 20 gor 0.1 pereont Dear alo ams ane or 0] pect ol he oad, whiheer ete rouble ngs OT Note 2—This requirement is to ensure linear performance of bates o¢ scale. It is recommend that it be checked at five or more points throughout its range. d The balance selected for use is based on the accuracy, readability, sensitivity, and capacity requited for the tesr being performed. Subportions of the sample are to be weighed to at least the accuracy indicated by the device required for the total sample (Note 3). Note 3—Balances have considerable variation in quality. Less expensive balances may be unable to provide the required accuracy for the full range of the capacity of the device, especially if subjected to rough field usage Balances indicating in the Avoindupais system (pounds and ounces), or separate masses used with such devices, shall meet levels of accuracy, readability, and sensitivity equivalent to those shown in Table 2 for balances and Table 4 for masses. Balance Condition—The physical design and condition of a balance shall be such that the balance will meet the requirements of Sections 4.1 and 4.2 Repeated determinations of the mass of a test load shall yield load indications that agree with each other within the sensitivity specification for the balance. Mechanisms for adding or subtracting built-in internal masses shall function smoothly.Dials and mass increment indicators shall display clearly the readings they were designed tog 43.4 ‘The accuracy requirement shall be met for any point of application of a test load on the bl pan or other mass receiving element, 4a. ‘Masses—-Masses shall be selected 30 that the requirements for accuracy, sensitivity, and/or readability specified in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 are met when the masses are wsed with the apt balance. 444 Standard Analytical Balances—Analytical masses for use with equal arm balances should be Class 1, 2,3, or 4, as appropriate for the accuracy of the balance with which they are to bet The requirements for these masses are described in ASTM E 617. Applicable tolerances are in Table 3. Class 1 and 2 masses are reference masses, generally used for verification of mass lesser classes, although Class 2 masses are used as working masses for high precision mass determinations. Classes 3 and 4 are considered fo be working masses (Note 1) Table 3— Tolerances for Standard Analytical Masses ‘Acceptance Tolerances Class 1 Class 2” Tolerance Toler Class 3° Clas Denomination Individual, mg Group, mg Individual, mg Group, mg Tolerance, mg Toleranea a rT ae cea 200 se 2 2s so 100 300g 075 135 ts a7 30 sa 200g 050 lo 20 “ 1008, 025 050 10 20 sox on 025 060 a 0g oo7s one ays 029 oss 030 208 07s 10 038 om 0g 0.080 07a 025 a0 se oo. 084 as 036 35 0035 oss ats 030 0.034 0.065 pss 08 013 026 le 0x6 0.088 10 020 500 me 010 02s 0x0 a6 300 mg oot 02s 0070 ou ome 010 0.020 oons o0ss 0.060 on 100mg 0010 02s asa oxo some 010 oor 012 uss some ow ois 0038 ons 20mg 010 20 now ox 03s ono ome ‘aie oom 0.030 00 sme 010 ors oo ‘ass img 010 ons 0.026 ose 2a 010 0.020 ota 00x 0s 0030 Line ao. dots 0.025 050 Moen sr tans O10 ge ime ap er FS e109 nda, ms TS-1b Maat ‘AASHIGenerat Purpose Masses—General purpose masses for use with equal arm balances should conform to the requirements af NIST Handbook 44 (1992 Edition), Table 2, Section 2.23, Weights. Masses for use with single pan balances shall have sufficient accuracy so that the balances meet the requirements for such devices, Applicable toteraaces are shown in Table 4, 4—Tolerances for General Purpose Masses Maintenance Maintenance Denomination _ Tolerance* Denomination Tolerance” 20Ke 1500 mg aE 30 me okg 1000 mg 8 20mg Sky £00 mg wos ISmg 3g 00 mg 38 lone 2k 00 mg 3e mg ke 250 mg 2s 6g so0g 175 mg 1g mg 300g 130 me 500 mg 30m, 2008 100 me 300me 2008 1008 70m 200 mg LS me 508 song 10 me Lome ene ba new rns a neal he mioance ICES