WIM Standards |
jurisdictions interpret the
rules differently, having
differing requirements and
testing procedures.
Jon Arnold, a market
specialist at Intercomp says
“WIM manufacturers and
site operators must
approach each locale
differently with regards to
requirements and certifications.
“Though there are many
similarities, there are enough
differences that changes in material
or further testing must be done to
satisfy local requirements – this is
very time consuming and costly, it is
one of the most difficult things with
WIM in the global market today.”
Intentionally difficult
Given Intercomp is a North
American-based WIM manufacturer,
OIML standards aren’t even accepted
in the US so it would be reasonable for
Arnold to be more frustrated by the
certification process but he remains
relatively pragmatic about the situation.
Of course there are limitations
since the standard was designed
for low-speed applications and does
not take into account modern industry
developments
Tomas Pospisek, global market development manager, Kistler
market development manager for
road & traffic considers it the best of
what is available.
“Of course, there are limitations,
since the standard was designed for
low-speed applications and does not
take into account modern industry
developments such as multi-lane,
free-flow operations but with a truly
accepted international standard for
high-speed WIM absent, it is the only
one widely used internationally and
by certification bodies at a national
level,” he says.
An attempt to create a credible
alternative to the R134 exists in the
shape of the Dutch-based NMi WIM
standard. Drawing on some of the
specifications of the OIML version, it
has never really got off the ground.
“It is a proposal for a standard
rather than a standard so it isn’t
really accepted anywhere”, says
Daniel Kneubühl, managing director
at Haenni. “If you go to Germany, the
UK or Switzerland for example they
will not use this standard as they are
OIML members. It is also just not that
great for one country to set up an
international standard.”
The weigh ahead
But WIM manufacturers needn’t
despair that the OIML is not listening
to their concerns. The sitting
president of the Swiss Weighing
Association, Kneubühl is involved in
OIML discussions and is optimistic
that the industry’s frustrations
surrounding R134 have been heard
and are being addressed.
He says, “There is now a revision
of the recommendations which will
help high-speed WIM systems and
based on that we will get acceptance
and then maybe an international
standard that every institute
worldwide will accept. It will be fair,
correct and well defined, member
countries will follow them and adapt
enforcement strategies accordingly.”
The OIML declined to comment
“The US may not implement it but
if you do business anywhere outside
the USA it is by far the most referred
to standard. It is a long, involved and
expensive process but, from an enduser
standpoint, if you’re putting
these products in the ground and
you’re going to be using it for legal
weighing, they need to perform to
extremely high expectations.
“So to actually lessen the standard
to make it easier or less cumbersome
would be appreciated from some
standpoints but you still need to
guarantee the performance at the end
of the day. Any manufacturer would
appreciate a less stringent testing
protocol as long as you could still
guarantee consistent performance
and right now, at least, I don’t know
a way to accomplish both.”
Room for improvement
For some, the complexity of the
certification process is unnecessarily
drawn out. Kistler is, like Intercomp,
a R134-approved WIM manufacturer
and Tomas Pospisek, the firm’s global
High-speed WIM
is currently used
primarily as a
way to pre-select
vehicles for legally
enforceable weighing
on static scales
(above right), but
the industry hopes
new certification
will enable routine
dynamic enforcement
anywhere in the world
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