Standard Specification for

Weighing Devices Used in

the Testing of Materials

AASHTO Designation: M 231-95 (2010)

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

444 North Capitol Street N.W., Suite 249
Washington, D.C. 20001
Standard Specification for

Weighing Devices Used in the

Testing of Materials

AASHTO Designation: M 231-95 (2010)

1. SCOPE
1.1. This specification covers requirements for scales and balances, and the loose standard masses used
with balances, used in the testing of construction materials.

1.2. 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 high degree of accuracy is required at large capacities. In such
instances, the requirements for the balance should be included in the test method.

1.3. The requirements included herein are not sufficiently descriptive to be used as purchase
specifications without amplification by the potential purchaser.

1.4. The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
2.1. ASTM Standard:
 E 617, Standard Specification for Laboratory Weights and Precision Mass Standards

2.2. National Institute of Standards and Technology:

 NIST Handbook 44 (1992 Edition)

3. CLASSIFICATION
3.1. 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 G100, based
on readability.

3.2. Standard masses classified as Class 1, 2, 3, and 4, listed in ASTM E 617, Standard Specification
for Laboratory Weights and Precision Mass Standards, 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.

4. TERMINOLOGY
4.1. acceptance tolerance—the maximum permissible deviation from correct indication for new
standard masses or balances and for standard masses or balances having received major servicing.
Usually equal to one half of the maintenance tolerance.

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4.2. accuracy—maximum permissible deviation of indications of a balance or scale from the true value
within applicable tolerances.

4.3. balance—an instrument for determining mass, in its simplest form having a beam supported
exactly in the middle and having two pans of equal mass suspended from its extremities.
Generally, weighing devices of a relatively high degree of accuracy used for determinations of
mass in the laboratory.

4.4. direct-reading balance—a balance on which the mass of applied loads of various magnitudes is
either automatically indicated, or is indicated by means of a calibrated weighbeam, throughout all
or a portion of the range of the balance.

4.5. equal-arm balance—a balance having a beam supported exactly in the middle, having two pans
suspended from its extremities, in which the mass of unknown quantity on one pan is compared
with a set of standards of mass in the other pan. There may or may not be a weighbeam.

4.6. general-purpose masses—standard masses used for general mass determination, generally being
less accurate than standard analytical masses.

4.7. maintenance tolerance—maximum permissible deviation from correct indication for masses or
balances in service.

4.8. off-center loading—application of a load to the pan of a balance or scale at a point displaced from
the center of the support axis of the load-receiving element.

4.9. readability—the smallest unit of mass that can be read without estimation over the given range of
measurement either directly or by use of a vernier or micrometer.

4.10. scale—an instrument or machine used for mass determination, usually embodying a system of
multiplying levers. Generally considered to have a lesser degree of accuracy than balances.

4.11. sensitivity—mass required to produce a discernible movement in the indicating system of the
balance or scale.

4.12. sensitivity requirement—the minimum change in the position of rest of the indicating element of a
scale or balance in response to a specified change in test load on the load-receiving element of the
scale or balance.

4.13. simple balance—a balance designed primarily for use in conjunction with a set of standard
masses. There may or may not be a weighbeam.

4.14. standard analytical masses—working standards of mass used for analytical work, having
relatively small tolerances from the stated values.

5. REQUIREMENTS
5.1. Analytical Balances—Analytical balances of the class specified shall conform to the requirements
of Table 1. These requirements apply both to balances with built-in masses and balances used with
separate masses. The class for standard masses is suggested to provide the required accuracy
(Note 1).

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Table 1—Standard Analytical Balances
Class of Standard
Balance Class Accuracy Sensitivity Readabilitya Massesb Capacityc
A 0.0002 g 0.0001 g 0.0001 g 1, 2, or 3 200 g
B 0.002 g 0.001 g 0.001 g 3 200 g
a
Readability of markings on direct reading balances.
b
Class suggested for use with simple balances.
c
Maximum capacity generally available with balances of the accuracy and sensitivity indicated for the class. Varies depending on the manufacturer, and whether
direct reading or simple balance.

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 a
positive variation and some with a negative variation, which will tend to be compensating.

5.2. General-Purpose Balances and Scales—General-purpose weighing devices shall conform to the
accuracy, readability, 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.

Table 2—General-Purpose Balances and Scales

Class Readability and Sensitivity Accuracya
G1 0.01 g 0.02 g or 0.1 percent
G2 0.1 g 0.2 g or 0.1 percent
G5 1g 2 g or 0.1 percent
G 20 5g 5 g or 0.1 percent
G 100 20 g 20 g or 0.1 percent
a
Accuracy equal to the mass stated or 0.1 percent of the test load, whichever is greater, throughout the range of use.

Note 2—This requirement is to ensure linear performance of balance or scale. It is recommended

that it be checked at five or more points throughout its range.

5.2.1. The balance selected for use is based on the accuracy, readability, sensitivity, and capacity
required for the test 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.

5.2.2. Balances indicating in the Avoirdupois 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.

5.3. Balance Condition—The physical design and condition of a balance shall be such that the balance
will meet the requirements of Sections 5.1 and 5.2.

5.3.1. 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.

5.3.2. Mechanisms for adding or subtracting built-in internal masses shall function smoothly.

5.3.3. Dials and mass increment indicators shall display clearly the readings they were designed to show.

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5.3.4. The accuracy requirement shall be met for any point of application of a test load on the balance
pan or other mass receiving element.

5.4. Masses—Masses shall be selected so that the requirements for accuracy, sensitivity, and/or
readability specified in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 are met when the masses are used with the appropriate
balance.

5.4.1. 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 be used.
The requirements for these masses are described in ASTM E 617. Applicable tolerances are shown
in Table 3. Class 1 and 2 masses are reference masses, generally used for verification of masses of
lesser classes, although Class 2 masses are used as working masses for high-precision mass
determinations. Classes 3 and 4 are considered to be working masses (Note 1).

Table 3—Tolerances for Standard Analytical Masses

Acceptance Tolerances
Class 1a Class 2b
Tolerance Tolerance Class 3c Class 4c
Denomination Individual, mg Group, mg Individual, mg Group, mg Tolerance, mg Tolerance, mg
1000 g 2.5 5.0 10.0 20.0
500 g 1.2 2.5 5.0 10.0
300 g 0.75 1.35 1.5 2.7 3.0 6.0
200 g 0.50 1.0 2.0 4.0
100 g 0.25 0.50 1.0 2.0
50 g 0.12 0.25 0.60 1.2
30 g 0.074 0.16 0.15 0.29 0.45 0.90
20 g 0.074 0.10 0.35 0.70
10 g 0.050 0.074 0.25 0.50
5g 0.034 0.054 0.18 0.36
3g 0.034 0.054 0.15 0.30
2g 0.034 0.065 0.054 0.105 0.13 0.26
1g 0.034 0.054 0.10 0.20
500 mg 0.010 0.025 0.080 0.16
300 mg 0.010 0.025 0.070 0.14
200 mg 0.010 0.020 0.025 0.055 0.060 0.12
100 mg 0.010 0.025 0.050 0.10
50 mg 0.010 0.014 0.042 0.085
30 mg 0.010 0.014 0.038 0.075
20 mg 0.010 0.020 0.014 0.034 0.035 0.070
10 mg 0.010 0.014 0.030 0.060
5 mg 0.010 0.014 0.028 0.055
3 mg 0.010 0.014 0.026 0.052
2 mg 0.010 0.020 0.014 0.034 0.025 0.050
1 mg 0.010 0.014 0.025 0.050
a
Maintenance tolerances same as acceptance tolerances.
b
Maintenance tolerances for standard masses below 100 mg are the same as acceptance tolerances. For standard masses 100 mg and above, the maintenance
tolerances are twice the acceptance tolerances.
c
Maintenance tolerances are twice the acceptance tolerances.

5.4.2. General-Purpose Masses—General-purpose masses for use with equal arm balances should
conform to the requirements of 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 tolerances are shown in Table 4.

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Table 4—Tolerances for General-Purpose Masses
Maintenance Maintenance
Denomination Tolerancea Denomination Tolerancea
20 kg 1500 mg 30 g 30 mg
10 kg 1000 mg 20 g 20 mg
5 kg 800 mg 10 g 15 mg
3 kg 500 mg 5g 10 mg
2 kg 400 mg 3g 8 mg
1 kg 250 mg 2g 6 mg
500 g 175 mg 1g 4 mg
300 g 150 mg 500 mg 3.0 mg
200 g 100 mg 300 mg 2.0 mg
100 g 70 mg 200 mg 1.5 mg
50 g 40 mg 100 mg 1.0 mg
a
Acceptance tolerances on new masses are one half of the maintenance tolerances.

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