The
National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) is an
evaluation program administered by the National
Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM).
Type evaluation is the process whereby weighing and
measuring devices are examined to determine if the
performance, operating characteristics, features and
options of a particular device complies with the
applicable requirements of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44.
When was it established?
NCWM,
in conjunction with industry and weights and measures
officials, established a Task Force to develop NTEP in
1976. NTEP was later established in 1984 and is a
cooperative program among manufacturers, users, and
weights and measures officials.
Why was it established?
The purpose of NTEP was
to establish a uniform set of criteria and test
procedures for the evaluation of commercial weighing
and measuring devices. Before the adoption of NTEP
there were 16 different type approval agencies in the
United States. With the establishment of NTEP, a
single evaluation can satisfy all states. In addition
to promoting uniformity it
reduces cost and time
in getting a device to market.
reduces the burden on
state type approval programs.
reduces costly mistakes
to device users.
enables tests to be
conducted prior to the device being sold for
commercial use.
An NTEP evaluation is the one time that a device is
subjected to testing that includes maximum capacities
and all features specified by the manufacturer.
Presently, 44 of the 50 states are NTEP states. That
means they require an NTEP Certificate of Conformance
(CC) for any device used commercially in their state.
