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of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.

Designation: D 4753 – 9502

Standard Specification Guide for

Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Balances and Scales
Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and Construction
Materials Testing1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4753; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of 
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
cript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
superscript
supers

1. Scope
Scope*
*
1.1 This specification guide provides
provides minimum requirements
requirements for general-purpose scales, balances,
balances, and standard masses used in
testing soil, rock, and related construction materials.
1.2 This specification guide provides guidance for evaluating,
evaluating, selecting, and specifying general purpose scales,
scales, balances, and
standard masses used in testing soil, rock, and related construction materials.
1.3 The accuracy
accuracy requi
requireme
rements
nts for bala
balances
nces and scale
scaless are specified
specified in terms of the combined
combined efeffect
fect of all sources of error
contributing to overall balance performance. The measurement of specific sources of error and consideration of details pertaining
to balance construction have been intentionally avoided.
1.4 This specification guide does not include requirements
requirements for balances and scales that have having accuracies greater than those
generally required in normal testing soil, rock, and related construction materials.
1.5 This specificati
specification
on guide does not apply to nongr
nongraduat
aduated
ed balances.
balances.
1.6 This specification guide does not address the methods
methods used to verify or quantify specific parameters dealing
dealing with balances
and scales. For a description of tests used in evaluating balance performance, see NIST Handbook 44.
1.7 This specificati
specification
on guide is not intended
intended to be used as a specification
specification for the purchase of balances and scales.
NOTE   1—The National Institute of Standar
Standards
ds and Technology
Technology (NIST), formerly the Nationa
Nationall Burea
Bureauu of Standards (NBS), and the International
International
Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) publish standards or practices that specify construction requirements as well as performance specifications
guides for balances. ASTM, OIML, and NIST publish construction standards and tolerances for standard masses.
NOTE  2—The terms “mass” and “determine the mass of” are used in this standard instead of the more commonly used terms “weight” and “weigh”
to comply with standard metric practice. In addition, the term “standard mass(es)” is used instead of standard “standard weight(s)” when referring to a
piece of material of known specified mass used to compare or measure the mass of other masses.
1.8  This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course
of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgement.
 Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumst
circumstances.
ances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repr
represent
esent or replace
the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged nor should this document be applied 
without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The sword “Standard” in the title of this document mans only that the
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

2. Referenced Documents
2.1   ASTM Standards:

1
This specification guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.91 on Standards
Development and Review.
Currentt edition approved
Curren approved April 15, 1995. Jan. 10, 2002
2002.. Publis
Published
hed June 1995. March 2002. Originally published as D 4753 – 87. Last previo
previous
us editio
edition
n D 4753 – 925.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 4753 – 9502
E 617 Specification for Laboratory Weights and Precision Mass Standards 2
2.2 National Institute of Standards and Technology Documents:
NIST Handbook 44 Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices 3
NIST Handbook 105-1 Specifications and Tolerances for Reference Standards and Field Standard Weights and Measures 3
2.3 International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML):
International Recommendation No. 20 Weights of Accuracy Classes E 1, E2, F1, F 2, M1  from 50 kg to 1 mg 4
International Recommendation No. 3 4

3. Terminology
3.1   Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1   accurate—a balance is “accurate” when its performance (its indication as determined by tests made with suitable
standards) conforms to the standard within the applicable tolerances and other performance requirements. Balances that fail to
conform are “inaccurate.”
3.1.2   balance—an instrument for determining the mass of an object by the action of gravity on the object. See   scale.
N OTE   3—In
3.1.2.1   Discussion—In this specification guide and in common usage, the terms balance and scale are used interchangeably as
is often done. interchangeably. The term balance is more often used in scientific fields of application. See Note 7. The term scale
usually refers to instruments intended for commercial or industrial applications, and when so used, usually implies an instrument
of lesser performance than a balance.
3.1.3   basic condition —a basic condition is a condition that must be met before a basic measurement for evaluating a balance
can be performed.
3.1.4  basic measurement (of error) —a basic measurement for evaluating a balance is performed by ( 1) determining the change
of indication of the balance when a load of known mass is added to or subtracted from any load mass already on the balance; and
(2) taking the difference between the change in the indication determined and the known value of the mass.
3.1.5  basic tolerance—basic tolerances are those tolerances—tolerances that are established by a particular code for a particular
device under all normal tests, whether maintenance or acceptance. Basic tolerances include minimum tolerance values when these
are specified. Special tolerances, identified as such and pertaining to special tests, are not basic tolerances.
3.1.6   capacity—of a balance, the maximum load mass recommended by the manufacturer, disregarding any additional
capability supplied by a taring device.
3.1.7   general-purpose balance —any balance used to make a general purpose determination of mass. See  general-purpose
determination of mass.
3.1.8   general-purpose determination of mass— a single determination of mass using a balance (not a special purpose
determination of mass involving repeat determinations of mass, averages, standard deviations, corrections etc.).
3.1.9  general-purpose standard mass —a standard mass used with a balance to make a general purpose determination of mass.
See   general-purpose determination of mass .
3.1.10   hysteresis —the difference between indications obtained when the value of the applied load mass is reached by adding
mass or by removing mass from the load receiving element of a balance.
3.1.11   linearity error —plus or minus deviation from the theoretically straight-lined (linear) course of two interdependent
values. In balances, this expression is applied to the plus or minus deviation of the indicated measurement value from the true
(actual) value of the load.
NOTE  4—The term linearity mass.
3.1.11.1   Discussion—Linearity implies that the deviation from the true values are a continuous function of the applied load.
mass. Thus, obtaining enough values of the true applied load mass versus balance reading to establish a relation between applied
load mass and output should give the error that will occur at any applied load. mass. Linearity, then, is a statement about the
systematic (nonrandom) error of a balance. Superimposed on the linearity are precision and other effects, such as off-center errors,
temperature effects, etc. Linearity is a measure of balance performance over its full range, and on most balances adjustments can
be made to alter the useableness of a balance with a given linearity for weighings measurements within a particular range of use.
3.1.12   nongraduated balance —balances not fitted with a scale numbered in units of mass.
3.1.13   off-center error —of a top loading or platform balance , the difference in indicated value when a mass is shifted to various
positions on the loading area (pan or platform); eccentric load error. N OTE   5—The
3.1.13.1   Discussion—The test for off-center error is called the shift test, or offcenter-load test. Information about balance
performance under eccentric loadings is not normally found in product literature but such information can usually be obtained by
contacting the manufacturers directly.

2
 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
3
Available from the International Standards, National Institute of Standards and Technology, US Department of Commerce, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
4
Available from the Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

2
 D 4753 – 9502
3.1.14  precision of a balance —the degree of agreement between the indications of a balance for repeated determinations of 
mass of the same mass under essentially the same conditions. It is usually expressed quantitatively as a standard deviation of a
series of weighings, mass determinations, or as a function of the range of several determinations of mass. mass determinations.
See  repeatability type II ,   reproducibility .
3.1.15   readability type I —the value of 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.
3.1.16  readability type II —the value of the smallest unit of mass that can be read  with   estimation over the given range of 
measurement.
3.1.17  readability type III —the value of the smallest unit of mass that can be read while the balance is in use, but not smaller
than readability Type I.
NOTE   6—Readability Type III refers to the smallest unit of mass that can be read when in-service conditions such as draft, vibration, and other
environmental conditions affect the balance while the balance is in use, but not smaller than readability Type I.
3.1.18   repeatability type I —the degree of agreement between the indications of a balance for repeated determinations of the
same mass under essentially the same conditions. The degree of agreement (qualitatively).
3.1.19   repeatability type II —see  precision of a balance .
3.1.20   reproducibility —see   precision of a balance .
3.1.21   scale—see   balance. Note 7—The term scale usually refers to instruments intended for commercial or industrial
applications, and when so used, usually implies an instrument of lesser performance than a balance.
3.1.22   sensitivity —the ratio of the deflection ( D L) of the balance indicator or self-indicating display to the load mass ( D M )
causing the deflection; S  = D L / D M   at a given load. mass.
NOTE   83—Values for sensitivity are sometimes seen expressed in terms of mass units. When used in this way in reference to a nonself-indicating
balance, sensitivity refers to the reciprocal of sensitivity or the change in mass required to change the position of equilibrium (rest point) a specified
amount, usually one division on the balance indicator. When used in reference to self-indicating balances, it refers to the change in mass required to
change the indication by one scale division.
3.1.23  standard mass —an object of specified mass and construction used with balances, and for the verification of balances and
other masses.
3.1.24  taring range —a range within which it is possible to reset the indicator or display to zero by means use of the tare device.
3.1.25   tolerance—a value fixing the limit of allowable error or departure from true performance or value.
NOTE  94—For additional terms used in this specification guide related to balances and standard masses, see NIST Handbook 44 or OIML IR No. 3
.

4. Significance and Use

4.1 This specification guide provides those writing and using test standards related to soil, rock, and related construction
materials, with a means for determining selecting the balance required for a particular standard.
4.2 This guide provides those writing standards pertaining to soil, rock, and related construction materials with a means for
specifying the balance capabilities required for a particular test method standard and for describing the balance selected in a
uniform fashion.
4.2 This specification
4.3 This guide provides agencies conducting soil, rock, and related construction materials, testing with guidance for selecting
and evaluating general purpose balances and standard masses.
4.3 This specification
4.4 This guide provides inspection organizations with criteria for evaluating general purpose balances and standard masses.
5. Requirements for General-Purpose Balances
5.1 General-purpose balances shall be judged accurate for a given class if their indications meet the basic tolerances shown in
Table 1.
6. Requirements for General-Purpose Weights Masses
6.1 General-purpose standard masses for use in testing of soil and rock should shall conform to the requirements in Specification
E 617 for Type I or Type II, Grade S, O, or P standard masses and have tolerance limits equal to or better than those for Class 6
standard masses except that the maintenance tolerances given in Specification E 617 for Class 6 standard masses are to be
considered acceptance tolerances for purposes of this specification guide and the maintenance tolerances twice those values. The
tolerances values given in Table 2 correspond to the minimum acceptable maintenance tolerances under this specification. guide.
NOTE 105—Former NIST Class J, M, S, S-1, P, and Q standard masses meet this specification, guide, as do OIML Class M1  standard masses (IR No.
20).

7. Evaluation of General-Purpose Balances

7.1   Basic Tolerance—Table 1 shows the basic tolerances for all classes of general-purpose balances used in soil or rock testing

3
 D 4753 – 9502
TABLE 1 Requirements for General-Purpose Balances
  Basic Readability
Class Test Mass,A g
Tolerance Type I,B  g
GP1 $20 60.1 % 0.01
<20 60.02 g 0.01
GP2 $200 60.1 % 0.1
<200 60.2 g 0.1
GP5 $2000 60.1 % 1
<2000 62 g 1
GP10 $5000 60.1 % 5
<5000 65 g 5
GP100 $50 000 60.1 % 50
<50 000 650 g 50
A
The known mass which is added to or subtracted from any lo madss already on
the balance when making a basic measurement (of error).
B 
Not readability Type II.

TABLE 2 Maintenance Tolerances for General-Purpose Standard

Masses
Denomination Tolerance, A mg
20 kg 4000
10 kg 2000
5 kg 1000
3 kg 600
2 kg 400
1 kg 200
500 g 100
300 g 60
200 g 40
100 g 20
50 g 14
30 g 10
20 g 6
10 g 4
5g 4
3g 4
2g 4
1g 4
500 mg 2
300 mg 2
200 mg 2
100 mg 2
A
Acceptance tolerances on new general-purpose standard masses are one-half
the maintenance tolerances shown in this table.

that are covered by this specification. guide. The basic tolerances shown apply to basic measurements made when evaluating a
balance.
7.1.1 A basic measurement for evaluating a balance is performed by determining the change of indication of the balance when
a known mass is added to or subtracted from any load mass already on the balance, and then taking the difference between the
change in the indication determined and the known value of the mass. To evaluate a balance, the basic tolerances shown in Table
1 are applied to the known value of the mass used in the basic measurement. The result of a basic measurement must fall within
the error allowed by the basic tolerance.
NOTE 11—For 6—For nearly all determinations of mass encountered in soils testing, the value of interest is the difference between two determinations
of mass. In cases where the difference between the two determinations of mass is small, relative to the total masses determined, it is desirable to specify
a tolerance based on the difference between the two determinations of mass to relieve what might otherwise be an excessively stringent tolerance.
NOTE   12—A 7—A no load condition may be treated as a load mass of 0.0 g and may be considered a load mass on the balance.
7.1.2 The basic tolerance for a balance should apply to all values of loading within the range of the balance without regard to
whether the balance is properly zeroed or a tare mass is being used, and should apply under all usual and customary methods of 
operation. Furthermore, the basic tolerance must be met in the environment in which the balance is to be used.
7.1.3 A balance shall not be considered acceptable if the result of basic measurements involving any combination of poise
locations, counterpoise masses, pan loading, and scale positions, or unit masses are not within the basic tolerances shown in Table
1.
7.1.4 When evaluating top loading balances, results of basic measurements under off-center loading must also meet basic
tolerances.
NOTE 13—The 8—The possibility of off-center error and linearity error should be considered when making basic measurements.
7.1.5 Standard masses meeting or exceeding the requirements given in Specification E 617 for weights of Type I or Type II,

4
 D 4753 – 9502
Grades S or O, and Class 2 are suggested in Specification E 617 for use as working standards for calibration and precision
analytical work and are recommended in this specification guide for use in evaluating general purpose balances. The use of 
standard masses of lesser quality for calibration purposes is discouraged because of the tendency to think of them as accurate once
they are labeled “standard masses for calibration.”
7.2   Balance Classification —A balance is classified by reference to its readability Type I (see Table 1).
NOTE   149—Capacity is not to be considered when classifying a balance. Balance classification in this specification guide is based on balance
performance, not on use requirements. When selecting a balance, the anticipated loads masses which the balance is expected to measure will dictate the
capacity required.
7.3  Basic Conditions —A basic condition is a condition which must be met before a basic measurement for evaluating a balance
can be performed. In general, basic conditions require that a balance give a clear and stable indication under any condition of 
loading including the indication at no load. Both the useable readability (readability Type III) and the repeatability Type I must
be adequate to perform the basic measurements described in 7.1.
NOTE   150—For example, when a determination of mass is made with a beam balance, if the smallest poise is moved by an amount equal to the
readability Type I, the indicating pointer must move clearly off balance (usually at least one division on the pointer scale). This is an indication of the
adequacy of the sensitivity of a balance.
7.3.1 Readability Type I (not Type II) establishes the balance’s class for determining the appropriate basic tolerance. If 
environmental or other factors cause the usable readability (readability Type III) to be poorer than the readability Type I then the
balance cannot meet the basic tolerance for its class.
7.3.2 The repeatability Type I of the balance being evaluated must be such that the difference between the highest and lowest
values in a group of several determinations of a mass of the same load shall not be greater than twice the balance’s readability Type
I.
7.4  Balance Testing—Two types of testing may be performed when evaluating the performance of a balance.
7.4.1   Maintenance Testing—Maintenance testing should be performed on balances in service. The basic measurement for
evaluating a balance is performed in an environment that meets the manufacturer’s recommendations. Maintenance testing is
performed to determine whether a balance should be repaired. A tolerance equal to or better than the basic tolerance should apply
to all basic measurements for this test.
7.4.2   In-Use Testing—In-use testing should be performed on balances in service. The basic measurement for evaluating a
balance should be performed as and where the balance is used to make general purpose determinations of mass. In-use tests are
intended to indicate the quality of usual and customary mass determinations that are made or may be made when using a
general-purpose balance. The basic tolerance should apply to basic measurements for this test.
7.5   Rejection—If a balance fails when in-use tests are performed then maintenance tests should be performed. If a balance fails
both in-use and maintenance tests, it should be removed from service and repaired or replaced. If a balance fails the in-use test
but passes the maintenance test, the environment in which the balance is located must be improved.

8. Evaluation of General-Purpose Standard Masses

8.1 General-purpose standard masses should be tested on a precision balance. Standard masses meeting or exceeding the
requirements given in Specification E 617 for standard masses of Type I or Type II, Grades S or O, and Class 2 are suggested in
Specification E 617 for use as working standards for calibration and precision analytical work and are recommended in this
specification guide for use in evaluating general purpose standard masses. The use of standard masses of lesser quality for
calibration purposes is discouraged because of the tendency to think of them as accurate once they are labeled “standard masses
for calibration.”
8.2 General-purpose standard masses that fail to meet the requirements specified in Section 6 should be removed from service
and either adjusted to meet acceptance tolerances or replaced.

9. Selecting and Specifying Balances

9.1   Selecting Balances —The selection of a balance is based on the proposed use. A balance must have a capacity sufficient to
accommodate all anticipated test loads, masses, and its performance must be good enough so as not to be a cause of test error. The
accuracy desired in test results should be used to establish the allowable balance tolerances.
9.1.1 The precision of a balance (a term frequently found in manufacturer’s specifications), expressed as a standard deviation,
shall not be greater than twice the readability Type I (not Type II).
9.1.2 When listed by the manufacturer, the linearity error of a balance shall not be greater than twice the readability Type I (not
Type II).
9.1.3 If the maximum error of indication contributed by off-center loading can be obtained from the manufacturer, it should be
no greater than twice the readability Type I (not Type II).
9.1.4 In cases where a test requires that more than one test result be determined, several balances having different capabilities
may be required. Note 16—The following example explains how a balance is selected: assume that a test method requires that
a sample of soil be graded and that the fractions be reported to the nearest 0.1%. If the sample mass is 1000 g, then a balance having
a minimum capability of determining the mass of each fraction to the nearest 1.0 g (0.1% of the total sample mass) will be required.

5
 D 4753 – 9502
If the sample mass is 5000 g, then a balance having a minimum capability of determining the mass of each fraction to the nearest
5.0 g (0.1% of the total sample mass) will be required.
9.2   Specifying Balances —An example of the wording that may be used to specify balances in ASTM standards is as follows:
9.2.1   Balance—A balance having a minimum capacity of ___ g or kg and meeting the requirements of Specification Guide
D 4753 for a balance of ___ g readability.
9.2.2   Balance—A balance or scale conforming to the requirements of Specification Guide D 4753 readable (with no estimation)
to 0.1 % of the test mass, or better.
NOTE  171—Special consideration may be required when specifying the readability of balances used to determine masses of less than 20 g.

10. Keywords
10.1 balance; scale; standard masses

ANNEXES

(Mandatory Information)

A1. Annex Examples of Selecting a Specified Balance

A1.1 Assume that a test method requires that the particle sizes of a specimen be determined and that the size fraction be
reported to the nearest 0.1%. If the specimen mass is 1000 g, then a balance having a minimum readability of determining the mass
of each fraction to the nearest gram (0.1 % of the total mass) will be required. If the specimen mass is 5000 g, then a balance having
a minimum readability of determining the mass of each fraction to the nearest 5 grams (0.1 % of the total mass) will be required.

A1.2 Assume that a test method requires that the dry unit weight of a specimen be determined to four significant digits. The
test method states that the balance be readable with no estimation to 0.1 of the test mass. If the mass of the specimen is 100 g,
the balance must be readable to 0.1 g. If the mass of the specimen is 500 g, the balance must be readable to 0.1 g. The mass of 
the specimen would have to be 1000 g before the readability of the balance would be 1 g.

A2. Annex Examples of Specifying a Balance When Writing Standards

A2.1 Assume that a test method requires that a specimen of soil be graded and that the fractions be reported to the nearest 0.1
%. If the specimen mass is 1000 g, then a balance having a minimum readability of determining the mass of each fraction to the
nearest gram (0.1 % of the total mass) will be required. If the specimen mass is 5000 g, then a balance having a minimum
readability of determining the mass of each fraction to the nearest 5 grams (0.1 % of the total mass) will be required. Depending
on the specimen size, either a GP5 or a GP10 would be required. The balance statement would be as specified in 9.2.2.

A2.2 Assume that a test method requires that the dry unit weight of a specimen be determined to four significant digits,
therefore, the test method will require that the balance be readable with no estimation to 0.1 % of the test mass (i.e., 1 part in 1000).
If the mass of the specimen is 100 g, the balance must be readable to 0.1 g. If the mass of the specimen is 500 g, the balance must
be readable to 0.1 g. The mass of the specimen would have to be 1000 g before the readability of the balance would be 1 g. The
balance statement would read “A balance having a minimum capacity of 500 g and meeting the requirements of Guide D 4753
readable (with no estimation) to 0.1 % of the test mass, or better.” This is in accordance with the balance statement specified in
9.2.1

6
 D 4753 – 9502
SUMMARY OF CHANGES

This

In accordance with Committee D18 policy, this section identifies the location of changes to this specification
that have been incorporated standard since the last issue. Committee D-18 has highlighted those changes 1999
edition that affect may impact the technical interpretation or use of this specification.

(1) Section 7.4.1 on acceptance testing standard.

(1) Annex A1 and Annex A2 were added.
(2) Some notes contained mandatory information and were included into the text.
(3) Some notes were discussions and the classification of those notes were changed to discussions.
(4) Most references to load were changed to mass.
(5) The standard was deleted.
(2) The requirement was changed in Sections 9.1.1, 9.1.2, and 9.1.3 from “one-half the readability” a specification to “twice the
readability.” guide.
(6) Minor editorial changes were made.

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