A curated directory of the official regulatory documents, lookup tools, professional organizations, and reference materials that every scale buyer, operator, and compliance professional in the United States should know. Every link on this page points to a primary source — not a commentary about it.
Official US Regulatory Standards
NIST Handbook 44 — Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices
The federal standard governing all commercial weighing devices in the United States. Required reading for anyone specifying or operating a legal-for-trade scale. Updated annually.
Access NIST Handbook 44 — Current Edition →
NIST Handbook 133 — Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods
The procedural guide used by USDA, FDA, FTC, and state Weights and Measures inspectors to test whether packaged goods comply with net content labelling requirements. Required for any manufacturer packaging goods sold with a declared net weight.
Access NIST Handbook 133 — Current Edition →
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.179 — Overhead and Gantry Cranes
The OSHA general industry standard governing overhead crane design, installation, inspection, testing, and operation — including load testing requirements and operator responsibilities.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC — Cranes and Derricks in Construction
The OSHA construction industry standard for crane operations includes load weight verification requirements, operator certification, and lift plan documentation.
USDA Packers and Stockyards — Scales and Weighing Requirements
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service requirements for scale testing frequency, accuracy standards, and operator responsibilities under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Applies to all livestock, poultry, and feed weighing for purchase or sale.
Access USDA Scale Requirements →
NTEP Certification and Legal-for-Trade Tools
NCWM NTEP Certificate of Conformance Database
Look up the Certificate of Conformance (CC) number for any NTEP-certified scale model before purchasing. If a model’s CC number does not appear in this database, it is not NTEP certified, regardless of what the product listing says.
National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM)
The organization that administers NTEP testing adopts amendments to NIST Handbook 44 and coordinates weights and measures policy across all US states and territories.
State Weights and Measures Offices — NIST Directory
A state-by-state directory of Weights and Measures offices. Your state office is responsible for inspecting and sealing legal-for-trade scales, investigating complaints about short weight, and enforcing NIST Handbook 44 within the state.
Find Your State Weights and Measures Office →
International Standards Referenced in US Weighing Applications
IEC 60529 — Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP Code)
The international standard defining IP ratings for electrical enclosures. Directly relevant to specifying the correct IP rating for floor scales, bench scales, crane scales, and indicators in wet, dusty, or washdown environments.
ISO/IEC 17025 — General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
The international accreditation standard for calibration laboratories. When hiring a calibration service, specifying ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation ensures that the calibration certificates produced are traceable to NIST and internationally recognized.
Food Safety and Pharmaceutical Weighing Standards
NSF International — Food Equipment Certification
NSF certifies food processing equipment — including scales — against standards for materials safety, hygienic design, and cleanability. NSF/ANSI 51 is the primary standard for food equipment materials.
3-A Sanitary Standards
Sanitary design standards for food and dairy processing equipment, including scales used in dairy, beverage, and food manufacturing environments. The 3-A symbol on a scale confirms independently verified compliance with hygienic design requirements.
Visit 3-A Sanitary Standards →
FDA — Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
The FDA regulatory framework governing weighing equipment in pharmaceutical manufacturing includes documentation requirements for calibration records and equipment qualification.
Scale Blog Reading by Category
Manufacturing and Industrial
Start with our IP Ratings for Industrial Scales Explained and How Often Should Industrial Scales Be Calibrated? for the two regulatory topics that apply across every manufacturing environment.
Warehouse and Distribution
Start with How to Choose a Floor Scale for Your Warehouse or Factory and What Is a Pallet Jack Scale and How Does It Work? for the two most common warehouse weighing decisions.
Food Processing and Pharmaceutical
Start with Stainless Steel vs Mild Steel Industrial Scales and IP Ratings for Industrial Scales Explained — the two materials and environmental specification decisions that determine whether your scale survives its first year in a washdown environment.
Legal-for-Trade and Regulatory Compliance
Start with How to Choose a Floor Scale for Your Warehouse or Factory — specifically the NTEP certification section — and use the NCWM CC database above to verify certification before purchasing any scale for commercial use.
Last updated: April 2026. All external links verified as live on the date above. If you encounter a broken link, please contact us.