WELMEC 13.
2
2020
Water Meters or Thermal Energy Meters
equipped with additional Functionalities and
Ancillary Devices
For information:
This guide is available to the Working Group Measuring
Instruments for future reference on the Europa Website.
WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
WELMEC is a co-operation between the legal metrology authorities of
the Member States of the European Union and EFTA.
This document is one of a number of Guides published by WELMEC to
provide guidance to manufacturers of measuring instruments and to
Notified Bodies responsible for conformity assessment of their
products.
The Guides are purely advisory and do not themselves impose any
restrictions or ancillary technical requirements beyond those contained
in relevant EU Directives.
Alternative approaches may be acceptable, but the guidance provided
in this document represents the considered view of WELMEC as to the
best practice to be followed.
Published by:
WELMEC Secretariat
E-mail: secretary@[Link]
Website: [Link]
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
1. Foreword
Today an increasing number of water meters and thermal energy meters may be
connected to ancillary devices such as communication modules transmitting the
totalized value by the measuring instrument to a server at the utility company or
equipped with additional functionality.
Ancillary devices or additional functionalities covered by this guide are not under the
scope of the Measuring Instrument Directive, 2014/32/EU (MID). Article 8.1 of Annex I
of the MID states that the metrological characteristics of the measuring instrument shall
not be influenced in any inadmissible way by connecting it to any other device, by any
feature of the connected device itself or by any remote device that communicates with
the measuring instrument and article 7.6 states that when “a measuring instrument has
associated software which provides other functions besides the measuring function, the
software that is critical for the metrological characteristics shall be identifiable and shall
not be inadmissibly influenced by the associated software”.
Based on article 7.6 and 8.1 of Annex I of the MID the manufacturers should therefore
define conditions under which ancillary devices can be connected to the measuring
instrument or be equipped with additional functions. The validity of these conditions
needs to be evaluated by a Notified Body.
This guide aims to provide guidance on the conditions needed to be specified for
measuring instrument to be equipped with additional functionalities or connected to an
ancillary device and the evaluation based on those conditions by the Notified Body.
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
Contents
1. Foreword ................................................................................................................. 3
2. Scope ...................................................................................................................... 5
3. Terminology ............................................................................................................ 6
4. Requirements in case of ancillary devices or additional functionalities with software
separation ............................................................................................................... 8
5. Requirements in case of parts of a measuring instrument .................................... 11
6. Requirements in case of no software separation .................................................. 12
7. EU-TEC ................................................................................................................. 12
8. Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 13
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
2. Scope
For the benefit of manufacturers, and all other stakeholders, e.g. bodies notified for
annex II, conformity assessment procedures, module B, D, F and H1 of the Measuring
Instrument Directive, 2014/32/EU (MID), notifying authorities and market surveillance
authorities, this document describes a best practice approach for describing the
conditions under which instrument covered by annex IV (MI-002), and annex V (MI-003)
of the MID can be equipped with additional functionality and ancillary devices in such a
way that they will not have any inadmissible influence on these measuring instruments
(see MID article 7.6 and 8.1 of Annex I) wheninstalled in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
Conformity to all applicable requirements of the MID including conformity to article 7.6
and 8.1 of Annex I of the MID is the responsibility of the manufacturer of the measuring
instrument.
If specific annexes in the MID exist which lay down the essential requirements for sub-
assemblies, the provisions of this guide shall apply mutatis mutandis to such sub-
assemblies as it does for the complete measuring instruments under the MID.
The guidance in this guide is limited to additional functionalities and ancillary devices
that are connected to water or thermal energy meters, see also chapter 3 of this guide.
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
3. Terminology
MID: Measuring Instrument Directive, 2014/32/EU (MID)
Measuring instrument: A measuring instrument covered by either Annex III
(MI-001) or Annex VI (MI-004) or a sub-assembly
covered by Annex VI (MI-004).
Ancillary device: A device connected to a protected interface (as
defined below) of the measuring instrument and
which has an own power supply (not powered by
the measuring instrument) and does not fulfil any
functions that fall under the scope of the MID.
Note 1: In WELMEC 8.8 the definition of a part is
different than the one in this guide
Part of the measuring instrument: A device is considered a part of the measuring
instrument if it fulfils one or all of the following
characteristics
• It is powered by the measuring instrument
(by means of the power supply or battery of
the measuring instrument) and / or
• It is connected to a non-protective interface
of the measuring instrument (as defined
below) and / or
• It performs functions that are under legal
control and / or
• It is mounted in the same housing as other
(internal) parts of the measuring instrument
and / or
• It can have an inadmissible influence on the
measuring instrument (see chapter 4).
A part of the measuring instrument has to be
included in the conformity assessment procedure of
the measuring instrument and probably needs to be
secured (See WELMEC guide 13.3).
Additional functionalities: Functionalities that does not fall under the scope of
the MID, i.e. management software or software that
produces graphs of water consumption.
Legally relevant software: Software that is critical for the metrological
characteristics.
Protective interface: An interface that complies with the requirements of
P4 or U4 of WELMEC guide 7.2.
Software separation: The unambiguous separation of software into legally
relevant software and legally non-relevant software,
see WELMEC guide 7.2, in particular extension S.
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
EU-TEC: An EU-type examination or EU design examination
certificate.
EMC: Electromagnetic Compatibility
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
4. Requirements in case of ancillary devices or additional
functionalities with software separation
Annex I of the MID states the following requirements for the measuring instruments that
shall be considered if the measuring instrument is connected to an ancillary device or
equipped with additional functionalities:
Article 7.1: A measuring instrument shall have no feature likely to facilitate fraudulent
use, whereas possibilities for unintentional misuse shall be minimal.
Article 7.6: A measuring instrument shall be designed so as to allow the control of the
measuring tasks after the instrument has been placed on the market and
put into use. If necessary, special equipment or software for this control
shall be part of the instrument. The test procedure shall be described in
the operation manual.
When a measuring instrument has associated software which provides
additional functions besides the measuring function, the software that is
critical for the metrological characteristics shall be identifiable and shall not
be inadmissibly influenced by the associated software.
Article 8.1: The metrological characteristics of a measuring instrument shall not be
influenced in any inadmissible way by the connection to it of another
device, by any feature of the connected device itself or by any remote
device that communicates with the measuring instrument.
Article 10.2: The indication of any result shall be clear and unambiguous and
accompanied by such marks and inscriptions necessary to inform the user
of the significance of the result. Easy reading of the presented result shall
be permitted under normal conditions of use. Other indications may be
shown provided they cannot be confused with the metrologically controlled
indications.
Article 10.5: Whether or not a measuring instrument intended for utility measurement
purposes can be remotely read it shall in any case be fitted with a
metrologically controlled display accessible without tools to the consumer.
The reading of this display is the measurement result that serves as the
basis for the price to pay.
From the above the following requirements with respect to connecting ancillary devices
to a measuring instrument or equipping a measuring instrument with additional
functionalities can be derived:
1. The connection should not influence the readability of the metrologically controlled
display or markings (see chapter 4.1);
2. By means of the connection or by means of the additional functionalities it should not
be possible to influence the legally relevant software, the legally relevant data or the
legally relevant parameters of the measuring instruments (see chapter 4.2);
3. The connection should not influence the correct functioning of the measuring
instrument or influence the measuring results (see chapter 4.3).
In case one of the above mentioned requirements cannot be fulfilled the device is
deemed to be a part of the measuring instrument, see chapter 5 of this guide. In that
case sufficient securing means should prevent other devices to be connected to the
measuring instrument, as indicated in chapter 5 of this guide.
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
If no software separation exists, see WELMEC guide 7,2, the whole software is to be
consider as legally relevant and also the additional functionality provided by the associated
software need to pass conformity assessment procedures.
4.1 Readability of indication and markings
The metrologically controlled display shall always be accessible without tools to the
consumer, see article 10.5 of Annex I of the MID. The connection of the ancillary device
shall therefore be done in such a way that this does not influence the readability of the
display.
Furthermore, information coming from the ancillary device or the additional functionality
to be displayed on the metrologically controlled display of the measuring instrument
should not be confusing or misleading, see article 7.1 and 10.2 of Annex I of the MID.
In any case the metrologically controlled display shall be easily readable, clear and
unambiguous, see article 7.1, 10.2 and 10.5 of Annex I of the MID.
The connection of the ancillary device shall be done in such a way that this does not
influence the readability of the markings, see article 7.6 of Annex I of the MID.
4.2 Software requirements
By connecting any device to the measuring instrument it should not be possible to
influence the legally relevant software, legally relevant data or the legally relevant
parameters (type- or device specific parameters instruments), see article 8.1 of Annex I
of the MID.
If the instrument is equipped with additional functionalities the software that is critical for
the metrological characteristics shall be identifiable and shall not be inadmissibly
influenced by the associated software, see article 7.6 of Annex I of the MID.
It is recommended to apply WELMEC guide 7.2 to evaluate whether the legally relevant
software, legally relevant data and legally relevant parameters of the measuring
instrument are sufficiently protected against changes.
The use of a protective interface (fulfilling the requirements of P4 or U4 of WELMEC
guide 7.2) in the measuring instrument is deemed sufficient for ensuring that the legally
relevant software, the legally relevant data and the legally relevant parameters (type –
and device specific parameters instruments) of the measuring instrument cannot be
inadmissible influenced by the connection of any other device to that interface.
It is also recommended to apply WELMEC guide 7.2 to evaluate if the software that is
critical for the metrological characteristics is identifiable and not inadmissibly influenced
by the associated software, in particular Extension S of WELMEC guide 7.2.
4.3 Protection against influences
The manufacturer of the measuring instrument shall specify under which conditions an
ancillary device is allowed to be connected to the measuring instrument without having
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
an inadmissible effect on the measuring instrument, see article 8.1 of Annex I of the
MID.
The Notified Body shall evaluate whether the measuring instrument with this ancillary
device meets the essential requirements of the MID when applying these conditions.
Influence and disturbance tests should always be tested with ancillary device. However
it is assumed that if the measuring instrument complies with the tests specified below
that the connection of any device will not have an inadmissible effect on the functioning
or measuring results of the measuring instrument with regard to disturbances:
• Voltage interruptions;
• Short voltage reductions;
• Voltage transients on supply lines;
• Surges on supply lines;
• Voltage variations.
It is therefore not necessary to repeat the above mentioned tests with any ancillary
device to evaluate if the connection of the ancillary device has an inadmissible effect on
the functioning of the measuring instrument.
However, the following influence quantities need special considerations:
• Climatic and mechanical conditions,
• Conditions with respect to the EMC.
The manufacturer shall specify the conditions under which a device can be connected
to the measuring instrument taken into account the extremes of climatic and mechanical
conditions and the conditions with respect to the EMC.
Based on ancillary device and meter design examination, the Notified Body
proposes the related test program.
The Notified Body shall evaluate the measuring instrument under these conditions.
Examples are that according to the manufacturer:
1. The measuring instrument may be equipped with an interface to communicate
with a server over the internet.
2. The measuring instrument may be connected to a radio device with its own
power supply, having a maximum output power of 3 Watt and emitting at a
frequency of 2,4 GHz.
The evaluation shall be carried out under the extreme conditions, i.e.
• due to the fact that the above mentioned communication interface may heat up
the measuring instrument the temperature, self-heating and heating tests shall be
carried out with the communication interface connected to the measuring
instrument, in order to evaluate if the measuring instrument meets the essential
requirements with the communication interface connected.
• due to the fact that the above mentioned radio module influences the EM
susceptibility of the measuring instrument the EMC tests shall be carried out with
a functional communication module.
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
5. Requirements in case of parts of a measuring instrument
A device that meets one of the five characteristics described in the definition in chapter
3 is considered a part of the measuring instrument and shall be included in the
conformity assessment procedure of the measuring instrument and probably needs to
be secured, see WELMEC guide 13.3.
In case one or morel of the three requirements stated in chapter 4 cannot be fulfilled,
the device is also considered a part of the measuring instrument and therefore should
also be included in the conformity assessment procedure of the measuring instrument
and probably needs to be secured.
With respect to parts that share the battery power supply of the measuring instrument
special attention should be addressed to the life time of the battery.
Parts of the measuring instrument have to be documented, see article 18 of the MID,
and described in the EU-TEC.
However, typically with respect to parts of the measuring instrument that do not change
the metrological characteristics of the instruments, i.e. communication modules, the
documentation and description should focus on the possible effect on the measuring
instrument and not the functionality of the part itself.
• If for example an ancillary part uses the battery of the measuring instrument and
is connected to the protective interface of the measuring instrument, the power
consumption of the ancillary device and hardware requirements with respect to
temperature and EMC have to be considered.
• However, if the ancillary part is connected to a non-protective interface of the
measuring instrument, it shall be ensured that through the software of the part
legally relevant software, data or parameters instruments of the measuring
instrument cannot be inadmissibly influenced.
It might be necessary to secure a part or a non-protective interface, see article 8.2 of
Annex I of the MID.
See WELMEC guide 7.2 and WELMEC guide 13.3 on guidance regarding securing
measuring instruments.
The method of securing has to be described in the EU-TEC.
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
6. Requirements in case of no software separation
If no software separation exists, see WELMEC guide 7.2, the whole software is to be
considered as legally relevant and also the additional functionality provided by the
associated software needs to pass conformity assessment procedures.
The legally relevant software, including the software that provides the additional
functionality, has to be secured and evidence of an intervention shall be available for a
reasonable period of time.
The method of securing has to be described in the EU-TEC.
7. EU-TEC
7.1 Ancillary devices
The EU-TEC should define whether it is possible to connect a device to a measuring
instrument and under which conditions.
In case the device does not fall under the scope of the MID, it needs not to be described
or documented unless inadmissible influencing of the measuring instrument may be
possible through the connection of such a device. However, in that case the device is
deemed to be a part of the measuring instrument, see chapter 5 of this guide.
7.2 Additional functionalities
The EU-TEC shall also include a list of the additional functionalities with a clear
description of the functions and the additional information that these functions do not
influence the metrological characteristics of the measuring instrument.
Although additional functionalities fulfilling the conditions stated in this guide, in
particular the requirements concerning software separation, are not under the scope of
the MID, they can be nationally regulated in a particular Member State. For that reason,
it might be helpful to refer to documents that can assist in the national evaluation.
Reference documents can be listed in the EU-TEC, for example National Type-Approval
Certificates, OIML Certificates or test reports covering the additional functionality
provided that it is clear that these documents are not part of the conformity assessment
procedures under the MID.
For that purpose, the heading "Reference documents" with regard to additional
functionalities could be included in the EU-TEC with a note stating: The document listed
here refers to the additional functionalities that are not under the scope of the MID.
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WELMEC 13.2, Water meters or Thermal energy meters equipped with additional functionalities and ancillary devices
8. Conclusion
The measuring instrument may be connected with ancillary devices or equipped with
additional functionality provided that the additional functionality or connection of the
devices have no inadmissible effect on the measuring instrument (see chapter 4) when
installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
The manufacturer of the measuring instrument has to define under which conditions an
ancillary device may be connected, taken into account the readability of indications and
markings and software requirements.
The manufacturer of the measuring instrument also has to specify which additional
functionalities the measuring instrument can be equipped.
The Notified Body shall evaluate whether the measuring instrument meets the essential
requirements under these conditions and specifies these conditions in the EU-TEC.
Provided that the ancillary device does not fall under the scope of the MID, it needs not
to be described or documented in the EU-TEC unless the device may allow the
measuring instrument to be influenced in such a way that the measuring instrument
does not meet the essential requirements.
The EU-TEC shall include a list of the allowed additional functions with a clear
description of these additional functions.
In case the associative software that provides the additional functionality is part of the
legally relevant software or the device is a part of the measuring instrument then they
should be included in the conformity assessment.
It might be necessary to secure a part or a non-protective interface, see article 8.2 of
Annex I of the MID.
See WELMEC guide 7.2 and WELMEC guide 13.3 on guidance regarding securing
measuring instruments.
The method of securing has to be described in the EU-TEC.
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