Technical data

46 Electricity meters | 2CMC480022C0003
Measuring Instruments Directive (MID)
information
Getting to terms with the MID
The Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) is a relatively new
term. MID was introduced by the European Commission in
2004 to promote the free trade of measuring instruments
and provide common rules for their use. As European Direc-
tive 2004/22/EC, MID came fully into force on October 30th,
2006.
Instruments must meet the essential requirements of the
directive plus one of ten instrument-specific annexes. For
electricity meters, this is MI-003 (active electrical energy
meters). Approval to MID is required for meters used in billing
applications and preferable in many related areas, e.g. joint
residential sourcing.
Creates a single EU instrument market
The aim of the directive is to create a single market in measur-
ing instruments for the benefit of manufacturers and, ultimate-
ly, consumers across Europe. National rules that deviate from
MID are not allowed. With an MID ’European Type Approval
Certificate’, an instrument can be sold and used in any EU (or
EEA) member state.
Routes to certification
MID stipulates requirements in three areas; climate conditions
(e.g. how different temperature zones affect requirements),
mechanical environments and electromagnetic environments.
WELMEC, a committee whose principal aim is to establish
a harmonized and consistent approach to European legal
metrology (metering), draws up design guidelines for electri-
city meters. These are then standardized by CENELEC, the
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, as
standards EN 50470-1, -2 and -3.
MID makes it clear that there are several ways to certify
products such as electricity meters. ABB has chosen type
approval according to Annex B and initial verification accor-
ding to Annex D.
RECOGNISED
CE 074
Type approval and initial verification via NMi
According to MID, type approval follows the directive’s
Annex B; the product must fulfill relevant parts of EN 50470
and be assessed by a Notified Body that then issues a certifi-
cate for that product. We use NMi, an inde
pendent expert for
metrology testing, certifying and calibrating,
for this task.
ABB has selected to do initial verification. This means that all
ABB meters described here are individually tested to ensure
that they are equivalent to the type approval.
Accredited calibration laboratory and audits ensure com-
pliance
To ensure that the calibration and verification of ABB electri-
city meters meet MID demands, we have our own accredited
calibration laboratory that operates under the auspices of
SWEDAC, the Swedish Board for Accreditation and Con-
formity Assessment. Each meter is stamped with the code
SE1818, showing that it has been calibrated and approved in
this laboratory.
Finally, own manufacture with an accredited laboratory and
Annex D approval means that both NMi and SWEDAC per-
form regular audits to ensure that our processes and tools
perform as required.
Every electricity meter made by ABB is type approved, verified and issued
with a certificate of compliance according to MID requirements.