bmta.co.uk
THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDS
& HOW TO GET INVOLVED
The importance of flow measurement standards
By Michael Reader-Harris
Principal Consultant
TÜV SÜD
Standards are of great importance to any industry that measures
fluid flow. According to the UK government, (DTI Economics Paper
No 12) standards contributed to about 13% of the increase in
labour productivity over the period 1948-2002, and contribute £2.5
billion annually to the UK economy.
Flow measurement standards in the oil and gas industry are
essential in ensuring that revenue and tax are correct; their impact
is particularly visible where losses are being determined from
differences in meter readings.
UK natural gas demand is around £16 billion (€20 billion) annually,
and most of this is measured at some stage using the ISO standard
for flow measurement with differential-pressure meters. ISO 5167:
this standard and its predecessors have been revised over the
years to avoid both inaccuracies through inadequate specification
and excessive cost through over-specification - standards provide
consistency.
By the development and adoption of standards, there is wider
industrial acceptance of new technologies, barriers to trade are
lowered, transaction costs are reduced, and the operation of
markets is improved through the smooth flow of goods and
services.
Standards enable compliance to be demonstrated, provide
confidence in product performance, and help to eliminate or reduce
disputes between companies and across borders, hence saving
costs and time. They can also be of benefit to smaller firms by
transferring technology from larger ones.
2018 was the 75th Anniversary of the first British flow measurement
standard, BS1042:1943. This covered differential-pressure meters
and ISO differential-pressure meter standards soon followed.
Standards covering a very wide range of other technologies have
also been developed, for example, ISO 2715 Turbine meters, ISO
10790 Coriolis meters and ISO 12242 Liquid ultrasonic meters.