FUEL PUMP VERIFICATION: ANOTHER WAY TO PROTECT CONSUMERS
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), which is empowered under the National Weights and Measures Act of 1981, has been conducting a number of activities to ensure that there is equity in trade, thus protecting consumers from being cheated by some unscrupulous businessmen who are in the habit of manipulating weights and measures.
According to stipulations set out in the Act, businesses using weighing and measuring devices in the conduct of trade must submit their devices to the GNBS for verification as is required once every six months.
A significant part of the Bureau’s mandate includes checking and verifying the accuracy of bulk meters and fuel pumps at filling stations countrywide, to ensure that fuel dispensed at the pump is within the acceptable tolerance levels as  is stipulated in the Regulations.
Since 1996, officers of the GNBS have routinely conducted verifications at all gas stations twice yearly. During 2009, the exercise was carried out at all petrol stations for Sol, Texaco, GUYOIL, and privately owned stations throughout the country for the first and second half of the year. This resulted in a total of 1298 petrol pumps being verified by inspectors of the GNBS. In addition, verification exercises conducted at bulk terminals resulted in a total of 90 bulk meters, 29 wagon compartments and 32 storage tanks being verified for the year.
During the verification of Petrol pumps, a 20 litre and a 5 litre test measure are used to test the accuracy of the pumps. If the fuel dispensed into the test measures is less the 20 or 5 litre test measure, the pump is under-delivering. On the other hand, if the fuel dispensed is more, the pump is over-delivering. For pumps that are over or under-delivering, the necessary adjustments are made and a protective seal affixed.  This is to maintain the integrity of the process.
If a subsequent check is conducted by inspectors of the GNBS and the affixed seal is found to be tampered with or removed, the operators or owners can face prosecution.
Further, if for one reason or another, a fuel pump is not functioning properly, and cannot be calibrated immediately, the Inspector would seal the dispensing nuzzle to prevent further usage of the pump until its accuracy can be verified.
The entire verification process is intended to protect both the supplier and the consumer. When a pump is over-delivering fuel, the seller is being robbed; likewise, if a pump is under-delivering, the consumer is being short-changed.
The Bureau of Standards, therefore, serves as an effective interface between sellers and consumers, thus ensuring fair trade and business practices and ultimately, protection for all. Consumers are advised to make purchases in metric and check the fuel pumps for the GNBS approval seals which indicate that the pump has been checked for the corresponding period.
For further information on this subject, call the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on Telephone number: 219-0065 or 219-0069 or visit the Bureau’s website: gnbsgy.org