Posted on Dec 5, 2015
Is there anything that specifies the TYPE of scale you must use for ABCP?
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Our "Army" scale is broken. Frankly I find these types of scales to be a little finicky anyhow. I've always just been under the assumption that a sliding/balancing beam scale is required, but I don't see that in AR 600-9. I only see that it must be calibrated.
All it says is:
"Scales used for weight measurement will be calibrated annually
for accuracy."
It doesn't even direct how to do that. We do have weights, but I guess we don't have "certified" weights.
I read multiple articles all week - some claim digital scales are better, some claim balancing scales are better. Frankly, I'd like to just use a few digital scales.
What do you do to calibrate your scale?
All it says is:
"Scales used for weight measurement will be calibrated annually
for accuracy."
It doesn't even direct how to do that. We do have weights, but I guess we don't have "certified" weights.
I read multiple articles all week - some claim digital scales are better, some claim balancing scales are better. Frankly, I'd like to just use a few digital scales.
What do you do to calibrate your scale?
Posted in these groups: 
AR 600-9
AR 600-9
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 1
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The advantage of balance scales is you can use "known" weights (like from the gym), and they have a built in height measure. Whereas electronic weights that is harder to do. However there is nothing to say you can't keep a standard bathroom scale sitting right next to it as a "sanity check."
As an example, use the balance scale, and keep 4x 45 lb weights "available." Add them 1 at a time and calibrate at 45, 90, 135, and 180. If it is calibrated at those weights, it's calibrated. Do it 2 weeks before the semi-annual (A)PFT, and you will always be current. Keep the bathroom scale (electronic or spring) next to it, and when the balance scale is calibrated, hop on it, and see what the "deviation" is. Hopefully they are the same (or you can adjust it based on the calibrated balance scale).
Use the balance as your Primary, and if someone complains, have them hop on the other. Give them the better of the 2. If they are more than X lbs off from each other, re-calibrate. Heck, just measure yourself every day when you go in the office. It's a great way to avoid "creep."
Edit: NOTE. I weigh myself daily as part of my weight maintenance for running. Digital scales are "accurate" to a point, but they are not 100%. I've hopped on and had a 6lb (3%-4%) difference than what it should read.
As an example, use the balance scale, and keep 4x 45 lb weights "available." Add them 1 at a time and calibrate at 45, 90, 135, and 180. If it is calibrated at those weights, it's calibrated. Do it 2 weeks before the semi-annual (A)PFT, and you will always be current. Keep the bathroom scale (electronic or spring) next to it, and when the balance scale is calibrated, hop on it, and see what the "deviation" is. Hopefully they are the same (or you can adjust it based on the calibrated balance scale).
Use the balance as your Primary, and if someone complains, have them hop on the other. Give them the better of the 2. If they are more than X lbs off from each other, re-calibrate. Heck, just measure yourself every day when you go in the office. It's a great way to avoid "creep."
Edit: NOTE. I weigh myself daily as part of my weight maintenance for running. Digital scales are "accurate" to a point, but they are not 100%. I've hopped on and had a 6lb (3%-4%) difference than what it should read.
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