Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner - Tom A. Steckler, Director

Bureau of Standards

Laws | Forms

The Bureau of Standards, formerly Bureau of Petroleum and Bureau of Weights and Measures, covers a wide range of of responsibilities and duties within the Division. The bureau is responsible for conducting inspections of the petroleum distribution system and analyzes samples of petroleum products to ensure consumers are being offered quality products at a fair measure. The quality of gasoline, alternative fuels (E85, biodiesel, ethanol, etc.), kerosene, diesel and fuel oil are determined at Department testing laboratories through analyses of octane rating, distillation, vapor pressure, vapor-liquid ratio, sulfur content, lubricity, oxygenate content, silver corrosion, alcohol content, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) percentage, and flash point. The bureau's laboratory personnel also test antifreeze products for corrosion, freezing point, boiling point, pH, and foaming as part of the antifreeze registration and regulatory monitoring program.  Similarly, brake fluid products must also pass strict standards for boiling point, elastomer swelling and chemical content before being registered by the Department for sale to the public. 

The Bureau of Standards is responsible for conducting inspections at the 9,025 retail facilities and inspects more than 60,000 commercial measuring devices each year. Inspections included calibrating tests, proper installations and maintenance of measuring devices and attached equipment, price gouging investigations, testing for water and debris, verification of backup electricity generation equipment and wiring, labeling of petroleum dispensers at both wholesale and retail facilities, retail scales, pharmacy balances, industrial and livestock scales, vehicle scales and taximeters.  Inspectors also routinely test the accuracy of retail price scanners, as well as the accuracy of labels and net contents of pack food items, packaged goods such as dry goods, household items, building and construction materials, gardening products and hundreds of other products purchased daily by consumers and business.

The Bureau's metrology laboratory, maintains the state's primary standards of mass, length and volume.  It also provides calibration services to the commercial measurement industry, scientific and law enforcement labs, manufacturers and the aerospace and technology industries.


Florida Laws
  • 5F-1, F.A.C. - Weights and Measures
  • 5F-2, F.A.C. - Gasoline and Oil Inspection
  • 5F-3, F.A.C. - Model State Packaging and Labeling Regulation
  • 5F-4, F.A.C. - Voluntary Registration of Servicemen and Service Agencies For Commercial Weighing and Measuring Devices
  • 5F-5, F.A.C. - Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements For Commercial Weighing and Measuring Devices
  • 5F-6, F.A.C. - Brake Fluid Specification and Standards
  • 5F-7, F.A.C - Uniform Regulations For The Method of Sales of Commodities
  • 5F-10, F.A.C. - Antifreeze Standards
  • 5F-12, F.A.C - Test Procedures To Determine Acceptable Pricing Practices
  • 5F-13.001, F.A.C. - Guidelines for Imposing Administrative Penalties and Fines for Violations of Chapter 531, Florida Statutes
Forms

Weights and Measures Forms

Authorized Service Agency Application PDF Document
Application for the authority to place new or repaired weighing or measuring devices into service. This is a voluntary registration.

Placed in Service Report PDF Document
Form used by Authorized Service Agency to notify the Division that a device has been placed into service for commercial use.

Permit Application Form PDF Document

Petroleum Forms

Antifreeze/Brake Fluid Registration Application