1.1 This Recommendation prescribes the principal metrological static characteristics and static evaluation procedures for load cells used in the measurement of mass. It is intended to provide authorities with uniform means for determining the metrological characteristics of load cells used in measuring instruments that are subjected to metrological controls. 1.2 This Recommendation utilizes the principle that several load cell errors shall be considered together when applying load cell performance characteristics to the permitted error envelope. Thus, it is not considered appropriate to specify individual errors for given characteristics (non-linearity, hysteresis, etc.), but rather to consider the total error envelope allowed for a load cell as the limiting factor. The use of an error envelope allows the balancing of the individual contributions to the total error of measurement while still achieving the intended final result. Note: The error envelope may be defined as the curves that provide the boundary of the maximum permissible errors (see Table 5) as a function of the applied load (mass) over the measuring range. The combined errors determined may be positive or negative and include the effects of nonlinearity, hysteresis and temperature. 1.3 Instruments which are associated with load cells and which give an indication of mass, are the subjects of separate Recommendations.