SPRINGFIELD, Ill — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Weights and Measure Lab will receive a boost.

On Feb. 28 Capital Development Board (CDB) Executive Director Jan Grimes announced that $465,000 in funding will be used to construct an airlock at the IDOA’s Metrology Lab.

“Certifying weights and measures is one of the important but lesser known duties of the Department of Agriculture,” Jan Grimes explained. “This project will improve productivity and help the department keep its vital accreditation.”

The National Weights & Measures Week runs from March 1-7. This long-running celebration of quality standards is moving into its 208th year. IDOA Director Chuck Hartke joined Grimes on behalf of Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich for the announcement.

“Although it’s not something we usually consider, a uniform system of weights and measures is vital to our economy because it ensures equity in the marketplace,” Hartke said.

“Whether it’s a gallon of gas or a pound of beef, the amount of product should be the same no matter where it’s purchased and a uniform system of weights and measures helps to make sure everyone gets what they paid for.”

The lab where the certification of weights and measures occurs is located at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The airlock will be constructed with funds from the CDB, and will allow the facility more control over temperature and humidity levels - two quality assurance items that assist the IDOA in maintaining its accreditation from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The CDB is involved in the project because it is involved in all state-funded construction and rehabilitation projects. The project will take a step forward when a designer is selected later this month. Construction bids will be taken once the design is complete.

“This newly released funding is important to the Department of Agriculture, but the new airlock system will also have significant benefits for the business community and Illinois’ consumers,” said Illinois State Sen. Larry Bombke.

“As state officials, it is important that we take the steps necessary to ensure that there is fairness in the marketplace at all times.” The reason the airlock is so important is because for laboratory employees to be able to correctly measure devices which are tested under quality control requirements and the lab must maintain strict environmental conditions.

When working with large weights (some as heavy as 5,000 pounds) maintaining environmental conditions can be a challenge. The heavy weights are suspended from an I-beam which runs both inside and outside of the building. While the I-beam helps to load and unload them, it also lets outside air into the laboratory.

The new airlock will enclose the currently exposed area and allow the lab to maintain the proper temperature and humidity.

Illinois State Rep. Raymond Poe reiterated the importance of maintaining the laboratory standards.

“It is important that we as a state conform to national standards when it comes to certifying our weights and measures,” he said. “These funds will allow the Department of Agriculture to do its job more accurately and uniformly.”

The IDOA’s Bureau of Weights and Measures inspects scales at supermarkets, warehouses, packing plants, feed mills, shipping companies and hardware stores. It also inspects meters at gas stations and motor fuel terminals. A total of 103,228 such devices were inspected in 2005, including nearly 76,000 gas pumps.

The metrology lab ensures the accuracy of these inspections by calibrating testing equipment to meet national standards.

For questions about this project, contact Rebecca Rausch at 217-782-7355.