This part of BS 7843 gives recommendations for the design and manufacture of storage and automatic collecting raingauges to be deployed at ground level, or close to the ground, for measuring the amount of rainfall in millimetres of water equivalent, either for a dedicated purpose at a specific location or as part of a network covering a large area. It is not applicable to remote sensing devices that detect the presence of precipitation particles or to weather radars.

BS 7843‑1 provides information on the selection of raingauges depending on user requirements.