Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation on Standardizing Pressure Vessels

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Notice from the General Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation on Standardizing Relevant Safety Technical Requirements for Pressure Vessels, No. 195 [2019] of the Special Equipment Division of the State Administration for Market Regulation

Market regulation bureaus (departments/commissions) of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

In light of new circumstances and issues that have arisen in recent safety inspections of pressure vessels (including gas cylinders), and in order to further improve such inspection efforts, we hereby issue the following notifications regarding relevant safety technical requirements:

I. Manufacturing of cryogenic pressure vessels using strain hardening technology
(1) Regarding product standards and related requirements. 　　1. Cryogenic pressure vessels refer to pressure vessels used for storing or transporting cryogenically liquefied gases. The manufacture of stationary cryogenic pressure vessels using strain hardening technology shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of GB/T 18442.7-2017 “Stationary vacuum-insulated cryogenic pressure vessels – Part 7: Specifications for strain hardening technology of inner vessels”. Mobile cryogenic pressure vessels manufactured using strain strengthening technology shall, prior to the issuance of the corresponding standards, meet manufacturing technical requirements that are no less stringent than those specified in Standard T/CATSI 05001-2018 \"Technical Requirements for Strain Strengthening of Inner Vessels in Mobile Vacuum Insulated Cryogenic Pressure Vessels\" (download address: http://www.cdstc.org.cn). 　　2. Manufacturing units may formulate their own enterprise standards for the production of cryogenic pressure vessels using strain hardening technology and make self-declarations accordingly; however, their technical requirements must not be lower than those stipulated in GB/T 18442.7-2017 and T/CATSI 05001-2018, respectively. 　　3. For cryogenic pressure vessels manufactured using strain strengthening technology, the design documents and delivery documents shall indicate “strain strengthened vessel”, and the product nameplate shall bear the “PS” mark. 　　4. The supervision and inspection agency shall conduct on-site supervision and verification of the strain strengthening process and results, and sign the strain strengthening treatment report. 　　(II) Regarding type testing. 　　1. The entity that manufactures cryogenic pressure vessels using strain strengthening technology for the first time shall engage a qualified type testing institution to conduct type tests on such vessels. The type test consists of two parts: a verification test for the strain hardening process of the inner container, and a low-temperature performance test for the vacuum insulated tank. 　　2. Before manufacturing the inner vessel of a cryogenic pressure vessel using strain strengthening technology, the manufacturer should first produce sample vessels and verify the strain strengthening process on those sample vessels. The type test agency shall on-site verify the process of validating the strain hardening process and sign the report. During the trial production process, a supervision and inspection agency should be invited to witness it on site. 　　3. For those that pass the type test, the type testing institution shall issue a \"Type Test Certificate\" and upload it for public display; the Type Test Certificate shall specify the scope covered by the certificate as well as its validity period. 　　(III) Regarding the conversion of type test certificates. 　　1. For manufacturing units that have already passed the technical review for strain-hardened cryogenic pressure vessels prior to the issuance of this notice, and whose certification period has not exceeded four years, they shall compare their original welding procedure qualifications, test items for sample vessels, and relevant technical indicators against GB/T 18442.7-2017 or T/CATSI 05001-2018. A comparison report must be prepared and submitted to a type-testing institution with the appropriate qualifications by June 1, 2019. Upon approval by the type-testing institution, this report will be converted into a “Type Test Certificate”. 　　2. Manufacturing units with over 4 years of experience shall carry out compliance comparisons in accordance with the above requirements, prepare comparison reports, and engage a type testing institution. This institution will randomly select products to witness the on-site strain strengthening process and conduct low-temperature performance tests; upon successful completion, a \"Type Test Certificate\" will be issued. Otherwise, the type tests must be repeated. 　　(IV) Regarding information collection. 　　1. The manufacturing unit shall, in accordance with the data collection procedures and requirements (download address: http://www.cdstc.org.cn), upload the data related to strain strengthening treatment in real time via the data collection terminal to the National Strain Strengthening Cryogenic Vessel Information Service Platform (hereinafter referred to as the Platform, address: http://sh.tpvms.org). Supervisory inspection agencies shall not issue supervision inspection certificates for devices that have failed to upload the relevant data as required. 　　The type test institution is responsible for regularly analyzing and managing the strain strengthening data and results uploaded to the platform by the manufacturing units, and uses the results of these analyses as a basis for determining which items can be exempted from subsequent type tests. 　　3. The type test agency shall also conduct random inspections on the operation of the quality management system of manufacturing units that have obtained the “Type Test Certificate”, the fulfillment of duties by personnel responsible for quality management, and the submission of data related to strain hardening treatment. In cases where a manufacturing unit seriously violates standard provisions and is unable to ensure the quality of its strain hardening process, the type test agency may revoke the “Type Test Certificate” issued to it, and promptly report such violations to the Special Equipment Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation. 　　II. Regarding mobile cryogenic pressure vessels equipped with liquid discharge pumps In order to prevent accidents resulting from users filling onboard gas cylinders or other mobile pressure vessels illegally using mobile cryogenic pressure vessels equipped with liquid discharge pumps (hereinafter referred to as pump-equipped tank trucks), the use of such tank trucks must comply with the following regulations: (1) The entities that use pump-equipped tank trucks shall assume primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of their mobile pressure vessels, in accordance with the \"Rules for the Use and Management of Special Equipment\" (TSG 08-2017). It is necessary to continue to comply with the requirements set out in the \"Notice on Promoting the Use of a Public Service Information Tracking Platform for Mobile Pressure Vessels across the Country\", issued by the Special Equipment Bureau of the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (Quality Supervision Special Letter [2017] No. 38). Units that operate pump-equipped tank trucks should be encouraged to use Internet of Things technology to monitor the operation trajectories of such vehicles, including the locations where liquid is unloaded. The user units shall ensure the compliant use of pump-equipped tank trucks under their control, and promptly upload or share relevant information such as liquid unloading points to the “National Information Service Platform for Designated Liquid Unloading Sites for Mobile Pressure Vessels” (website: http://www.tpvms.org, hereinafter referred to as the Designated Unloading Platform). They must also accept supervision and management from the safety supervision authorities in the locality where they are located as users of pump-equipped tank trucks and pressure vessels at liquid unloading points. 　　(II) For newly purchased tank trucks with pumps, the sales contract shall specify that the manufacturer is responsible for uploading relevant information regarding the tank truck with pump to the designated liquid unloading platform. For tank trucks in use that are equipped with pumps but lack fixed liquid-unloading monitoring terminals (hereinafter referred to as monitoring terminals), the user units shall contact the original manufacturer before the expiration of the regular inspection period, requesting the manufacturer to install monitoring terminals on each such truck ； If safety hazards are identified, the original manufacturer shall eliminate such hazards through maintenance and modifications, and then install monitoring terminals. 　　(III) When conducting manufacturing supervision inspections on pump-equipped tank trucks, inspection agencies shall verify whether such trucks are equipped with monitoring terminals and connected to designated liquid unloading platforms ； During periodic inspections, it is necessary to verify whether tank trucks with pumps are connected to designated liquid unloading platforms and in normal use, and whether monitoring terminals have been damaged or removed. For tanker trucks equipped with pumps where there are issues such as the absence of monitoring terminals, failure to be integrated into the operation of designated liquid unloading platforms, damaged or removed monitoring terminals, lack of unloading points, or unaddressed violations, inspection agencies shall not issue supervision inspection certificates or reports certifying compliance with periodic inspections. 　　(IV) Special equipment safety supervision agencies at all levels shall classify pump-equipped tank trucks as key equipment and strengthen supervision and inspection over them. When handling the registration for use of a pump-equipped tank truck, the registration authority shall verify whether such truck is already in operation at a designated liquid unloading platform; those that are not yet operating at such a platform shall not have their use registered. 　　(5) The management of liquid carbon dioxide tankers equipped with pumps shall be carried out in accordance with the above provisions. 　　III. Type tests on the low-temperature performance of vacuum insulated vessels （I） Requirements regarding the number of units to be tested for type tests and the certificates required. 　　1. The number of samples taken for the type testing of fixed cryogenic pressure vessels in vacuum insulated tank format, as well as the relationship between the tank volume, shall meet the requirements of the product standards and the rules for type testing. 　　2. One vacuum-insulated tank of each model of mobile cryogenic pressure vessels shall be selected for testing. 　　3. The «Type Test Certificate» shall indicate the validity period. 　　(II) Regarding the conversion of type test reports and certificates related to mobile cryogenic pressure vessels. 　　After the issuance and implementation of the new standards NB/T 47058-2017 \"Road tank vehicles for cryogenic liquefied gases\" and NB/T 47059-2017 \"Tank containers for cryogenic liquefied gases\", the following requirements are set for the type testing of the low-temperature performance of mobile pressure vessel products manufactured in accordance with the previous standards: 1. Manufacturers shall, in accordance with the requirements of the new standards, carry out comparisons to determine whether their products meet the specifications regarding low-temperature insulation performance and other related technical indicators. For those that do not meet the requirements of the new standards, it is necessary to proactively contact a prototype testing institution to conduct the tests again. For those that meet the requirements of the new standards or pass re-testing, the type testing institution shall prepare the type test report and the ‘Type Test Certificate’ accordingly. 　　2. The conversion work for the type test report on the low-temperature insulation performance of mobile cryogenic pressure vessels and the \"Type Test Certificate\" shall be completed by October 1, 2019. 　　IV. Regarding GB/T 5099-2017 \"Steel Seamless Gas Cylinders\" (I) Regarding the transition period for the implementation of the standard. 　　1. The implementation dates for GB/T 5099.1-2017 \"Steel seamless gas cylinders – Part 1: Cylinders with a tensile strength of less than 1100 MPa after quenching and tempering\" and GB/T 5099.3-2017 \"Steel seamless gas cylinders – Part 3: Cylinders treated by normalizing\" are January 1, 2019. Given the significant changes in this standard revision, and taking into account practical challenges faced by cylinder manufacturers in terms of raw material procurement and the installation and calibration of manufacturing equipment, a one-year transition period has been set for the implementation of the standard; during this period, both the old and new standards will remain in effect. During the transition period, manufacturing units may still use the previously approved original design documents for production. Before January 1, 2020, all manufacturing units shall complete the conversion of design documents and conduct type tests in accordance with the new standards. 　　2. As of January 1, 2020, all manufacturing units shall fully implement GB/T 5099-2017 \"Steel Seamless Gas Cylinders\". 　　(II) Regarding the determination of residual deformation rate by hydrostatic testing. 　　1. As of January 1, 2020, for cylinders manufactured in accordance with GB/T 5099.1-2017 \"Steel seamless gas cylinders – Part 1: Cylinders with a tensile strength of less than 1100 MPa after quenching and tempering\", a hydrostatic test using the external measurement method shall be conducted on each cylinder to determine the residual deformation rate, and real-time recording as well as traceability of the test data shall be ensured. 　　2. For cylinders manufactured in accordance with GB/T 5099.3-2017 \"Steel seamless gas cylinders – Part 3: Cylinders normalized\", a combined approach of internal and external testing methods can be used to determine the residual deformation rate during hydrostatic testing (that is, 5% of the cylinders in each batch are subjected to hydrostatic testing using the external testing method, while the remaining cylinders are tested using the internal testing method). The residual deformation rate values obtained from both the external and internal testing methods must meet the standard requirements. 　　(III) Regarding seamless cylinders filled with mixed gases. 　　1. For seamless cylinders filled with mixed gases, priority should be given to cylinders manufactured in accordance with GB/T 5099.1-2017 \"Steel seamless cylinders – Part 1: Cylinders made of steel with a tensile strength of less than 1100 MPa after quenching and tempering\". 　　2. If normalized cylinders manufactured in accordance with GB/T 5099.3-2017 \"Steel seamless gas cylinders – Part 3: Cylinders normalized\" are selected, the content of impurities in the mixture gas must be strictly controlled. 　　V. Other Matters 　　(1) Relevant technical requirements for cryogenic pressure vessels. 　　1. To prevent accidents caused by overfilling of the tank, the design and manufacturing units shall propose measures to control the maximum filling volume of the tank and inform the user units thereof. The manufacturing unit shall equip fixed cryogenic pressure vessels with a volume limit device when their geometric volume is less than or equal to 10 m3. 　　2. For mobile pressure vessels used to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG), when self-pressurized unloading is employed, the design pressure of the tank shall not exceed 1.0 MPa. 　　3. For cryogenic pressure vessels used to contain media with a boiling point not higher than -182°C, the manufacturer shall require the manufacturer of the insulation material to submit a test report confirming the compatibility of that insulation material with oxygen, issued by a **quality inspection center with the appropriate qualifications. 　　4. Cryogenic pressure vessels used for storing liquid oxygen should be designed in such a way as to prevent the accumulation of C and H compounds, in order to avoid the risk of tank explosion. 　　5. When performing external pressure calculations for the inner vessel of cryogenic pressure vessels, the pressure used for these calculations is determined by the designer based on the maximum difference between internal and external pressures that may occur during manufacturing, transportation, loading/unloading, inspection, testing, or other operational conditions; there is no requirement to use a minimum value of 0.1 MPa or 0.04 MPa for this purpose. 　　(II) Selection of materials for mobile pressure vessels filled with stress-corrosion media. 　　1. For tanks filled with anhydrous ammonia at a water content of less than 0.2%, low-carbon steel and low-alloy high-strength steel shall not be used. When low-carbon steel and low-alloy high-strength steel are used for tanks filled with anhydrous ammonia at a water content slightly above 0.2%, materials with a specified yield strength of 370 MPa or less and a measured tensile strength of 630 MPa or less should be selected; such materials must be in an normalized state, and quenched and tempered steel shall not be used. 　　2. Except for anhydrous ammonia media, the material selection for tanks exposed to other stress-corrosion media shall meet the requirements of the \"Safety Technical Supervision Regulations for Mobile Pressure Vessels\" as well as the product standards on which the design is based. Otherwise, design and manufacturing can only proceed after the new material technology is reviewed. 　　(III) Design parameter options for mobile pressure vessels using ethylene oxide. 　　For the design and manufacturing units of road tankers and tank containers that have passed the technical evaluation for ethylene oxide media, as of the date of issuance of this notice, their products must comply with the new design parameter specifications set out in the \"Special Technical Requirements for Ethylene Oxide Mobile Pressure Vessels\"; those that do not meet these requirements shall not be manufactured nor approved through supervision inspections. 　　(IV) Regarding the factory sale of the medium filled during the trial production phase of the air separation unit. 　　1. Units applying for the trial filling of mobile pressure vessels for the construction of air separation production facilities must obtain the relevant permits for project planning, as well as approval documents regarding safety conditions and the design of safety facilities; they must also provide documentation proving that the enterprise is capable of carrying out trial production in compliance with laws and regulations. The sales scope of the medium filled by the filling unit (with the trial filling period being the same as the trial production period of the construction project) can be determined by the entity responsible for approving filling licenses based on expert reviews, after which it may be sold for distribution. 　　2. Upon the expiration of the trial filling period, and after a successful evaluation, before issuing the filling license, the licensing authority shall also verify whether the filling unit has obtained the necessary business license (for projects that do not require a hazardous chemicals business license, an occupational safety license must be obtained). General Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation, January 29, 2019