What qualifications are required for the design and manufacture of quick-opening blind flanges?

A D1, D2, or A2 qualification is required; in other words, the qualification related to the fast-door opening device is sufficient, and no separate qualification is needed.

We now have the necessary qualifications for manufacturing the equipment, but the quick-opening blind flanges are purchased from external suppliers. Current inspection requirements stipulate that the manufacturer of such blind flanges must possess qualifications for designing and manufacturing pressure vessels – is this really a requirement?

Personally, I don’t think the requirements need to be that high; a blind plate is simply a sheet of metal that has undergone metalworking. If you purchase the materials and have another company carry out the machining, what qualifications do you require from that company? The key is that you need to control the material of the blind plates.

There are industry standards for quick-opening blind flanges in China, namely SY/T0556-2010 issued by the Ministry of Energy; these standards set requirements regarding design and manufacturing qualifications. The quick-opening blind flanges we purchase must come with inspection certificates.

A quick-opening blind flange is not a separate component; it is a part of the equipment, and its design must be carried out in conjunction with that of the equipment. The assembly and welding of the various components on the quick-opening blind plate are also carried out by the container manufacturing unit; therefore, such a unit must possess the qualifications for design and manufacturing. The metal machining on the quick-open blind flange can be outsourced.

According to TSG21-2016, there is no need for manufacturing qualifications or inspection certificates. However, the issue of design qualifications deserves further exploration, as container design is considered as a whole; currently, there is no practice of outsourcing the design and manufacturing of individual components. In other words, the standard procedure is that the design of quick-opening blind flanges should be carried out by the container design team, while their manufacturing process can be subcontracted or outsourced. When the design agency designs a quick-opening blind flange and specifies that it must comply with certain standards, then it must also meet the requirements of those standards. For example: if the design specifies that the blind flange shall be designed and manufactured in accordance with SY/T0556-2010, then the unit responsible for manufacturing it must possess the necessary manufacturing qualifications.

Could I have your contact information? I am a manufacturer of quick-opening blind flanges.

Could I have your contact information? I am a manufacturer of quick-opening blind flanges.

Are type tests required for the production of quick-opening blind plates for pressure vessels?