The transition period for the new capacity regulations has been extended to November 30, 2010

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Due to the fact that design software and other tools cannot keep up, many organizations are still using old design software; furthermore, drawings cannot take into account the safety factors specified in new regulations. **Therefore, measures have been taken to extend the transition period by one year. Materials from the old standard can also be used for another year. Opinions on the Implementation of the Regulations on Safety Technical Inspection of Fixed Pressure Vessels, Special Circular from the Quality Inspection Bureau [2009] No. 89: To the Quality and Technical Supervision Bureaus of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as well as to all relevant organizations: The Regulations on Safety Technical Inspection of Fixed Pressure Vessels (TSG R0004-2009, hereinafter referred to as the new regulations) will come into effect on December 1, 2009. The provisions related to fixed pressure vessels in the Regulations on Safety Technical Inspection of Pressure Vessels issued by the Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau on June 25, 1999 (Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau Document No. [1999] 154, hereinafter referred to as the old regulations) shall be repealed simultaneously. The standard \"Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels\" (GB713-2008) came into effect on September 1, 2008. To better implement the new capacity regulations and GB713 standard, the following provisions are made regarding the issues arising during the implementation process: 1. Transition period for the new capacity regulations: Taking into account practical factors such as the time required by pressure vessel design and manufacturing units to update their quality system documents, train their personnel, and obtain new certifications, the transition period for the new capacity regulations is set from December 1, 2009, to November 30, 2010. During this period, those who meet the requirements should comply with the new capacity regulations ； For those facing genuine difficulties, the design unit may use the old capacity regulations for design, and the manufacturing unit shall produce according to the specifications in the design drawings; however, the manufacturing must be completed within the transition period. During the period when old and new capacity regulations coexist, they must not be used together in the production of the same product. II. Classification of pressure vessels: Pressure vessels manufactured before November 30, 2010, as well as those currently in use, will not have their classification revised; they will continue to be supervised and managed according to the categories specified in their original designs ； Pressure vessels for which a manufacturing contract has already been signed may proceed with the execution of the contract, regardless of the changes in classification under the new pressure vessel regulations and the resulting changes in the level of manufacturing permits. Pressure vessels shall not be manufactured in accordance with the old specifications after December 1, 2010. III. Implementation of Relevant Provisions during the Transition Period (1) Administrative licensing. For pressure vessels for which new requirements have been added in Article 1.4 of the new regulations regarding the need to obtain design and manufacturing permits (including those specified in Articles 1.4.1(3), 1.4.2, and 1.4.3), the relevant design and manufacturing entities shall make the necessary preparations in accordance with the relevant requirements, and apply for such permits after our agency formulates specific licensing conditions for pressure vessel manufacturers within the scope of Article 1.4 of the new regulations. Pressure vessels covered by Articles 1.4.2 and 1.4.3 of the new regulatory requirements shall be designed and manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the corresponding product standards (**national standards or industry standards). In the absence of corresponding product standards, the design and manufacturing entities shall establish enterprise standards and file them in accordance with relevant regulations. When the certification and evaluation body conducts evaluations of production units, it determines the applicable regulations for reviewing design documents based on the date when the designs were completed, and it determines the applicable regulations for reviewing prototype products based on the date when the manufacturing contract was signed. In cases where changes in the licensing level are caused by the provisions of the new capacity regulations, the manufacturing entity shall submit materials such as its actual situation and certificates from the manufacturing supervision and inspection agency to the authority issuing licenses for the new level. The licensing authority shall directly amend the license for enterprises that produce only a single product; otherwise, re-evaluation in accordance with the requirements for upgraded licenses must be carried out, and this task shall be completed by November 30, 2010. (II) Implementation of referenced standards. Before the revisions of reference standards such as \"Steel Pressure Vessels\" (GB150-1998) and \"Steel Pressure Vessels – Analysis and Design Standards\" (JB4732-95), for designs carried out in accordance with the new regulations, for carbon steel at design temperatures below 350°C and low-alloy steel at design temperatures below 400°C, the designer may calculate the allowable stress of the materials based on the safety factors specified in the new regulations and the mechanical properties defined in the corresponding material standards. At the same time, matters such as re-inspection of materials, welding specimens, non-destructive testing, pressure testing, and leak testing shall all be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the new code. (III) Application of the diffraction time-of-flight ultrasonic testing (TOFD) method. Before the issuance of the standard for \"Ultrasonic Testing by Diffraction Time Difference Method,\" inspection and testing institutions as well as manufacturing units that use the TOFD method for non-destructive testing of pressure vessels shall formulate corresponding corporate standards. After passing the technical review by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Boilers and Pressure Vessels (hereinafter referred to as the TCBSPV) and having the standards registered, they shall carry out their work in accordance with the requirements set out in the \"Notice on Further Improving the Supervision of Safety in Boilers, Pressure Vessels, and Pressure Pipelines\" (Guo Jian Zhi Te Han [2007] No. 402). (IV) Issues related to the design and manufacturing using international (overseas) standards. When designing pressure vessels in accordance with international (overseas) standards, approval from the **General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine is required; alternatively, it is possible to submit the design documents along with a declaration confirming compliance with the basic safety requirements of these regulations. (5) Manufacturing and use of overseas materials. When manufacturing pressure vessels from materials of foreign grades, the provisions of Article 2.9 of the new pressure vessel regulations shall be followed. Enterprises that manufacture materials of foreign grades shall undergo a technical evaluation in accordance with Article 1.9 of the new regulations. Our bureau has entrusted the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards Committee to carry out this evaluation, and relevant enterprises can submit their evaluation requests directly to the committee. IV. Supplementary Provisions for the Transition Period of the Standard for Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels The standard for Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels (GB713-2008) came into effect on September 1, 2008. To address the specific issues arising from the transition between the old and new standards, our bureau issued the \"Notice on the Arrangements for the Transition Period During the Implementation of GB713-2008 and GB/T9222-2008\" (Quality Inspection Special Letter No. 2008/64, hereinafter referred to as the \"Notice\"). However, due to the impact of the international financial crisis, some boiler and pressure vessel manufacturing companies have large inventory levels of steel plates used for such boilers and pressure vessels, which were purchased in advance. To address the practical issue of material backlogs among domestic boiler and pressure vessel manufacturers and reduce economic losses, in consultation with the relevant standardization technical committees, the deadline by which these manufacturers may use materials specified in GB713-1997 and GB6654-1996 (including amendments) for the production of boilers and pressure vessels has been extended to November 30, 2010; all other requirements outlined in the notice remain unchanged. **General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, November 30, 2009