Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

Forty-first session

Geneva, 25 June – 4 July 2012

Item 5 (a) of the provisional agenda

Miscellaneous proposals of amendments to the Model Regulations

on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: packagings

Transition provisions for ISO Standards – Section 6.2.2

Submitted by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO)

Introduction

1. This paper follows on from the paper ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/2011/25 submitted to fortieth session of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.  The purpose of this paper is to:

-  propose text for the Guiding Principles for the Model Regulations giving the rules for transition when standards already referenced in Section 6.2.2 are replaced by updated standards;

-  introduce into the Regulations the 2010 versions of the thee parts of the standards ISO 9809;

-  provide as an Annex an edited text showing all the amendments including consequential editorial amendments as they would appear in section 6.2.2 of the Model Regulations if these proposals are adopted.

2.  In the discussion at the fortieth session several experts were in favour of having a transition period to phase in replacement standards but asked for more time to examine the three new parts of ISO 9809.  Text detailing the proposed system for transition for inclusion in the Guiding Principles was requested and it was also suggested that the paper should be submitted to the RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting.

3.  The Joint Meeting in March considered the paper 2011/25 and concluded “… that it was indeed desirable to harmonize, for all modes of transport and worldwide, the transitional periods for the application to the construction of new UN receptacles of the ISO standards referenced in the UN Model Regulations, and replaced by updated standards.”It took no position on the issues of the duration of the transitional periods or how the transition should be presented in the Model Regulations.

4.  The basic principle of the proposed transitional provisions is that on a specified date, which would be carried forward into all the modal regulations, manufacture according to the old standards shall cease.  Until that date manufacture according to either the old or new version of the standard would be possible. 

5.  Successive editions of standards for design and manufacture do not generally make a significant impact on the public safety of the final product; in the particular field of gas cylinders, many in national use having had a service life exceeding fifty years.  With proper care and periodic inspection, they continue to be safe.  Revisions of standards usually implement more economical production, so there is normally no safety imperative to make the transition rapidly. 

Therefore it is proposed that, unless a revised construction standard represents a significant step forward in safety, the old standard will have a transition (or phase-out) period of six years.  Carrying a fixed date into the modal regulations will cut this down to four years due to time needed to adopt the new text from the Model Regulations.

6.  Standards covering periodic inspection also take practices forward only incrementally and a short transition period is acceptable and necessary to allow inspection bodies and testers time to adapt their work practices and instructions.  Therefore, a period of four years, reduced to two in the modal regulations, is proposed. This proposal means that a single issue of the modal regulations gives notice of the change of the standard.

7.  Since pressure receptacles can only bear the UN mark when constructed in accordance with standards given in the tables in section 6.2.2, it is important that the superseded standards remain in the tables indefinitely as evidence that their construction was in accordance with the regulations.  Also, the regulations shall state that pressure receptacles and their service equipment made in accordance with those superseded standards can remain in use.

Proposal 1

The following text is proposed for insertion into Part 6 of the Guiding Principles.

Chapter 6.2: System for providing a period of transition when new standards replace existing referenced standards for UN pressure receptacles, their service equipment and periodic inspection and test.

1. Principles

(a)  When an existing standard is replaced by either a revised version or another standard having the same scope, there shall be a period during which either the new or old standard may be used.  This will allow for the issue of new type approvals, the adjustment of procedures and where necessary, the acquisition of new equipment.

(b)  The period shall be expressed by setting a limiting date after which the old standard can no longer be used.  The new standard can be used from the date at which the regulations in which they are listed come into force.

(c)  For standards covering the design and manufacture of pressure receptacles and their closures, the limiting date shall normally be set at six years from the close of the biennium in which the new standard was agreed for referencing in the Model Regulations.  For example, if a standard is adopted in the 2011/2012 biennium, the standard which it replaces shall have a limiting date of 31 December 2018. 

Note: Given the time taken to transfer new provisions from the Model Regulations into the international provisions for the air, sea and land modes, it is expected that this will result in an actual transition period of four years.

(d)  For standards covering periodic inspection a limiting date of four years from the end of the biennium of adoption of the new standard shall be set.  When the transition period is completed, the old standard shall be deleted.

(e)  If the Sub Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods believes that the new standard provides a significant improvement in public safety, it may set shorter transition periods.

(f)  A transition period is not envisaged for standards in sub section 6.2.2.2 concerning materials (ISO 11114, parts 1 and 2 concerning the compatibility of materials with gases) since these provide information and guidance only.

(g)  A transition period shall not be set when a new standard is introduced having a scope not previously covered in section 6.2.2.

(h)  The regulations shall include a statement that UN pressure receptacles constructed according to standards that are no longer applicable for manufacture may still be used.

2.  Presentation of the transition periods in the Model Regulations

Each table of standards shall have a column at the right showing the date after which the standard shall not be used.  In the case of standards for design and manufacture this column shall be headed “Applicable for manufacture”.  In the table in the sub section for Periodic inspection and test, the column shall be headed “Applicable”.

Alongside each standard for which a limit date has been set shall appear “Until 31 December 2XYZ”.  If no date has been set the words “Until further notice” shall appear.

3.  Examples of how the standards shall be listed

(a)  The table below gives an example for sub section 6.2.2.1 Design, construction and initial inspection and test showing a revised standard adopted in the biennium 2011/2012 (for the 18^th Revised Edition).

Proposal 2

Proposal 2 (a)

6.2.2.1.1 Add the following standards

Proposal 2 (b)

6.2.2.1.3 Add the following standards

Proposal 2 (c)

Apply the transition provision of Proposal 1 to the superseded standards by the following amendments.

6.2.2   Add the following as a second sentence.

“Manufacture of new pressure receptaclesor service equipment according to any particular standard in 6.2.2.1 and 6.2.2.3 is not permitted after the date shown (if any) in the right hand column of the tables.”

make the existing Note “Note 1”

Add the following new Note 2

“NOTE 2: Pressure receptacles and service equipment conforming to standards for which manufacture is no longer permitted may continue to be used.”6.2.2.1.1 Amend the table in as shown (new text underlined). 

Justification for Proposal 2 (a) and 2 (b)

The three parts of the ISO standard ISO 9809 has been revised in the following respects.

a)   the reduction of maximum sulphur content of steels from 0.020 % to 0.010 %;

b)   the note in clause 7.3 regarding limitation of the F  factor was deleted (as required by the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Model Regulations);

c)   the modification of provisions for ultrasonic examination to include ultrasonic examination on the cylindrical area to be closed, prior to the process of forming the neck;

d)   the addition of the requirement for a base check during prototype testing for all cylinder types;

e)   the addition of the requirement for a base check during batch testing for cylinders made from continuously cast billet material.

As may be seen from the above, these revised standards make an incremental improvement in technology, but there no step change in safety. The 1999/2000 editions of these standards were the state of the art when published and there is no pressing need to implement the revised standards very quickly. 

Proposal 3

The standards for service equipment are also used for manufacture so the provisions for transition are also applicable to sub section 6.2.2.3.  Therefore, if the transition provisions described in Proposal 1 are applied it is possible to bring back the reference to ISO 10297:1999 which was superseded in the Model Regulations by ISO 10297:2006 in 2009, without any transition period.  This restoration of a previous listing would remove doubt as to whether valves made to the older standard are still allowed for use.

The entries for these two editions of ISO 10297 would then appear in sub section 6.2.2.3 as follows (new text underlined).

Also, the transition period agreed for the 17^th Revised edition of the Model Regulations for the old and new editions of the standard ISO 11117 can be presented in 6.2.2.3 in the same way as for the other standards.  Deleted text is shown by strikethrough.

Annex

This annex shows the text of section 6.2.2 from the start to the end of 6.2.2.4 as it would appear if all the proposals in this paper were adopted.  Consequential editorial amendments have been included, such as the addition of an extra column in all the tables of standards, even where no transition period is yet implemented.  New text is shown underlined.

6.2.2   Requirements for UN pressure receptacles

In addition to the general requirements of section 6.2.1, UN pressure receptacles shall comply with the requirements of this section, including the standards as applicable.  Manufacture of new pressure receptaclesor service equipment according to any particular standard in 6.2.2.1 and 6.2.2.3 is not permitted after the date shown (if any) in the right hand column of the tables.

NOTE 1:     With the agreement of the competent authority, more recently published versions of the standards, if available, may be used.

NOTE 2:    Pressure receptacles and service equipment conforming to standards for which manufacture is no longer permitted may continue to be used.

6.2.2.1     Design, construction and initial inspection and test

6.2.2.1.1   The following standards apply for the design, construction, and initial inspection and test of UN cylinders, except that inspection requirements related to the conformity assessment system and approval shall be in accordance with 6.2.2.5:

NOTE 1:     In the above referenced standards composite cylinders shall be designed for unlimited service life.

NOTE 2:     After the first 15 years of service, composite cylinders manufactured according to these standards, may be approved for extended service by the competent authority which was responsible for the original approval of the cylinders and which will base its decision on the test information supplied by the manufacturer or owner or user.

6.2.2.1.2       The following standard apply for the design, construction, and initial inspection and test of UN tubes, except that inspection requirements related to the conformity assessment system and approval shall be in accordance with 6.2.2.5:

6.2.2.1.3   The following standards apply for the design, construction and initial inspection and test of UN acetylene cylinders, except that inspection requirements related to the conformity assessment system and approval shall be in accordance with 6.2.2.5:

For the cylinder shell:

For the porous material in the cylinder:

6.2.2.1.4   The following standards apply for the design, construction, and initial inspection and test of UN cryogenic receptacles, except that inspection requirements related to the conformity assessment system and approval shall be in accordance with 6.2.2.5:

6.2.2.1.5  The following standards apply for the design, construction, and initial inspection and test of UN metal hydride storage systems, except that inspection requirements related to the conformity assessment system and approval shall be in accordance with 6.2.2.5:

6.2.2.2     Materials

In addition to the material requirements specified in the pressure receptacle design and construction standards, and any restrictions specified in the applicable packing instruction for the gas(es) to be carried (e.g. packing instruction P200 or P205 of 4.1.4.1), the following standards apply to material compatibility:

     NOTE:  The limitations imposed in ISO 11114-1 on high strength steel alloys at ultimate tensile strength levels up to 1 100 MPa do not apply to UN No. 2203 silane.

6.2.2.3    Service equipment

The following standards apply to closures and their protection:

6.2.2.4   Periodic inspection and test

The following standards apply to the periodic inspection and testing of UN cylinders and UN metal hydride storage systems:

联合国危险货物运输与全球化学品统一分类及标签制度专家委员会

危险货物运输专家分委员会

第四十一次会议

日内瓦, 2012年6月25日-7月4日

议程第5(a)项

对规章范本的各种修正草案：包装

ISO标准的过渡条款—第6.2.2节

由国际标准化组织提交(ISO)

介绍

1.  本文件的以下内容来源于提交到危险货物运输专家分委员会第40次会议的如下文件：ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/2011/25。

本文件的主要目的在于：

-  根据规章范本的指导方针提出的文本给出了当第6.2.2节中参考的标准被更新的标准替代时适用的过渡规则；

-  此次引入2010版规章范本的包括ISO 9809标准的三个部分；

-  如果这些提议被采纳，一份修订的文本将作为附件提交，包括出现在规章范本第6.2.2节中的所以由此产生的编辑性修订。

2.  在第四十次会议的讨论中，一些专家赞成有一个过渡时期来逐步推进标准的替代工作，要求更多的时间来检查ISO 9809标准的三个新部分。

专家要求获得列入指导原则的提议的过渡系统的文本细节，并建议应将这些材料提交到RID/ADR/AND联席会议。

3.  在三月份举行的联席会议上考虑了2011/25这份文件，并得出结论表示：“对于世界范围内以及各种运输方式，对联合国规章范本中参考的ISO标准中的新UN容器的建造以及使用新标准的应用，我们确实需要协调一个过渡期。”

专家们在关于该过渡期的持续时间以及这种过渡将如何在规章范本中得以体现等议题并无立场。

4.  提议的过渡条款的基本原则是，截止到一个将引入所有运输规章的特定的日期为止，根据旧标准进行的生产活动必须终止。

在该截止日期之前，无论按照新或者旧的标准进行的生产活动都将是被允许的。

5.  有关设计和生产的标准的后续版本将不会对最终产品的公共安全产生严重的影响；对于气瓶这一特殊产品领域来说，在许多国家内的使用年限都超过50年。在合适的保养并定期检查的情况下，它们始终是安全的。

对于标准的修订通常会采用更经济的生产，所以通常没有安全方面的必要性来加速实现这种转变。

因此，相关建议提出，除非修订的建设标准能够在安全方面取得显著的进展，旧标准将维持一个为期六年的过渡期（逐步淘汰期）。

在运输规章中引入一个规定的截止日期将把这段过渡期缩短到四年，因为采纳规章范本中的新内容需要时间。

6.  涵盖周期性检查的相关标准同样在实践中逐步取得进展，与此同时，设立一个短暂的过渡时期不仅是可接受的，而且是必要的，这使得检查部门和测试者能够有时间改进他们工作中的操作与指令。

因此，提议将运输规章中将四年的过渡期缩短到两年。这一提议意味着运输规章中的一个单一的议题将影响到标准的修改。

7. 鉴于压力容器只有在按照第6.2.2章的表格中给出的标准建造才能贴上联合国的标记，将被废弃的标准无限期的保留在表格中是重要的，这样可以证明它们的建造是符合规章范本的要求的。

并且，这些规章应该声明，按照作废的标准生产的压力容器及其附属设备仍然可以继续使用。

提议1

以下文本是为插入指导原则的第6部分而提出的。

第6.2章：当新标准取代既有的联合国压力容器、其附属设备以及周期性检查与测试参考标准而设立的过渡期体系。

1.  原则

(a)  当一个现行的标准被一个具有相同适用范围的修订标准或者其他标准替代时，应当有一段过渡时期，在此段时期内，无论新旧标准都应该可以适用。这考虑到的问题包括新型号的批准、步骤的调整以及必要情况下新设备的获得。

(b)  这一时期将由所设置的截止期限决定，在这一期限之后，旧的标准将不再适用。

新的标准可从它们在规章中规定的生效日期起开始使用。

(c)  对于涵盖压力容器的设计和生产及其封闭装置的标准，截止期限通常设定为规章同意采纳新标准的两年有效期限到期后的六年。例如，如果一项标准被2011/2012版的规章采用，旧标准被新标准替代的截止期限是2018年12月31日。

注：考虑到将规章范本中的新条款转换到关于航空、海洋以及陆地运输的国际条款需要时间，预计这将导致实际的过渡时期达四年。

(d)  对于涵盖周期性检查的标准，截止期限通常设定为两年有效期到期后的四年，当过渡时期结束之后，旧的标准将被删除。

(e)  如果危险货物运输专家分委员会认为新的标准会带来公共安全方面的重大改进，可以设置较短的过渡期。

(f)  预计过渡时期不适用于6.2.2.2章节中有关材料的标准（ISO 11114，第一与第二部分是关于材料与气体的兼容性），因为这些标准仅仅提供了一些信息与指导。

(g)  当引入的一个新标准所涉及的范围在第6.2.2章中以前并未涉及时，不应设立过渡期。

(h)  规章范本中应该包含一个声明，指出一些按不再适用的标准建造的联合国压力容器，也仍然可能在使用。

2.  在规章范本中关于过渡期的描述

每张关于标准的表格，其右方都有一栏显示该标准不应再使用的日期。

对于适用于设计与生产的标准，这一栏的标题前应该加上“制造商应用时间”的字样。

在表格中周期性检查与测试部分，这一栏的标题应该加上“适用”字样。

在每个标准的旁边，截止日期应该按照“截止到2 XYZ年12月31日”的字样列出。如果没有确定截止日期，应该标明“另行通知”。

3.  标准如何列出的例子

(a)  下表给出了分章节6.2.2.1设计，制造以及首次的检查与试验的一个例子，展示了在2011/2012两年期间内适用的一个修订标准（第18版修订版）

提议2

提议2（a）

6.2.2.1.1增加如下标准

提议2（b）

6.2.2.1.3中增加如下标准

提议2（c）

利用如下的修正，将提议1中的过渡条款应用于替代标准。

6.2.2    .增加下文作为第二句话：

 “按照6.2.2.1和6.2.2.3中的任何标准生产的新的压力容器或者辅助设备，在表格右手栏显示的截止日期（如果存在的话）之后，都是不允许使用的。”

将已经存在的注释标为“注1”

增加新的注2

 “注2：按照已经不再允许使用的标准的生产制造的压力容器及辅助设备可以继续使用。”

6.2.2.1.1表格中的更改如下（新的文字用下划线标出）

提议2（a）与2（b）的理由

标准的三个方面在如下方面做出调整：

a)   将钢中最大含硫量从0.020 %削减到0.010 %；

b)   在7.3节中关于限制F系数的注释部分被删除（由联合国关于危险货物运输的建议书  规章范本所要求）；

c)   修改关于超声检查部分的条款，包括在形成颈部这一过程之前，先对圆柱体部分进行超声检查；

d)   增加对于所有类型的气瓶都要在原型测试期间进行基础检查的要求；

e)   增加对于在利用连续铸造钢锭制造的钢瓶进行批次测试期间进行基础检查的要求。

从上文可以看出，这些修订的标准在技术方面有一些进步，但是在安全性方面没有什么改变。

1999/2000版本的标准在出版时体现了当时的技术发展水平，如今没有尽快改进这些修订后的标准的紧迫需求。

提议3

为辅助设备制订的标准也制造商应用时间，因此过渡条款也适用于6.2.2.3节。

因此，如果在提议1中描述的过渡条款得以应用，我们可以回过头去参考ISO 10297:1999，其在规章范本中于2009年被ISO 10297:2006所替换，并没有经过任何过渡期。

对于恢复先前列表可以打消怀疑，比如按照旧标准制造的阀门是否还被允许使用。

ISO 10297的这两个版本的条目将在6.2.2.3节按照如下形式表述（新的文字用下划线标出）。

同时，在第17版规章范本中为ISO 11117的新旧不同版本的标准达成的过渡期可以在6.2.2.3节中按照与其他标准同样的方式表述。删除的文字用删除线标出。

附件

如果本文中所有的提案都被采纳，附录给出了6.2.2节中6.2.2.4从头到尾的部分将出现的内容。

包括重要的编辑修订，比如在所有的标准表格中增加新的列，即使是在目前还没有执行过渡期的标准也是如此。新的文字用下划线标出。

6.2.2    联合国压力容器的要求

除了6.2.1节的一般要求，联合国核证的压力容器应符合本节的要求，包括适用的标准。

按照6.2.2.1和6.2.2.3中的任何标准生产的新的压力容器或者辅助设备，在表格右手栏显示的截止日期（如果存在的话）之后，都是不允许使用的。

注1：如主管当局同意，可以使用可获得的最近出版的标准版本。

注2：按照已经不再允许使用的标准的生产制造的压力容器及辅助设备可以继续使用。

6.2.2.1   设计，制造以及首次的检查与试验

6.2.2.1.1   下列标准适用于联合国气瓶的设计，制造以及首次检查与试验，但与合格评定体系及批准有关的要求应符合6.2.2.5规定：

注1：在上述标准中，复合气瓶的使用寿命在设计上应是无限的。

注2：根据上述标准制造的复合气瓶在经过头15年使用后，可由负责最初批准气瓶的主管机关根据制造商、所有人或用户提供的试验资料作出决定，批准延长使用期限。

6.2.2.1.2    下列标准适用于联合国气筒的设计，制造以及首次的检查与试验，但与合格评定体系及批准有关的要求应符合6.2.2.5规定：

对于气瓶壳体：

对于在气瓶内的多孔材料：

6.2.2.2   材料

除了压力容器设计与制造标准中规定的材料要求，以及对待运输的气体适用的包装规范（例如4.1.4.1中的包装规范P200 或 P205）所规定的限制之外，下列标准适用于材料的相容性：

6.2.2.3   辅助设备

下列标准适用于封闭装置及其保护设备

6.2.2.4    周期性检查与试验

下列标准适用于联合国气瓶及联合国金属氢化物储存系统的周期性检查与测试：