Directive 2014/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

2. Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised vessel testing (Module C1)

2.1. Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised vessel testing is the part of a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in points 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4, and ensures and declares on his sole responsibility that the vessels concerned are in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and satisfy the requirements of this Directive that apply to them.

2.2. Manufacturing

The manufacturer shall take all measures necessary so that the manufacturing process and its monitoring ensure conformity of the manufactured vessels with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and with the requirements of this Directive that apply to them.

Before commencing manufacture, the manufacturer shall provide a notified body of his choice with all necessary information, and in particular:

(a)

the technical documentation, which shall also include:

• the certificates relating to the suitable qualification of the welding operations and of the welders or welding operators,

• the inspection slip for the materials used in the manufacture of parts and components contributing to the strength of the vessel,

• a report on the examinations and tests performed;

(b)

the inspection document, describing the appropriate examinations and tests to be carried out during manufacture, together with the procedures in respect thereof and the frequency with which they are to be performed;

(c)

the EU-type examination certificate.

2.3. Vessel checks

2.3.1. For each individual vessel manufactured, the notified body shall carry out the appropriate examinations and tests in order to verify the conformity of the vessel with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and with the corresponding requirements of this Directive in accordance with the following points:

(a)

The manufacturer shall present his vessels in the form of uniform batches and shall take all necessary measures in order that the manufacturing process ensures the uniformity of each batch produced.

(b)

When a batch is examined, the notified body shall ensure that the vessels have been manufactured and checked in accordance with the technical documentation, and shall perform a hydrostatic test or a pneumatic test of equivalent effect on each vessel in the batch at a pressure Ph equal to 1,5 times the vessel’s design pressure in order to check its strength. The pneumatic test shall be subject to acceptance of the test safety procedures by the Member State in which the test is performed.

(c)

Moreover, the notified body shall carry out tests on test-pieces taken from a representative production test-piece or from a vessel, as the manufacturer chooses, in order to examine the weld quality. The tests shall be carried out on longitudinal welds. However, where differing weld techniques are used for longitudinal and circumferential welds, the tests shall be repeated on the circumferential welds.

(d)

For the vessels subject to the experimental method referred to in point 2.1.2 of Annex I, these tests on test-pieces shall be replaced by a hydrostatic test on five vessels taken at random from each batch in order to check that they conform to the essential safety requirements set out in point 2.1.2 of Annex I.

(e)

In the case of accepted batches, the notified body shall affix its identification number, or cause that number to be affixed, to each vessel and shall draw up a written certificate of conformity relating to the tests carried out. All vessels in the batch may be placed on the market except for those which have not successfully undergone a hydrostatic test or a pneumatic test.

(f)

If a batch is rejected, the notified body shall take appropriate measures to prevent the placing on the market of that batch. In the event of frequent rejection of batches, the notified body may suspend the statistical verification.

(g)

The manufacturer shall be able to supply on request by the relevant authorities the notified body’s certificates of conformity referred to in point (e).

2.3.2. The notified body shall supply the Member State which notified it and, on request, the other notified bodies, the other Member States and the Commission, with a copy of the inspection report issued by it.

2.3.3. The manufacturer shall, under the responsibility of the notified body, affix the notified body’s identification number during the manufacturing process.

2.4. CE marking and EU declaration of conformity

2.4.1. The manufacturer shall affix the CE marking to each individual vessel that is in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and satisfies the applicable requirements of this Directive.

2.4.2. The manufacturer shall draw up a written EU declaration of conformity for each vessel model and keep it at the disposal of the national authorities for 10 years after the vessel has been placed on the market. The EU declaration of conformity shall identify the vessel model for which it has been drawn up.

2.4.3. A copy of the EU declaration of conformity shall be made available to the relevant authorities upon request.

2.5. Authorised representative

The manufacturer’s obligations set out in point 2.4 may be fulfilled by his authorised representative, on his behalf and under his responsibility, provided that they are specified in the mandate.