Division 3.10 Production examination and test requirements

Production examination and tests shall be carried out on all containers during manufacture and after completion, as follows:

1. (a)

   Verification that the principal dimensions and mass of the finished container and of any liner and over-wrap are within design tolerances;

2. (b)

   Verification of compliance with principal manufacturing parameters, referred to in the appendix to the information document as set out in Part 1 to Annex II, including examination of any specified surface finish with special attention to deep drawn surfaces and folds or laps in the neck or shoulder of forged or spun end enclosures or openings;

3. (c)

   For metallic containers and liners, NDE in accordance with Annex B of ISO 9809 or Annex C of EN 1964-3 or Annex B of EN 13322-2 as appropriate, or a demonstrated equivalent method capable of detecting the maximum defect size allowed, to verify that the maximum defect size does not exceed the size specified in the design as determined below.

In addition welded stainless steel liners shall also be examined in accordance with section 6.8.2. of EN 13322-2, and welded aluminium alloy liners shall be examined in accordance with sections 6.2.1. (second section), and 6.2.3. of EN 12862.

The design of type 1, 2 and 3 containers shall identify the maximum allowable defect size at any location in the metal container or liner that will not grow to a critical size within either the specified retest period or service life if no retest is specified. The critical defect size is defined as the limiting through-wall (container or liner) thickness defect that would allow stored gas to be discharged without rupturing the container. Defect sizes for the rejection criteria for ultrasonic scanning or equivalent, shall be smaller than the maximum allowable defect sizes. For type 2 and 3 containers, it shall be assumed that there is no damage to non-metallic materials due to any time-dependent mechanisms. The allowable defect size for NDE shall be determined by an appropriate method.

Containers shall meet the following requirements:

1. (a)

   Hardness test for metallic containers and liners in accordance with section 4.1.8.;

2. (b)

   Hydraulic test, in accordance with section 4.2.15.;

3. (c)

   Leak test for type 4 containers and type 3 with welded metal liners, in accordance with section 4.2.11.;

4. (d)

   Verification of markings, in accordance with section 3.8.

A summary of the required production examination and tests for each container is provided in Table IV.3.10.