Dangerous Goods by Road
All components of the shell shall be electrically connected to each other and to the metal parts of the
service and structural equipment of the tank and to the vehicle. The electrical resistance between
components and equipment in contact with each other shall not exceed 10 ohms.
The electrical surface-resistance and discharge resistance shall be measured initially on each
manufactured tank or a specimen of the shell in accordance with a procedure recognized by the
competent authority.
The discharge resistance to earth of each tank shall be measured as part of the periodic inspection in
accordance with a procedure recognized by the competent authority.
Items of equipment
The requirements of 6.8.2.2.1, 6.8.2.2.2 and 6.8.2.2.4 to 6.8.2.2.8 shall apply.
In addition, when they are shown under an entry in Column (13) of Table A of Chapter 3.2, the special
provisions of 6.8.4 (b) (TE) shall also apply.
Type testing and approval
For any design of a FRP tank type, its materials and a representative prototype shall be subjected to
the design type testing as outlined below.
Material testing
The elongation at fracture according to EN ISO 527-4:1997 or EN ISO 527-5:2009 and the heat
distortion temperature according to EN ISO 75-1:2013 shall be determined for the resins to be used.
manufactured in parallel may only be used, if it is not possible to use cutouts from the shell. Prior to
testing, any liner shall be removed.
The tests shall cover:
- Thickness of the laminates of the central shell wall and the ends;
- Mass content and composition of glass, orientation and arrangement of reinforcement layers;
- Tensile strength, elongation at fracture and modulus of elasticity according to EN ISO 527-
4:1997 or EN ISO 527-5:2009 in the direction of stresses. In addition, the elongation at fracture
of the resin shall be established by means of ultrasound;
- Bending strength and deflection established by the bending creep test according to EN ISO
14125:1998 + AC:2002 + A1:2011 for a period of 1000 hours using a sample with a minimum
width of 50 mm and a support distance of at least 20 times the wall thickness. In addition, the
creep factor α and the ageing factor β shall be determined by this test and according to
EN 978:1997.
The interlaminate shear strength of the joints shall be measured by testing representative samples in
the tensile test according to EN ISO 14130:1997.
The chemical compatibility of the shell with the substances to be carried shall be demonstrated by one
of the following methods with the agreement of the competent authority. This demonstration shall
account for all aspects of the compatibility of the materials of the shell and its equipment with the
substances to be carried, including chemical deterioration of the shell, initiation of critical reactions of
the contents and dangerous reactions between both.
- In order to establish any deterioration of the shell, representative samples taken from the shell,
including any internal liners with welds, shall be subjected to the chemical compatibility test
according to EN 977:1997 for a period of 1 000 hours at 50°C. Compared with a virgin sample,
the loss of strength and elasticity modulus measured by the bending test according to
EN 978:1997 shall not exceed 25%. Cracks, bubbles, pitting effects as well as separation of
layers and liners and roughness shall not be acceptable.
- Certified and documented data of positive experiences on the compatibility of the filling
substances in question with the materials of the shell with which they come into contact at
given temperatures, times and any other relevant service conditions.
- Technical data published in relevant literature, standards or other sources, acceptable to the
competent authority.
Type testing
A representative prototype tank shall be subjected to tests as specified below. For this purpose service
equipment may be replaced by other items if necessary.
The prototype shall be inspected for compliance with the design type specification. This shall include
an internal and external visual inspection and measurement of the main dimensions.