Approval of inspection bodies
The competent authority may approve inspection bodies for conformity assessments, periodic inspections, intermediate inspections, exceptional checks and surveillance of the in-house inspection service as specified in 1.8.7.
Operational obligations for the competent authority, its delegate or inspection body
The competent authority, its delegate or inspection body shall carry out conformity assessments, periodic inspections, intermediate inspections and exceptional checks in a proportionate manner, avoiding unnecessary burdens. The competent authority, its delegate or inspection body shall perform its activities taking into consideration the size, the sector and the structure of the undertakings involved, the relative complexity of the technology and the serial character of production.
Nevertheless the competent authority, its delegate or inspection body shall respect the degree of rigour and the level of protection required for the compliance of the transportable pressure equipment by the provisions of parts 4 and 6 as applicable.
Where a competent authority, its delegate or inspection body finds out that requirements laid down in parts 4 or 6 have not been met by the manufacturer, it shall require the manufacturer to take appropriate corrective measures and it shall not issue any type approval certificate or certificate of conformity.
Delegation of inspection tasks
Contracting Parties to ADR shall publish their national procedures for the assessment, appointment and monitoring of inspection bodies and of any changes to that information.
Delegation of inspection tasks
NOTE: In-house inspection services according to 1.8.7.6 are not covered by 1.8.6.4.
Where an inspection body uses the services of any other entity (e.g. subcontractor, subsidiary), to carry out specific tasks connected with the conformity assessment, periodic inspection, intermediate inspection or exceptional checks, this entity shall be included in the accreditation of the inspection body, or it shall be accredited separately. In the case of separate accreditation, this entity shall be duly accredited according to standard EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and shall be recognised by the inspection body as an independent and impartial testing laboratory in order to perform testing tasks in accordance with its accreditation, or it shall be accredited according to standard EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (except clause 8.1.3). The inspection body shall ensure that this entity meets the requirements set out for the tasks given to it with the same level of competence and safety as laid down for inspection bodies (see 1.8.6.8) and the inspection body shall monitor it. The inspection body shall inform the competent authority about the above mentioned arrangements.
The inspection body shall take full responsibility for the tasks performed by such entities wherever the tasks are performed by them.
The inspection body shall not delegate the whole task of conformity assessment, periodic inspection, intermediate inspection or exceptional checks. In any case, the assessment and the issue of certificates shall be carried out by the inspection body itself.
Activities shall not be delegated without the agreement of the applicant.
The inspection body shall keep at the disposal of the competent authority the relevant documents concerning the assessment of the qualifications and the work carried out by the above mentioned entities.
Information obligations for inspection bodies
Any inspection body shall inform the competent authority, which had approved it, of the following:
(a) Except when the provisions of 1.8.7.2.4 apply, any refusal, restriction, suspension or withdrawal of type approval certificates;
(b) Any circumstance(s) affecting the scope of and conditions for the approval as granted by the competent authority;
(c) Any request for information on conformity assessment activities performed which they have received from competent authorities monitoring compliance according to 1.8.1 or 1.8.6.6;
(d) On request, conformity assessment activities performed within the scope of their approval and any other activity performed, including delegation of tasks.
The competent authority shall ensure the monitoring of the inspection bodies and shall revoke or restrict the approval given, if it notes that an approved body is no longer in compliance with the approval and the requirements of 1.8.6.8 or does not follow the procedures specified in the provisions of ADR.
If the approval of the inspection body is revoked or restricted or if the inspection body ceased activity, the competent authority shall take the appropriate steps to ensure that the files are either processed by another inspection body or kept available.