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.

The inspection body shall:

(a)    Have a staff with an organizational structure, capable, trained, competent and skilled, to satisfactorily perform its technical functions;

(b)    Have access to suitable and adequate facilities and equipment;

(c)    Operate in an impartial manner and be free from any influence which could prevent it from doing so;

(d)    Ensure commercial confidentiality of the commercial and proprietary activities of the manufacturer and other bodies;

(e)    Maintain clear demarcation between actual inspection body functions and unrelated functions;

(f)    Have a documented quality system;

(g)    Ensure that the tests and inspections specified in the relevant standard and in ADR are performed; and

(h)    Maintain an effective and appropriate  report  and  record  system  in  accordance  with  1.8.7 and 1.8.8.

The inspection body shall additionally be accredited according to the standard EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (except clause 8.1.3), as specified in 6.2.2.11, 6.2.3.6 and TA4 and TT9 of 6.8.4.

An inspection body starting a new activity may be approved temporarily. Before temporary designation, the competent authority shall ensure that the inspection body meets the requirements of the standard EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (except clause 8.1.3). The inspection body shall be accredited  in its first year of activity to be able to continue this new activity.
 

The procedures in section 1.8.7 shall be applied according to 6.2.3.6 when approving  non-UN pressure receptacles and according to TA4 and TT9 of 6.8.4 when approving tanks, battery-vehicles and MEGCs.

The procedures in section 1.8.7 may be applied according to the table in 6.2.2.11 when certifying UN pressure receptacles.
 

Each application for

(a)    The type approval in accordance with 1.8.7.2 or;

(b)    The supervision of manufacture in accordance with 1.8.7.3 and the initial inspection and test in accordance with 1.8.7.4; or

(c)    The periodic inspection, intermediate inspection and exceptional checks in accordance with 1.8.7.5

shall be lodged by the applicant with a single competent authority, its delegate or an approved inspection body of his choice.
 

The application shall include:

(a)    The name and address of the applicant;

(b)    For conformity assessment where the applicant is not the manufacturer, the name and address of the manufacturer;

(c)    A written declaration that the same application has not been lodged with any other competent authority, its delegate or inspection body;

(d)    The relevant technical documentation specified in 1.8.7.7;

(e)    A statement allowing the competent authority, its delegate or inspection body access for inspection purposes to the locations of manufacture, inspection, testing and storage and providing it with all necessary information.
 

Where the applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the competent authority or its delegated inspection body conformity with 1.8.7.6 the applicant may establish an in-house inspection service which may perform part or all of the inspections and tests when specified in 6.2.2.11 or 6.2.3.6.

Design type approval certificates and certificates of conformity - including the technical documentation - shall be retained by the manufacturer or by the applicant for the type approval, if he  is not the manufacturer, and by the inspection body, who issued the certificate, for a period of at least 20 years starting from the last date of production of products of the same type.

When a manufacturer or owner intends to cease operation, he shall send the documentation to the competent authority. The competent authority shall then retain the documentation for the rest of the period specified in 1.8.7.1.5.

The applicant shall:

(a)    In the case of pressure receptacles, place at the disposal of the relevant body representative samples of the production envisaged. The relevant body may request further samples if  required by the test programme;

(b)    In the case of tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs, give access to the prototype for type testing.
 

The relevant body shall:

(a)    Examine the technical documentation specified in 1.8.7.7.1 to verify that the design is in accordance with the relevant provisions of ADR, and the prototype or the prototype lot has been manufactured in conformity with the technical documentation and is representative of the design;

(b)    Perform the examinations and witness the tests specified in ADR, to determine that the provisions have been applied and fulfilled, and the procedures adopted by the manufacturer meet the requirements;

(c)    Check the certificate(s) issued by the materials manufacturer(s) against the relevant provisions of ADR;

(d)    As applicable, approve the procedures for the permanent joining of parts or check that they have been previously approved, and verify that the staff undertaking the permanent joining of parts and the non-destructive tests are qualified or approved;

(e)    Agree with the applicant the location and testing facilities where the examinations and necessary tests are to be carried out.

The relevant body shall issue a type-examination report to the applicant.
 

Where the type satisfies all applicable provisions, the competent authority, its delegate or the inspection body, shall issue a type approval certificate to the applicant.

This certificate shall contain:

(a)    The name and address of the issuer;

(b)    The name and address of the manufacturer and of the applicant when the applicant is not the manufacturer;

(c)    A reference to the version of ADR and standards used for the type examination;

(d)    Any requirements resulting from the examination;

(e)    The necessary data for identification of the type and variation, as defined by the relevant standard;

(f)    The reference to the type examination report(s); and

(g)    The maximum period of validity of the type approval.

A list of the relevant parts of the technical documentation shall be annexed to the certificate (see 1.8.7.7.1).
 

The type approval shall be valid for a maximum of ten years. If within that period the relevant technical requirements of ADR (including referenced standards) have changed so that the approved type is no longer in conformity with them, the relevant body which issued the type approval shall withdraw it and inform the holder of the type approval.

NOTE: For the ultimate dates for withdrawal of existing type approvals, see column (5) of the tables in 6.2.4 and 6.8.2.6 or 6.8.3.6 as appropriate.
If a type approval has expired or has been withdrawn, the manufacture of the pressure receptacles, tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs according to that type approval is no longer authorised.
 

In such a case, the relevant provisions concerning the use, periodic inspection and intermediate inspection of pressure receptacles, tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs contained in the type approval which has expired or has been withdrawn shall continue to apply to these pressure receptacles, tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs constructed before the expiry or the withdrawal if they may continue to be used.

They may continue to be used as long as they remain in conformity with the requirements of ADR. If they are no longer in conformity with the requirements of ADR they may continue to be used only if such use is permitted by relevant transitional measures in Chapter 1.6.

Type approvals may be renewed by a complete review and assessment for conformity with the provisions of ADR applicable at the date of renewal. Renewal is not permitted after a type approval has been withdrawn. Interim amendments of an existing type approval (e.g. for pressure receptacles minor amendments such as the addition of further sizes or volumes not affecting conformity, or for tanks see 6.8.2.3.2) do not extend or modify the original validity of the certificate.

NOTE: The review and assessment of conformity can be done by a body other than the one which issued the original type approval.

The issuing body shall keep all documents for the type approval (see 1.8.7.7.1) for the whole period of validity including its renewals if granted.