Thông tư 322/2016/TT-BTC

CIRCULAR

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON LIFE-JACKETS FOR NATIONAL RESERVE

Pursuant to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations No. 68/2006/QH11 dated June 29, 2006;

Pursuant to the Law on National Reserves No. 22/2012/QH13 dated November 20, 2012;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP dated August 01, 2007 on detailed regulations for implementation of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 94/2013/ND-CP dated August 21, 2013 providing detailed regulations on implementation of the Law on National Reserves;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 215/2013/ND-CP dated December 23, 2013 defining functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

At the request of the Director General of the General Department of State Reserves;

The Minister of Finance promulgates a Circular on the National technical regulation on life-jackets for national reserve.

Article 1. National technical regulation on life-jackets for national reserve is promulgated together with this Circular.

Article 2. This Circular comes into force from June 15, 2017 and supersedes the Circular No. 131/2012/TT-BTC dated August 13, 2012 of the Minister of Finance.

Article 3. The Director General of the General Department of State Reserves, heads of authorities and organizations, and individuals involving in delivery (warehousing, dispatching), maintenance and management of life-jackets for national reserve shall be responsible for implementation of this Circular.

Difficulties that arise during the implementation of this Circular should be promptly reported to the Ministry of Finance for consideration.

QCVN 07: 2016/BTC

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON LIFE-JACKETS FOR NATIONAL RESERVE 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Scope

1.2. Regulated entities

1.3. Interpretation of terms

1.4. Normative references  

2. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1. Technical requirements

2.2. Grounds for technical requirements

3. TEST METHODS

3.1. Visual examination

3.2. Inspection of satisfaction of technical requirements

4. REGULATIONS ON DELIVERY AND STORAGE

4.1. Transport

4.2. Tools, equipment and supplies

4.3. Warehousing inspection procedures

4.4. Maintenance

4.5. Dispatching procedures

4.6. Reporting on quality of life-jackets

5. MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

5.1. Quality control

5.2. Warehouse requirements

5.3. Batch tags

5.4. Recording and monitoring

5.5. Fire prevention and fire fighting

5.6. Declaration of conformity

6. RESPONSIBILITY OF RELEVANT ENTITIES

7. IMPLEMENTATION 

Foreword

QCVN 07:2016/BTC supersedes QCVN 07:2012/BTC – National technical regulation on life-jackets for national reserve, is drafted and submitted for approval by the General Department of State Reserves, appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and promulgated by the Minister of Finance under the Circular No. 322/2016/TT-BTC dated December 14, 2016.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON LIFE-JACKETS FOR NATIONAL RESERVE

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Scope

This Regulation deals with technical requirements, test methods, delivery (warehousing, dispatching), maintenance and management requirements for life-jackets for national reserve.

1.2. Regulated entities

This Regulation applies to regulatory authorities and entities involving in the delivery (warehousing, dispatching), maintenance and management of life-jackets for national reserves.

1.3. Interpretation of terms

1.3.1. A life-jacket for national reserve (hereinafter referred to as “life-jacket”) refers to a flotation device which has a vest design, meets technical requirements set forth in Section 2 of this Regulation, is issued with type approval certificate by Vietnam Register, satisfies other applicable regulations and is used for rescue and salvage purposes.

1.3.2. Batch of life-jackets is a quantity of life-jackets produced of a type approved by Vietnam Register by a manufacturer.

1.4. Normative references 

1.4.1. QCVN 85:2015/BGTVT: National technical regulation on inspection and manufacture of inland waterway ship’s life saving equipment promulgated by the Ministry of Transport;

1.4.2. TCVN 4636:1988 Artificial leather – Determination of mass 1m² and thickness;

1.4.3. TCVN 4635:1988 Artificial leather – Determination of tensile strength and elongation of break;  

1.4.4. BS 5131: Section 5.11: 1981. Methods of test for footwear and footwear materials. Testing of complete footwear. Determination of the strength of buckle fastening assemblies;

1.4.5. TCVN 5823:1994 Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Colour fastness to artificial light - high-voltage mercury lamp test.

2. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1. Technical requirements

Life-jackets are required to meet technical requirements set forth in the National technical regulation on inspection and manufacture of inland waterway ship’s life saving equipment (QCVN 85: 2015/BGTVT) promulgated by the Ministry of Transport. To be specific:

2.1.1. Materials

- Foam (flotation material): Low-density polyethylene foam (LDPE-FOAM);

- Outer shell: Polyester fabric with orange color;

- Sewing thread: polyester thread.

2.1.2. Structural requirements

2.1.2.1. Design: A life-jacket shall have a vest style with no collar and consist of 2 front panels and 1 back panel without head support.

2.1.2.2. Reflective material: Life-jackets shall be fitted with retro-reflective materials with a total area of ≥ 200 cm². There are 4 bands of retro-reflective materials of the same size arranged symmetrically (2 bands are fitted on 2 front panels of the life-jacket and 2 other bands are fitted at shoulders of its back panel).

2.1.2.3. Each life-jacket shall be fitted with a plastic whistle firmly secured by a tether.

2.1.2.4. Seams on a life-jacket must use even and firm stitches, and a backstitch at the end of every seam. Edges must be turned under at least 10 mm in width and stitched.

2.1.2.5.Basic technical specifications of life-jackets shall comply with the requirements in Table 1:

Table 1: Basic technical specifications of life-jackets

2.1.2.6. Straps, buckles and hems

- There are 3 black/white polyester straps with a width of not less than 25 mm;

- Buckles: 3 plastic buckles and 6 adjustable side fasteners (3 fasteners each side);

- A life-jacket shall have polyester hems with red color and a width of not less than 25 mm.

2.1.3. Physical and mechanical indicators of materials

2.1.3.1. Polyester fabric for outer shell of life-jackets

- Weight: from 70 g/m² to 90 g/m²

- Tensile strength of fabric size of 20 mm x 100 mm:

+ In the warp direction: not less than 185 N/mm²;

+ In the weft direction: not less than 135 N/mm².

2.1.3.2. Straps and hems

- Breaking strength for straps: not less than 1.4 kN;

- Breaking strength for hems: not less than 1.2 kN.

2.1.3.3. Buckles

- Tensile strength of buckles: not less than 0.8 kN;

- Tensile strength of adjustable fasteners: not less than 0.8 kN.

2.1.3.4. LDPE - FOAM

Deformation under the effect of 0.44 kN constant force for 3 hours of buoyant foam of the front: not more than 50%.

2.1.4. Colour fastness of coated fabric: Grade 4 or above after 100 hours exposure to light.

2.2. Pursuant to technical requirements set forth in this document and based on specific conditions, head of each national reserves unit shall provide for technical standards of life-jackets to be warehoused for national reserve.

3. TEST METHODS

Before being warehoused, quality of life-jackets must be inspected in accordance with laws. National reserves units shall take samples for quality control before warehousing of life-jackets as follows:

3.1. Visual examination

3.1.1. Sampling

Samples shall be randomly taken from the batch of life-jackets to be warehoused (during delivery and maintenance) for visual examination. The minimum number of samples shall be 2% of the quantity of life-jackets of the batch but not less than 20 pieces.

3.1.2. Inspection contents

Regulations in Point 4.3.2.3 hereof shall apply.

3.2. Inspection of satisfaction of technical requirements

3.2.1. Sampling

At least two samples (01 piece each) shall be randomly taken from each batch whose total number of delivered life-jackets is not more than 5,000 pieces. If test result shows that the taken samples fail to meet any quality requirements, another sample shall be randomly taken from the batch for re-test purpose. If re-test result shows that the batch still fails to meet quality requirements, the national reserves unit shall make a record to refuse the batch, request for another batch of life-jackets and carry out re-inspection as regulated.  

3.2.2. Contents of inspection

Foam (flotation material), outer shell, sewing thread, straps, hems, physical and mechanical indicators of materials, and colour fastness of coating fabric as regulated in Clause 2.1 Section 2 of this Regulation.

3.2.3. Test methods

3.2.3.1. Weight of fabric: Test method provided for in TCVN 4636:1988 Artificial leather – Determination of mass 1m² and thickness shall apply;

3.2.3.2. Tensile strength of coated fabric, straps and hems: Test method provided for in TCVN 4635:1988 Artificial leather – Determination of tensile strength and elongation of break shall apply; 

3.2.3.4. Foam, outer shell, sewing thread, straps and hems of life-jackets shall be tested using one of the test methods provided in: 

- National technical regulations;

- National standards;

- International, regional or foreign standards.

3.2.4. Entities in charge of examination, inspection and test

Designated laboratories (if any) or accredited laboratories ((Vilas, Las).

4. REGULATIONS ON DELIVERY AND STORAGE

4.1. Transport

- Vehicles used for transport of life-jackets must be designed to store boxes of life-jackets and protect them from the sun and rain as well as permit cleaning;

- Boxes of life-jackets shall be vertically loaded into the vehicle so as to ensure that each life-jacket may lie horizontally (each box contains 10 life-jackets piled on each other); these boxes are fairly close to each other; 3 or 4 boxes may be piled; the transport of life-jackets with chemicals or other substances which may affect the quality of life-jackets is prohibited;

- Life-jackets must be safely transported and supported with sufficient and valid documents as regulated.

4.2. Tools, equipment and supplies

Units that are assigned to directly manage life-jackets shall sufficiently prepare tools, equipment and supplies to serve the warehousing, dispatching and maintenance of life-jackets, including:

- Racks/shelves: for arranging life-jackets;

- Warehousing/dispatching supplies: cleaning cloths, brushes, rags, soap, polypropylene (PP) canvas, chemicals used for controlling insects and harmful organisms, tools for transporting, arranging life-jackets, and office stationery;

- Maintenance supplies: brushes, cleaning cloths, soap, PP canvas, vacuum cleaner (if any), chemicals for controlling insects and harmful organisms; 

- Supplies related to electricity and water: electrical wire, lights for lighting the inside and outside of the warehouse, electrical system for warehouse office, electricity for maintenance equipment, water for warehousing, dispatching, storing and firefighting;  

- Tools and equipment for flood and fire prevention and control.

4.3. Warehousing inspection procedures

National reserves units shall follow the following inspection procedures:

4.3.1. Inspection of technical documents

4.3.1.1. Documents provided by supplier:

- Design drawings;

- Unexpired type approval certificate issued by Vietnam Register;

- Certificate of industrial product for the batch which must be conformable with the type approval certificate. The certificate of industrial product must include information relating to type of product (sign, code, if any), place of manufacturing (manufacturer), uses, manufacturing year and technical specifications meeting technical requirements in Section 2 of this Regulation. Certificate of industrial product for the batch is issued by Vietnam Register.

4.3.1.2. Documents jointly made by the relevant national reserves unit and supplier:

- Written record of inspection of technical documents;

- Written record of visual examination of the batch;

- Written records of sampling and delivery of samples to the quality control unit;

- Test reports of foam (flotation material), outer shell, sewing thread, straps, hems, physical and mechanical indicators of materials, and colour fastness of coating fabric.

- Written record of delivery of life-jackets and attached documents.

4.3.2. Inspection of life-jackets upon delivery

4.3.2.1. Inspection of packaging

Each life-jacket is stored in a polyethylene (PE) bag. PE bags used for storing life-jackets must be new and clean, have no tears and holes, and fit stored life-jackets. The folding opening of the PE bag shall not be shorter than 1/2 of the length of the body of the stored life-jacket;

Carton boxes used for storing life-jackets must be clean, hard and neatly covered. Life-jackets shall be horizontally and neatly placed in the carton box so that they shall not be tightly squeezed, folded, flattened or crushed. Each carton box shall contain 10 life-jackets. The following information must be written on the outer surface of the box: type of product, manufacturer’s name, manufacturing year, quantity of life-jackets; the specified information must be conformable with the information specified in the certificate of industrial product issued by Vietnam Register for the batch of life-jackets.

4.3.2.2. Examination of quantity of life-jackets

The quantity of life-jackets of each batch must conform to that specified in the certificate of industrial product issued by Vietnam Register. Total quantity of delivered life-jackets must conform to that specified in the signed contract.

4.3.2.3. Visual examination

Contents of visual examination:

4.3.2.3.1. Label of life-jackets

Each life-jacket must have a label which must include the following information:

- Manufacturer;

- Marking of life-jacket;

- Approval number of product sample;

- Batch number;

- Sign of technical regulations/standards;

- Month, year of manufacturing;

- Written records and inspection number of Vietnam Register.

The label must be attached to the body of the life-jacket and contain all required information printed using paint or indelible ink or another similar material.

The information specified on the label must conform to that specified in the certificate of industrial product issued for the batch of life-jackets by Vietnam Register.

4.3.2.3.2. Inspection of outer shell, seams, dimensions and weight of life-jackets

- The uni-color orange fabric shall be used for making the outer shell of the life-jacket and there is no color difference detected by visual inspection;

- Fabric surface must be smooth, unraveled and not punched;

- Basic technical specifications of the life-jacket must meet the set requirements;

- Seams must meet the set requirements.

4.3.2.3.3. If one of the life-jackets fails to pass the inspection as prescribed above, the inspection of 50% of total number of life-jackets of the batch shall be carried out.  If the batch is still unsatisfactory after the second inspection, the national reserves unit shall make a record to refuse the batch, request for another batch of life-jackets and carry out re-inspection as regulated. 

4.3.2.4. Inspection of satisfaction of quality requirements  Clause 3.2 Section 3 of this Regulation shall apply.

4.4. Maintenance

4.4.1. Stacking and arranging life-jackets

- Life-jackets need to be stored in a separate warehouse. In case a large-scale warehouse is used, it must be divided into different zones for different types of stored goods; 

- Life-jackets of the same batch shall be placed together and sorted by categories, specifications, dimensions and warehousing date;

- The diagram showing locations of goods stored in the warehouse must be available to serve the management, monitoring and inspection of goods;

- Boxes of life-jackets are placed on racks;

- Racks must be made from metal or composite materials, firm, assembled/disassembled easily and designed to store goods safely.  

+ A rack shall have 2-3 beam levels; firm support beams or panels of smooth wood (or plywood) are used to form shelves;

+ Each rack must be placed at least 0.5 m away from the wall/column of the warehouse; the space between 2 racks is 1.5 m to form an aisle from the access door to the inside of the warehouse.

- Boxes of life-jackets are vertically stacked on shelves of the rack; Not more than 3 boxes may be piled on each shelf;

- The minimum distance between the upper surface of the topmost box and the ceiling of the warehouse is 2.0 m;

- The minimum distance between the floor and the first beam level is 0.3 m.

4.4.2. Initial maintenance

After life-jackets are warehoused, initial maintenance shall be made as follows: cleaning PE bags storing life-jackets. Adhesive tape shall be used to keep the openings of PE bags in proper positions. After cleaning PE bags storing life-jackets, life-jackets shall be neatly stacked on racks and batch tag and monitoring record are completed with required information. 

4.4.3. Regular maintenance

4.4.3.1. The warehouse and outer surface of boxes of life-jackets must be daily inspected. If the penetration of rats, termites, molds, fungi or other harmful organisms or any conditions threatening the safety of stored life-jackets is found, reasons and solutions for handling such issues must be worked out. A report must be promptly submitted to the head of the national reserves unit or supervisory authority in case the issue is beyond the capacity and competence of the responsible person.  Humidity and temperature shall be checked. The warehouse should be naturally or mechanically ventilated (if necessary) to ensure normal storage conditions (temperature does not exceed 35°C and humidity does not exceed 85%);

A soft cleaning brush or vacuum cleaner shall be used to clean dust, cobwebs, boxes of life-jackets, racks, ceiling, walls and floor of the warehouse at least twice a week.

4.4.3.2. The positions of boxes of life-jackets shall be reversed for every three months.

Visual inspection of life-jackets placed in boxes shall be carried out for every six months (from the warehousing date). Buckles shall be opened for a rest about 5 – 10 minutes. Soft, clean and dry cleaning cloths shall be used for cleaning each PE bag and the inner side of each box. Soft brushes shall be used for removing mold and moisture from life-jackets, if any. Life-jackets shall be cleaned again by using brushes soaked with petrol to quietly remove mold/mildew and then dried at a well-aired place without direct sunshine for 1-2 hours; then, life-jackets shall be placed in boxes again (smoking and fire are prohibited when cleaning life-jackets with petrol);

Once a year from the warehousing date, life-jackets shall be taken from PE bags and cleaned using soft, clean and dry cleaning cloths or vacuum cleaner, and then dried in the mild sunshine for 1 – 2 hours, let cold and put into PE bags. The entire warehouse and other tools will be cleaned.

4.5. Dispatching procedures

- Before life-jackets are dispatched: Necessary tools, equipment and documents, records related to the dispatching of life-jackets must be adequately prepared;

- Life-jackets are dispatched according to the following principle: life-jacket that is warehoused first shall be dispatched first;

- Quantity and categories of life-jackets to be dispatched must be accurate;

- Procedures and documents of dispatching must be completed as regulated.

4.6. Reporting on quality of life-jackets

- Not later than one month after the warehousing is completed, heads of national reserves units shall direct specialized agencies to submit reports on quality of warehoused life-jackets to in-charge national reserves authorities;

- Quarterly consolidated reports on quality of stored life-jackets must be submitted to in-charge national reserves authorities by the 20^th of the last month of each quarter. Ad-hoc reports may be submitted upon request;

- Heads of national reserves units shall direct specialized agencies to submit reports on quality of life-jackets to in-charge national reserves authorities before they are dispatched.

5. MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

5.1. Quality control

5.1.1. Quality control before life-jackets are warehoused

5.1.1.1. Vietnam Register shall take charge of control of quality of life-jackets to be warehoused in accordance with laws. To be specific: Vietnam Register shall carry out quality control procedures and issue type approval certificate/certificate of industrial product for life-jackets to be warehoused for national reserve.

5.1.1.2. National reserves units shall carry out inspection as regulated in Section 3 and Section 4 of this Regulation.

5.1.2. Quality control before warranty expiry date and during storage

5.1.2.1. Quality control before warranty expiry date  

3 months before the warranty expiry date, the national reserves unit shall randomly take 01 sample (containing 02 pieces of life-jacket):

- 01 piece of life-jacket is tested for physical and mechanical indicators mentioned in Point 2.1.3 by the quality control unit in accordance with Clause 3.2 Section 3 of this Regulation;

- The other piece of life-jacket shall be tested for tensile strength and buoyancy by Vietnam Register.

Life-jackets are considered to meet quality requirements if the test result of each of their physical and mechanical indicators is equal to at least 85% of the required value and they meet all tensile strength and buoyancy requirements. If the test result shows that there is an indicator failing to meet quality requirements, the national reserves unit shall request the supplier to randomly take another sample for re-test. If quality requirements are still not satisfied after re-test, the national reserves unit shall request the supplier to provide another batch of life-jackets. 

Life-jackets that are destroyed during the test for physical and mechanical indicators shall be recorded in loss ratio as regulated.

5.1.2.2. Quality control during storage

6 months before the storage period expires, the national reserves unit shall randomly take at least 01 sample (containing 01 piece of life-jacket) for test for tensile strength and buoyancy by Vietnam Register, and submit a test report to the in-charge national reserves authority.

5.1.2.3. Quality control before life-jackets are dispatched

The national reserves unit shall carry out visual examination as follows:

- Sampling: comply with Clause 3.1.1 Section 3 of this Regulation;

- Inspection contents: Examine packaging, reflective materials, straps, hems, buckles, etc.

5.1.3. Manufacturing, warranty and storage periods

5.1.3.1. The period lasting from manufacturing (production) to warehousing for national reserve shall not be longer than 9 months, including transport period.

5.1.3.2. Warranty period shall be at least 24 months commencing from the date on which the record of delivery of life-jackets is signed;

5.1.3.3. Storage period shall not be longer than 4 years from the warehousing date.

5.2. Warehouse requirements

A warehouse used for storing life-jackets shall be also used for storing rescue and salvage equipment and supplies of the same storage conditions and meet the following requirements:

- The warehouse must be surrounded by walls and covered by heat-resistant ceiling;

- Its floor must be smooth, even and firm enough to bear a load of at least 3 tons/m²;

- It must be kept dry and cool with proper ventilation; it must be equipped with temperature meter and air humidity meter;

- It must be designed to protect stored life-jackets from birds, rats, termites and other harmful organisms, and well lighted to serve the performance of maintenance and watching tasks;

- It must be situated far away from chemicals, flammable, explosives and high-voltage lines, and have dust and thermal radiation controlled;

- It must have internal regulations, equipment and plans for fire and flood prevention and control.

5.3. Batch tags

Each batch of life-jackets shall be marked by a tag which contains, inter alia, the following information:

- Marking of product;

- Specifications;

- Manufacturer’s name and address;

- Manufacturing year;

- Quantity;

- Date of warehousing.

5.4. Recording and monitoring

5.4.1. In addition to documents prepared according to regulations on accounting for national reserve goods, a monitoring record of stored life-jackets must be made.  

5.4.2. Monitoring record

The monitoring record must be fan stamped and bear all authorized signatures and the unit’s seal;  

The warehouse-keeper must daily open the warehouse and check stored life-jackets as well as conditions for ensuring their quality; sufficiently record changes in quantity, quality, maintenance tasks, damage and handling results thereof;

The head of the relevant national reserves unit and technical department of the same shall record changes in quantity and quality of stored life-jackets and make assessment of storage tasks in the monitoring record twice a month and once a week respectively.

The head of the relevant national reserves unit shall examine and make assessment of storage tasks in the monitoring record every 3 months.

5.5. Fire prevention and fire fighting

The head of the relevant national reserves unit shall organize fire prevention and fire fighting in accordance with laws; ensure quality and safety of both stored life-jackets and warehouse.

5.6. Declaration of conformity

Declaration of conformity for life-jackets shall be made in accordance with regulations (National technical regulations) promulgated by the supervisory Ministry.

6. RESPONSIBILITY OF RELEVANT ENTITIES

6.1. Suppliers of life-jackets must provide life-jackets meeting quality requirements in Section 2 of this Regulation.

6.2. Heads of national reserves units shall direct and organize the delivery and storage of life-jackets in accordance with Section 4 and Section 5 of this Regulation.

7. IMPLEMENTATION 

7.1. General Department of State Reserves (the in-charge national reserves authority) shall provide guidance on and inspect the implementation of this Regulation.

7.2. If any technical regulations, standards or guidelines referred to in this Regulation are amended or superseded, the new ones shall apply./.