Tunisian Regulation Requirements & Administrative Procedure

For Gas Pressure Vessels

29th of August 2019
 Agenda
Purpose
Law’s references and definition
Regulatory text overview (Gas Pressure vessels under Tunisian Regulation)
Personnel qualification
Technical file requirements
Preliminary technical file
Final technical file
Appendix A – Flow-chart – Certification procedure for new PVs manufactured at
foreign countries
Appendix B – Flow-chart – Certification/recertification procedure for in-service PVs

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Purpose

Purpose:
The purpose of this presentation is to define the Tunisian Regulation
requirements for the certification/recertification of gas pressure vessels.
First of all, we will go through the conditions of submission of gas pressure
vessels.
Then, we will define the inspection and re-test frequencies, the personnel
qualification and the technical file requirements as per Tunisian Regulation.
Finally, we will present two flow-charts representing the certification (or
recertification) procedures for new (or in-service) pressure vessels.

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Law’s references and definition

• Tunisian decree of 12 July 1956- Enacting a regulation for gas pressure vessels.
• Official Order of 14 December 1956- Enacting a regulation for pressure vessels
used for the production, the storage or the use of compressed, liquefied or
dissolved gases.
• Tunisian decree of 22 January 2000- Approving the terms of reference for the
accreditation criteria of technical control organizations.
• Official order of 24 May 1957- Regulating Fused-edged welding for Gas/steam
pressure vessels with Iron and steel materials.

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Regulatory text overview (Gas PVs)
 Tunisian decree of 12 July 1956 :
The following pressure vessels are subject of Tunisian Regulation :
 Every metallic pressure vessel may contain gas have a Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) greater than 4 bars and also have a multiplication ‘MAWP x
Volume’ greater than 80 bars litres,
 Fire extinguishers operating under pressure if their internal volume is 5 litres or more,
 Compressor of flammable or noxious gases and factory piping up to the first equipment of use or storage, with design pressure greater than
25 bars and inside diameter exceeds 8 mm,
 Acetylene storage tank and acetylene generators.

 Official Order of 14 December 1956

Inspection frequency :
 Internal and external inspection shall be performed within a minimum period of 3 years.

Re-test frequency :
Any PV under Tunisian Regulation shall be re-tested every 05 years except in the following case :
 Every 10 years for medium service exempt to any corrosive substances (ex: Sour service),
 Every 01 years for movable PV ( If the owner justify that the material doesn’t corroded the re-test will extended to 03 years),
 Every 02 years for PV contain the below gases: Phosgene gas, Tetrioxide of nitrogen, Boron Trifluoride BF3 & Sulphuric / hydrochloric acid.

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Personnel qualification / Technical file requirements :
 Personnel qualification :
 Qualified Engineer for the approval of the technical file,
 Authorized pressure vessel inspector (A2 inspector).

 Technical file requirements :

Preliminary technical file : It shall includes the following documents :
 Data sheet,
 Design Calculations for the pressure containing components,
 General Arrangement or cross-sectional drawings showing the wall thickness for the pressure containing item,
 Hydrostatic test procedure,
 Inspection & Test Plan (ITP).

Final technical file : At the time of the pressure test, a final technical File (final data book) is to
be compiled by the manufacturer and is to be available for Third Party verification. The Final technical
File will include the following documents :

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Technical file requirements :
 The Manufacturer’s Data Report or data sheet (a),
 The Certificate of conformity (b),
 The certificate of visit and shop inspection (c),
 Design Calculations,
 Material Certificates,
 Calibration certificates of gauges, Pressure recorders, PWHT machines and safety valves,
 Welding Procedure specification (WPS) : If applicable,
 Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) : If applicable,
 Welder’s qualification,
 NDT and mechanical reports,
 PWHT records (if applicable),
 General Arrangement and/or Cross-sectional drawing (as-built).

Notes :
 If the PV is ASME U stamped, the documents (a), (b) & (c) can be replaced by the U-1A form.
 For the vessels of foreign origin, the manufacturer will be required to obtain the Tunisian Consulate endorsement of the Documents (a), (b) & (c) (or the U-1A form,
for U stamped vessel) listed above after the hydro test being successfully done.

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Appendix A – Flow-chart – Certification procedure for new PVs
manufactured at foreign countries
Manufacturer Compile the preliminary
technical file (TF)

Send to the 3rd Party the TF

APO for review and approval 3rd Party review
and approval
The 3rd party obtain the test authorization after approving (TF)
the test request by Ministry

Test request approved

3rd Party authorized inspector performs :
- An external and internal inspection
Su tes

Coordination (3rd party and APO) to schedule the test date (Notification)
cc t

- Witness Hydro test

es

The manufacturer prepare the final TF

sfu
l

APO or Manufacturer sends (02) copies of the final TF

Note : The datasheet, the certificate of conformity and the certificate of visit and shop
3rd Party initiate the certificate and obtain the approval inspection must be endorsed by the Tunisian consulate at manufacturing country
of the Ministry
3rd Party sends the official certificate to APO

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Appendix B – Flow-chart – Certification/Recertification procedure
for in-service pressure vessels
Send to the 3rd Party the TF
APO for review and approval 3rd Party review
and approval
3rd Party authorized inspector performs : (TF)
Permit to work
- An external and internal inspection
- Wall thickness measurement
Coordination (3rd
party and APO)

The 3rd party obtain the test authorization after

3rd Party authorized inspector approving the test request by Ministry
performs :
Su tes

- Witness hydro test

cc t

APO communicate the PSV

es

calibration certificate to 3rd party

sfu
l

3rd Party obtain the 3rd Party send the Note: If there is a pressure vessel
3rd Party issue a pre-report and test whose hydro test execution is
approval of test official test certificate
certificate impossible or must be deferred to an
certificate to APO other date for reasonable reasons,
APO can issue a waiver request to
ministry.