Designated Foreign Testing Agency

What is designated foreign testing Agency System?

　The Designated Foreign Testing Agency (hereinafter refered to as “DFTA”) System is a system that can handle the data issued by DFTA as a part of application documents as followsis.
　

  • The data can be handled as “a document describing the results of the test performed in advance” prescribed in Article 6, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Regulations for Testing Machinery, etc.
  • When it is confirmed that the data is correct, it is permitted to carry out an inspection using the data instead of the inspection by the test sample.


　We are pleased to announce that the related rules have been revised, and the legal status and operation of the system has been changed as follows.
　DFTA system is only applicable to explosion-proof electric machine and appliance (hereinafter referred to as “explosion-proof equipment”) among TIIS’s registered 13 items. So following explanation is focused on explosion-proof equipment only.

Ⅰ．Revision of DFTA system

　DFTA system has been operated based on the notification * 1 , but on September 20, 2016, the Ministry of Registration Ordinance * 2 was revised. It became effective on April 1, 2017. As a result of this ministerial ordinance revision, DFTA is designated based on the Ministerial Registration Ordinance * 3 . In other words, DFTA has a clear basis in the law by this revision of the ministerial ordinance, and this point is a big difference from the past, but the utilization of data in the examination is not changed except for following II.

　*1 It refers to “the standard designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare based on the provisions of Article 12 (4) of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Regulations” ( No. 0330036, March 30, 2009).
　*2 ”Ministerial ordinance on registration and designation pertaining to the Industrial Safety and Health Act and orders based thereon” (Ministry of Labour Ordinance No. 44, September 30, 1972).
　*3 As administrative notice in accordance with the Ministerial Ordinance amendment, “About some revisions of Ministerial ordinance on registration and designation pertaining to boiler and pressure vessel safety rules and Industrial Safety and Health Act and orders based thereon” 34) is issued on September 30, 2016.

 　As of April 6, 2017, designated foreign inspection agencies that have been designated for explosion-proof electric machines and appliance under the revised Ministerial Ordinance on registration and designation are as shown in the table below.

DFTA name Country Specified validity period Specified document
DEKRA Certification B.V. Netherlands 2017/4/6-2020/4/5 DEKRA

Ⅱ．Relationship between DFTA System and IECEx System * 4

　*4　For more information on the IECEx system (including related terms), please refer to the「About the IECEx system」page.

　Administrative notice of  Procedure of application in new certification of type examination for explosion-proof electric machines and appliance was issued on January 6, 2017 under the name of the Director General of safety and Health Department, Labour Standards Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the handling of the test report (hereinafter referred to as “ExTR”) in the type examination was decided. In response to this notice it will be as follows from now on.

1．ExTR can be treated as “a written document that describes the results of tests that have been made in advance” if all the following conditions are met.
　conditions
　　1) ExTR shall fall under the type approval application.
　　2) ExTR shall be issued by a Certification Body (ExCB) valid at the time of application.
　　3) ExTR shall have a description of a unique identification number assigned by the IEC Ex system.

2．If the above condition 1 is satisfied and the following can be confirmed, inspection by ExTR is possible without conducting acutual test by test samples.
 　Checklist
　　1) DFTA shall be recognized as a certification body (ExCB) under the IECEx system.
　　2) ExTR shall show that it complies with the explosion-proof guidelines * 5 adopted as the criteria for type examination at the time of application. In this case, ExTR needs to include supplementary test data covering  List of National Differences in Japan.
　　　*5 As of April 1, 2017, the first to ninth of the factory electrical equipment explosion protection guidelines (international harmonized technology guidelines) JNIOSH-TR-46 are applicable.
　　3) The date of issue of the ExTR shall be within the designated validity period of DFTA that is the issuer.
　　4) ExTR must be created by a certificate creator of DFTA.

Ⅲ．Matters to keep in mind

　DFTA has a three-year validity period. For this reason, if DFTA does not renew the designation within the designated effective period, the designation will expire and special treatment for the ExTR, etc. issued by DFTA will not be applied.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Q1： How is the inspection and test data of DFTA such as ExTR used in the test?
Ａ： The ExTR etc. of DFTAwill be treated as a document in place of the “document that describes the results of the test conducted in advance”.
In addition, in the test, the examination and test data of DFTA such as ExTR will be utilized, and the test by the actual machine will be omitted in principle.
Q2： In the case of explosion-proof electric machines and appliance that have been certified by DFTA, is it permitted to import and use it in Japan without undergoing examination?
Ａ： No. Regardless of whether or not they have been certified by DFTA, explosion-proof electric machines and appliance can not be used in Japan unless it passes the examination of a examination agency.
Q3： If the inspection / test data of DFTA, such as ExTR, is not based on the version of the IEC that the explosion protection guidelines currently adopted for certification refer to, is DFTA system applied?
Ａ： In principle, it can not be accepted if it is older than the edition of the IEC referred to by the explosion protection guidelines (DFTA system is not applied).
However, DFTA system can be applied if ExTR etc. on National Differences are attached to make up for differences in edition.
Q4： Is it necessary to submit a sample (sample) when applying under DFTA system? Also, what kind of things are required if necessary?
Ａ： In the test, the submission of a sample is necessary to match the drawing to the sample, even if all the tests are omitted. One finished product. is required as a sample.
Q5： Even if there is a shortage of inspection / test data such as ExTR of DFTA, is DFTA system applied?
A： In principle, DFTA system can not be applied.
Q6： If “Ex Cable Gland”, “Ex Component”, etc. do not have all the inspection / test data such as ExTR of DFTA, is DFTA system not applied?
A： In principle, DFTA System is not applicable. However, if the “Ex Cable Gland” or “Ex Component” is certified by the TIIS Component, DFTA System can be applied.
For more information on TIIS components, please check the「当協会によるExコンポーネント等の認証について」page.
Q7： Is DFTA system applied to the ExTR,etc where the issue date is before the date on which DATA has been designatied?
Ａ： not applicable. However, if the supplement (Issue: 1 or later) has been issued and the issue date is after the designated date, DFTA system can be applied.
Even in this case, the conditions of 1 and / or 2 of II above must be satisfied.
Q8： In the case of an application for which DFTA system has been applied, is the time required for the verification shorter than usual?
Ａ： The time required for the test will be shortened because actual test can be omitted, but the test processing period will not necessarily be shortened if it takes time outside the test (document correction, questions / answers to questions about problems etc.) Please note that there is no.
Q9： If an application is subject to DFTA system, will the examination fee be reduced?
Ａ： Most designated examination fees will be lower if DFTA system is applied, but some may be higher.
Please refer to the Fee Structure of TIIS Certification page for the specific amount.
Q10： If the designation of DFTA expires, will the certificate issued in the past by utilizing the ExTR etc. of DFTA become invalid?
Ａ： No. In the case of a new application for type examination, a certified product to which DFTA system has been applied will not lose its certification even if DFTA that issued the ExTR etc. is de-designated.
Q11： If the designation of DFTA has expired, can the validity period of those that have passed the verification using the ExTR etc. of DFTA be renewed? Also, can the same model be added to a certificate when updating?
Ａ： Yes. Regular updates and updates with the addition of the same model are also possible. However, when adding the same model, it is assumed that the addition as the same model is appropriate, and that the explosion-proof guideline which is the standard of the certification at the first pass is not changed.