Chapter IV - Regulations for Approval of Existing Containers and New Containers not Approved at Time of Manufacture

  1 If, within five years from the date of entry into force of the present Convention, the owner of an existing container presents the following information to an Administration:

• (a) date and place of manufacture;

• (b) manufacturer's identification number of the container if available;

• (c) maximum operating gross mass capability;

• (d)

  • (i) evidence that a container of this type has been safely operated in maritime and/or inland transport for a period of at least two years, or

  • (ii) evidence to the satisfaction of the Administration that the container was manufactured to a design type which had been tested and found to comply with the technical conditions set out in annex II, with the exception of those technical conditions relating to the end-wall and side-wall strength tests, or

  • (iii) evidence that the container was constructed to standards which, in the opinion of the Administration, were equivalent to the technical conditions set out in annex II, with the exception of those technical conditions relating to the end-wall and side-wall strength tests;

• (e) allowable stacking load for 1.8 g (kg and lbs); and

• (f) such other data as required for the Safety Approval Plate;

  then the Administration, after investigation, shall notify the owner in writing whether approval is granted; and if so, this notification shall entitle the owner to affix the Safety Approval Plate after an examination of the container concerned has been carried out in accordance with regulation 2. The examination of the container concerned and the affixing of the Safety Approval Plate shall be accomplished not later than 1 January 1985.

  2 Existing containers which do not quality for approval under paragraph 1 of this regulation may be presented for approval under the provisions of chapter II or chapter III of this annex. For such containers the requirements of annex II relating to end-wall and/or side-wall strength tests shall not apply. The Administration may, if it is satisfied that the containers in question have been in service, waive such of the requirements in respect of presentation of drawings and testing, other than the lifting and floor strength tests, as it may deem appropriate.

 If, on or before 6 September 1982, the owner of a new container which was not approved at the time of manufacture presents the following information to an Administration:

• (a) date and place of manufacture;

• (b) manufacturer's identification number of the container, if available;

• (c) maximum operating gross mass capability;

• (d) evidence to the satisfaction of the Administration that the container was manufactured to a design type which has been tested and found to comply with the technical conditions set out in annex II;

• (e) allowable stacking load for 1.8 g (kg and lbs); and

• (f) such other data as required for the Safety Approval Plate;

the Administration, after investigation, may approve the container, notwithstanding the provisions of chapter II. Where approval is granted, such approval shall be notified to the owner in writing, and this notification shall entitle the owner to affix the Safety Approval Plate after an examination of the container concerned has been carried out in accordance with regulation 2. The examination of the container concerned and the affixing of the Safety Approval Plate shall be accomplished not later than 1 January 1985.