The greatest ratter of them all
Page 58
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... that's ineffective refrigeration. But the European ATP Agreement lays down stringent standards to guard against the worst. Brian Chalmers-Hunt takes a look at the requirements
F YOU'RE MOVING what's (nown as perishable foodstuffs :hrough various European ;ountries it makes sense to staniardise on the conditions under which the goods are kept while n transit — that's where ATP :omes in.
Its provisions came into force n Britain in October 1979, and :urrently 11 countries are cov:red: Austria, Bulgaria, Dennark, France, Germany, Italy, .uxembourg, The Netherlands, ;pain, USSR and Yugoslavia. Operators needing to enter my of these countries with tem)erature-controlled equipment nay be refused entry if they an't produce a valid ATP certifiate or certified copy.
Certificates are only given fter satisfactory tests carried lut in chambers approved by he Department of Transport and vhich conform to ATP proce What do these tests involve? They may include measuring le coefficient of heat transfer (K oefficient) of the insulated body r, in the case of refrigerated quipment which uses a noniechanical source of cold, such s ice, measuring the capacity of utectic plates or liquified gases ) lower the temperature inside le empty body to a given limit (hen the outside temperature is 0°C.
In the case of mechanical refrieration equipment, the tempe rature inside the empty body must be capable of being maintained continuously at the limit specified for its class.
With all new 'refrigerated or mechanically refrigerated equipment a heat source equal to 35 per cent of the heat exchanged through the wall must be started up inside the body when individual class temperatures have been reached.
The tests may take from two to five days depending on the nature of the test and the conditions required.
When standard equipment is produced in quantity, provision is made for Type Approval. One sample unit may be tested, and, if it satisfies the test, a Type Approval certificate will be issued.
A normal ATP certificate or compliance will also be issued to the sample unit. Similar certificates may be issued to other units of the same type produced within thre years of the Type Approval date, provided that the manufacturer certifies that each one has been made in conformity with the sample unit.
Minor design departures are allowed in the production series provided that the inspecting authority agrees they are within prescribed ATP limits.
Examinations can be carried out anywhere the inspecting authority thinks suitable. Test procedures comprise an inspection of the design and condition of the insulation and of walls, door seals, roof, floor and body equipment.
The refrigeration equipment must be able to reduce the inside body temperature from not less than 15°C to the minimum prescribed for the class to which it belongs and then maintain it at least to the limit.
A certificate issued as a result of a test or Type Approval is valid for six years, and the result of an examination is valid for three years.
When an operator has a number of units for which certificates were all issued under the same Type Approval, when certificates need renewing he may submit one unit for every 100 or part of 100 owned for testing — the inspecting authority will make a random selection.
If that test is satisfactory, any certificate issued in respect of the remaining units which are found to be satisfactory by mination will be valid for years.
Certificates issued by corr tent authorities in otl European countries and th carried by international tr( port organisations such Transfrigoroute, Interfrigo Transfesa will be recognise( the UK. British certificates iss in respect of equipment re tered or recorded in the UK h to be recognised by otl contracting parties.
Drivers must carry ATP cer cates and produce them police or authorised officials route.
The Shipowners' Refrigera Cargo Research Association Lloyd's Register Industrial E vices have been appoint inspecting authorities and authorised to act for the DTp testing and certification accordance with the regulati( of road vehicles and container Twenty-eight days' not should be given for a test, and days for an inspection.
With containers, articulate( drawbar trailers where m than one haulier or mo. power unit is used during journey, the certificate shoulc kept by the operator and authorities will rely oi specially designated mark.
Copies of certificates may obtained from the issui inspecting authority, bu equipment is sold or transferr the issuing authority need not notified.