What kinds of safety regulations are there for high pressure pumps, compressors and other high pressure gas equipment? Do products encased in spray containers need to be tested in any way upon import?
High pressure gas production facilities should obtain the permission of the prefectual governor and take a completion inspection. Single high-pressure gas equipment also requires a technical standard conformity inspection prescribed by the law.
1. The High Pressure Gas Safety Law was established for the purpose
of controlling the production, storage, sale, importation, transfer, consumption
and disposal of high pressure gases so as to ensure public safety. Basically,
it controls the activities of companies and persons engaged in these actions.
2. Any person engaged in producing high pressure gas should not use gas unless the production facilities pass certain standards, obtain the permission of the prefectural governor, and pass a completion inspection prior to its use.
3. There are regulations which are applied to individual pieces of high pressure gas equipment. Designated high pressure gas equipment such as reactors or heat exchanges must be inspected to determine compliance with technical standards established for the manufacture or importation. Importation of containers that retain high-pressure gas as contents are tested upon import to check the safety of the containers.
Incidentally, inspection data by overseas testing establishments that conform to standards are accepted and inspection after importing to Japan can be omitted, in case the produces are manufactured by foreign manufacturers registered by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (referred to as foreign registered specific equipment manufacturers).
Spray containers also need to be tested to determine the state of the contents contained therein and the container's safety. For products contained in aerosol spray containers, applicability of the High Pressure Gas Safety Law is checked upon import by assessing the test data produced by either domestic or foreign testing agencies (including testing agents approved by public administrations), manufacturers of the aerosol, or the importer themselves.