The cool aid acid test recognised by DTp
Page 20
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'HE FIRST THREE test centres in the UK for testing refrigerled vehicles under the ATP agreement have been recognised by he Department of Transport.
Since October 1 when the nternational Carriage of Pershable Foodstuffs regulations ATP) came into force in this ountry, refrigerated vehicles ntering most Western luropean countries must have certificate to show that Arigeration equipment is up ) standard.
This certificate can now be btained from these three test antres after full thermal tesng: Refrigerated Vehicles Test entre, 140 Newmarket Road, =bridge.
H. A. Harben, Rowlands Works, Kelvin Road, Wallasey, Merseyside.
Crane-Fruehauf Containers Ltd, Cromer Road, North Walsham, Norwich.
The Cambridge centre also tests tanks for liquid foodstuffs. The Department of Transport plans to have centres in East Anglia and the West of England.
Vehicles which are of a de'sign approved and tested in prototype form do not need an individual ATP certificate since the design is typeapproved.
For the time being, new de signs or individual vehicles requiring an ATP certificate do not need to be properly tested at one of the three test centres.
Due to the limited test facilities an examination, rather than a thermal test, will suffice, although the ATP certificate issued will be for three years only. A successful ATP thermal test will warrant a six-year certificate.
But the DTp says this concession will last only while the limited test centres exist. When more are in operation, a proper thermal test will be necessary. After this time, examination rather than test will suffice for an ATP certificate only where it can be shown that it is impracticable to obtain a test within a reasonable time.
These transitional arrangements end on November 21 next year, and the full testing procedure will become compulsory.
ATP certificates are necessary for refrigerated vehicles entering Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain, the USSR, and Yugoslavia.