• Classification Services
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• Damage Surveys
• On hire/off hire services
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Classification Services

• Approval of works
• Type approval of works

IRS provides a Certification scheme for approval of products for installation on ships classed or intended to be classed with IRS to provide confidence to the end user that such products, when built to the same design in a similar manner either under survey on an individual basis or under a series production system under manufacturer's own quality assurance system will continue to meet all the requirements of the product specification. Such a certification scheme is called Type Approval of Products. On obtaining Type Approval for a product the manufacturer stands to gain by reducing or totally eliminating IRS inspection for products subsequently manufactured. Manufacturers also consider this scheme as a marketing advantage for their products. Upon application and at the discretion of IRS, other non-class equipment, components and appliances may also be type tested. A certificate will be issued to the equipment manufacturer on any type test that has been successfully completed.

Procedure for obtaining a Type Approval Certificate

In order to obtain approval of his equipment and have it included in "The List of Type Approved Products" the manufacturer should forward the request together with all supporting documentation to the local IRS Office. Type Approval comprises a design review, inspection and testing appropriate to the work involved. The test schedule should stipulate the methods of tests to be used to demonstrate that the specification requirements are met. The manufacturer is expected to provide adequate assurance to IRS that the manufacture and tests are carried out under a controlled condition to ensure consistent product quality.

The type approval certificate:

- identifies the equipment's manufacturer and place of manufacture
- identifies the main characteristics of the equipment by description and product type
- states that IRS has found the product design to comply with the specified Rules and Regulations, National or International Standards and/or Codes of Practice as applicable
- specifies the field of application/special operational limitations of the product
- specifies the conditions to be complied with to retain the approval during the validity period
- specifies the survey arrangements adopted for the product.

Validity of Certificate

Validity period of Type Approval Certificates is five years. At the end of fourth year of validity the manufacturer may apply to have the certificate extended for a further five year period at a nominal fee to be agreed, provided that design and application remains the same in all respects and subject to satisfactory requalifying Type Tests being carried out where required by IRS. IRS reserves the right to withdraw the Type Approval Certificate in case it is found that the manufacturer is not complying with any/all of the conditions of approval.

Policy

Type Approval will not eliminate the need for the normal inspection and testing of all essential equipment and components required by the current edition of the IRS Rules and Regulations for the classification of ships. The full responsibility for ensuring that articles supplied conform with the requirements of the drawings and specification rests with the manufacturer and it is not the policy of IRS to diminish this responsibility. The fatigue strength of components involving long term performances of effects of cumulative operating conditions will not be evaluated, unless specified in tests. Application for Type Approval of Products