SCHEME RULES 1 1 (10) Approved by the Finnish Certification Board for DH

pipes on February 23th, 2010 Supersedes rules of April 3rd, 2006 Valid from 1st of March, 2010

Main changes - New and updated standards, FEI recommendations

and transition from national LT-mark licences to European EHP-certificates taken into account

This is a translation from the original text in Finnish language QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR PREINSULATED DISTRICT HEATING PIPE SYSTEMS CONTENTS 0 Introduction 1 Object 2 Scope 3 General rules 4 Administration, organisation 5 Application 6 Certificate 7 Certification procedure 7.1 Type tests 7.2 Manufacturer's quality surveillance 7.3 External inspection 7.4 Quality of delivered products 8 Modifications to materials, products, production methods 9 Test laboratories 10 Use of Certificate, requirements for product marking 11 Actions in case of non-compliance, non-conformity, misuse of certificate 12 Suspension of certificate 13 Withdrawal of certificate 14 Communications, publications 15 Responsibility for product quality 16 Documentation, records 17 Appeals against Executive Committee decisions 18 Complaints of product quality 19 Confidentiality 20 Costs and fees Annex A Supplementary requirements of FEI Recommendation L2/2010 to EN 489 Annex B Joints of preinsulated pipes, manufacturer's type test, items, test methods and

activities Annex C Application for Certificate Annex D Pattern of certificate for joint construction Annex E Pattern of certificate for joint PUR insulation Annex F Pattern of email communicating lists of certificates Annex G Fees related to certificates

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FINNISH QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR PREINSULATED DISTRICT HEATING PIPE SYSTEMS 0 INTRODUCTION The Finnish Quality Assurance and Certification System for District Heating

Pipe Systems is based on an agreement between Finnish Energy Industries (FEI) representing users (energy companies) and Finnish Plastics Industries Federation (FPIF) representing manufacturers. According to the agreement FEI administers the system and carries out the day-to-day operations.

FEI recommends it's member companies to buy and use only certified products

(pipes and fittings: EHP-certificate, joints: national certificate; see clause 2). Product certification is recommended to be part of requirements in tender documents of the energy companies. When nevertheless uncertified products (which fall under the scope of this scheme) are offered by the bidder, this shall clearly be stated in the bid to avoid confusion.

1 OBJECT The purpose of the Scheme is to provide a voluntary certification system which

is economical, beneficial for both suppliers and users and provides users an easy way to obtain required assurance of the sufficient quality of the products (Certificate, Quality mark). The aim is to ensure the required quality of products mentioned in "Scope" to be delivered to Finnish market and to avoid unsound price competition at the expense of quality.

These Scheme Rules deal with practicalities involved in operating the

Certification Scheme, e.g. how to obtain and maintain certification, use of quality mark and procedures and processes to be followed.

2 SCOPE The scope of the Scheme includes following products and their production:

- preinsulated district heating pipes, straight lengths and fittings covered by EN 253, EN 448, EN 488, EN 15698-1, 14419 and Recommendation L1/2010 published by FEI

NOTE: Certification of pipes and fittings, both single and twin pipes, is from 2010 taken care by Euroheat & Power on a European level (EHP-certificate and quality mark)

- Joint constructions and materials covered by EN 489 and Recommendation L2/2010 published by FEI

- Ball valves covered by EN 488 and Recommendation L4/2003 published by FEI (for ball valves there is a separate scheme rule no. 3, so they are not dealt with in this document).

Quality assurance and certification of pipes and fittings is based on above

mentioned standards and specifications and Euroheat “Certification Guidelines for DH pipes (see http://www.euroheat.org/Certifications-of-Pipes-61.aspx).

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Quality assurance and certification of joints is based on above mentioned standard and specification and these scheme rules.

Annex A gives the supplementary requirements of the above mentioned FEI

Recommendation L2/2010 to EN 489. NOTE! FROM THIS ON THIS DOCUMENT ONLY DEALS WITH

CERTIFICATION OF JOINTS. RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR CERTIFICATION OF PIPES AND FITTINGS ARE DESCRIBED IN ABOVE MENTIONED EUROHEAT CERTIFICATION GUIDELINES.

3 GENERAL RULES All suppliers have even access to certification on same financial and other

conditions. The system is run on a non-profit basis. 4 ADMINISTRATION, ORGANISATION The governing Board is responsible for and controls the performance of

certification, e.g. finances, operation of executive body, investigations of complaints and updating these rules. The Board has four members, two appointed by FEI and two appointed by FPIF.

The day-to-day operations are taken care by Executive Committee (ExCo)

which consists of one person appointed by FEI. The ExCo is entitled to employ external experts making inspection visits and taking samples for type and spot tests.

5 APPLICATION A manufacturer, who wishes to obtain a Certificate, shall submit an application

to the ExCo on a special form (Annex C). The same form shall be used to apply for an extension of scope of existing certificate and in case of changing the place of manufacture of the product.

The application shall be enclosed with a description of the quality control plan,

including manufacturer's surveillance and inspection procedures, frequencies and documentation (models of inspection/test reports, control charts...).

6 CERTIFICATE After acceptance of application and on satisfactory completion of type tests the

ExCo grants the supplier a Certificate. A Certificate without a right to use a quality mark is granted to joint

constructions/materials and joint foams.

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Joint materials, e.g. heat shrinkable sleeves might be used in different joint

constructions, either certified or not, and hence joint materials/components shall not be quality marked.

A Certificate covers the products and joint constructions and production units

mentioned in the Certificate. For heat shrinkable sleeves a joint construction with PE joint casing + narrow sleeves and joint constructions with broad sleeve are considered as different joint constructions. Extension of a Certificate to cover other production units and/or joint constructions calls for the same procedure (application and type tests).

The Certificate can't be transferred to another production unit or another

company. The validity period of a Certificate is one year at a time. In the case of amendment or revision to the relevant EN standards, FEI

recommendations or these Scheme Rules a supplementary inspection and/or type testing may be required to prove compliance with the changed requirements in order to re-issue the Certificate.

Patterns of Certificates are given in Annexes D and E. 7 CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE Testing and inspection procedures in order to obtain and maintain Certificate

include: - initial type tests - manufacturer's quality surveillance - external inspection - check of quality reclamations (follow up of field quality)

7.1 Type tests Type testing is performed to obtain initial validation of joint constructions and

materials. Type tests shall demonstrate that the joint construction and materials conform to all requirements for the characteristics given in Annex B.

Type tests shall be performed in an accredited Test Institute. The supplier is

responsible for sending the samples to the Test Institute and for the related costs. A test performed not more than four years before the date of application and according to a standard valid during application, is accepted.

The type test for joint constructions and joint materials has to be renewed every

5 years. For joint constructions this test is done according to EN 489, but for flexible joints (other than welded joints) on only one test sample (instead of three in the initial type test). For joint foams the test is done according to type test requirements in EN 489 with the exception that only one PUR test specimen (instead of three in the initial type test) is taken from both joints of the sample for each PUR-test. A test performed in an accredited Test Institute not

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more than one year before the date when the ExCo asks for a renewed test, is accepted.

This renewed type test is performed as kind of compensation for the fact that, unlike pipes and fittings, annual external inspections of manufacturer's quality surveillance are not performed for joints.

If all the results of the initial or renewed type tests are not satisfactory for

obtaining certification, the applicant should apply corrective actions. After that those parts of tests considered necessary by the ExCo shall be repeated.

7.2 Manufacturer's quality surveillance The manufacturer shall undertake surveillance to ensure that the required

quality level is continually maintained. No minimum requirements of surveillance (characteristics and test frequencies) are given.

The tests and measurements can be performed by the manufacturer itself or

they can be outsourced to a subcontractor or test laboratory. All surveillance tests and measurements shall be documented, giving the

information of the samples, results, dates and name of controller. These documents together with documents on manufacture and received materials and components shall be maintained for at least 5 years and the ExCo shall have access to them.

7.3 External inspection External inspection is performed in order to evaluate the certificate holder’s

continued compliance with all the specified requirements for Certification, especially the minimum extent and proper functioning of the manufacturer's quality surveillance. This inspection may include sampling of products for spot tests.

A written report on the results of every inspection is prepared by the ExCo and

sent to the certificate holder. At need the ExCo is allowed to make an inspection visits to joint material

manufacturers, with or without advance notice. When requested, the manufacturers of joints materials are required to send certificates of their quality surveillance and results of the surveillance in the extent specified by the ExCo.

7.4 Quality of delivered products Feed back is gathered by the ExCo from the field in order to follow up the

quality of the delivered products. The certificate holders shall keep record of the quality reclamations they receive from the field and the actions they have consequently taken. These records can be checked e.g. during external inspection visits.

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8 MODIFICATIONS TO MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, PRODUCTION PROCESSES The certificate holder is obliged to notify the ExCo of any significant

modification made to the product (joint construction and materials, joint foam and receipt) or production process having possible effect on either the compliance of the finished product with the relevant EN standards and FEI recommendations or on the validity of the Certificate. The ExCo decides whether or not this effect exists. In positive case new type tests are required in total or to the extent judged by the ExCo.

9 TEST LABORATORIES Accredited test laboratories can be employed to perform type and spot tests. 10 USE OF CERTIFICATE In addition to bidding processes Certificates may also be used in marketing and

advertising of certified products. This must not cause confusion between certified and non-certified products of the manufacturer.

11 ACTIONS IN CASE OF NON-COMPLIANCE, NON-CONFORMITY, MISUSE OF CERTIFICATE Any non-compliance on the part of the manufacturer in the application of these

Scheme Rules or any non-conformity of the products with the specified EN standards and FEI recommendations, may result in one of the following actions: - corrective action by the manufacturer, specified by the ExCo, e.g. remark

and correction claim, external inspection and/or additional spot tests in an accredited Test Institute at the cost of the manufacturer

- reduction of the scope of products on the Certificate - public warning (notified to the members of FEI) - suspension of the Certificate - withdrawal of the Certificate

12 SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATE Suspension of the Certificate may be initiated by the ExCo in cases required

corrective actions have not been taken as referred or do not have desired effect, and if total withdrawal is not required.

The ExCo notifies the certificate holder of the suspension with justification in

writing. The certificate holder is entitled to appeal against the decision within two weeks of notification.

13 WITHDRAWAL OF CERTIFICATE Withdrawal of the Certificate may be initiated by the ExCo in the following

cases:

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- immediately in case of deceit in reporting and documentation of manufacturer's surveillance, e.g. results recorded without making tests or measurements

- if the manufacturer, regardless of required actions and warnings, does not correct basic defects in quality control equipment, performance of surveillance or it's documentation

- if the manufacturer has not ordered the tests required by the ExCo and delivered the test samples to the test institute within one month

- if the products after corrective actions do not meet the specifications set with respect to basic properties in additional tests.

The ExCo notifies the certificate holder of the withdrawal with justification in

writing. The certificate holder is entitled to appeal against the decision within two weeks of notification.

The Certificate terminates when the appeal period is up or in case of appeal

when the Board has confirmed the withdrawal. In case of deceit the withdrawal takes effect immediately after notification of the

decision of the ExCo. The Board has the right to notify these cases to the members of the FEI.

14 COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLICATIONS The ExCo publishes on its internet site

(http://www.energia.fi/fi/kaukolampo/kaukolampojohtojen_laadunvarmistus/tiedotteet) lists of Certificates once a Certificate is granted or withdrawn, and in January-February every year. In the latter case these lists are also emailed to all member companies of FEI, all certified suppliers and all authorised DH pipe contractors. Pattern of this communication is given in Annex F.

15 RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCT QUALITY The certificate holder is responsible for the quality of certified products and for

seeing to it that these products meet the relevant specifications of the standards and recommendations stated in the Certificate in all respects. The ExCo and the governing Board has no financial or other responsibility on product quality.

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16 DOCUMENTATION, RECORDS The manufacturer shall maintain for a minimum of 5 years records necessary to

confirm that the quality surveillance continually conforms to the requirements. The Board and the ExCo shall maintain records of their decisions. 17 APPEALS AGAINST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECISIONS Appeals against decisions of the ExCo shall be forwarded within one month to

the ExCo. Appeals will be investigated by the Board as soon as possible. 18 COMPLAINTS OF PRODUCT QUALITY The certificate holders shall keep record of all quality complaints and remedial

actions to the products covered by the Certificate. This record shall be available to the ExCo e.g. during inspection visits.

19 CONFIDENTIALITY The information obtained by the ExCo and the Board during certification

activities is confidential. 20 COSTS AND FEES The manufacturer is responsible for the costs associated with type tests and

spot tests in accredited Test Institutes, inspection visits by the ExCo and for the fees according to Annex G. The fees cover part of the costs of maintaining and running the daily operations of the Scheme. On this basis the fee level is annually determined by the Board.

Executive committee for quality assurance ANNEX A

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS OF FEI RECOMMENDATION L2/2010 TO EN 489 The basis of the FEI Recommendation L2/2010 is the requirements specified in

EN 489. Following list gives the supplementary requirements of the Recommendation regarding technical properties of the products.

- Shrink sleeves (as shrunk) shall overlap both joint casing and pipe casing at least 100 mm. - PE joint casing and galvanised steel sheet joint casing shall overlap pipe casing at least 30 mm.

- Wall thickness of PE joint casing (non shrinkable) shall be min. 3 mm. - Wall thickness of galvanised steel sheet joint casing shall be min. 0,5 mm.

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ANNEX B (normative) FINNISH ENERGY INDUSTRIES RECOMMENDATION L2/2010

APPENDIX 2

JOINTS OF PREINSULATED PIPES, MANUFACTURER'S TYPE TEST, ITEMS, TEST METHODS AND ACTIVITIES

Item

Test method

Activity / procedure

Joint

construction

Flexible joints:

Soil stress (sand box test)

EN 489 Inspection of type test report

All joints:

Water impermeability

EN 489 Inspection of type test report

Welded joints:

Stress crack resistance

EN 489 Inspection of type test report

PUR Composition and material

properties

EN 489/EN 253 Inspection of documentation

Cell structure EN 489/EN 253 Inspection of type test report

Voids and bubbles EN 489/EN 253 Inspection of type test report

Closed cells EN 489/ISO 4590 Inspection of type test report

Density EN 489/ISO 845 Inspection of type test report

Compressive strength EN 489/ISO 844 Inspection of type test report

Water absorption EN 489/EN 253 Inspection of type test report

Ageing resistance EN 489 Inspection of type test report

ANNEX C APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE

Please forward your application to:

Finnish Energy Industries Veli-Pekka Sirola P.O.Box 100

FI-00101 HELSINKI veli-pekka.srola@energia.fi Applicant Company Post address Phone

Fax

Contact person

e-mail

Place of manufacture

Manufacturer (to be filled, if not the same as applicant) Company Post address Phone

Fax

Place of manufacture

Product information Product group Joint materials/constructions for DH pipes Documents 1. EN 489 2. Finnish Energy Industries Recommendation no L2/2010 3. Scheme Rules for Quality Assurance and Certification Product (trade name, type, description, production range...)

Engagement We have studied the Scheme Rules for certification of the products mentioned in

this application. Should the certificate be granted to us, we comply with the rules mentioned as well as other instructions concerning certification given by the Board for Quality Assurance for DH Pipes in Finland.

______________________, ___/___ _____, ___________________________________________________ Place Date Signature / Name clarification

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ANNEX D Executive Committee for Quality Assurance CERTIFICATE NO 2/20xx

P A T T E R N C E R T I F I C A T E

The Executive Committee for the Finnish Quality Assurance System for District Heating Pipes grants this certificate based on type tests carried out in independent laboratories.

Product: Joint construction / product

Manufacturer:

Applicant:

Type test report:

The Executive Committee verifies that this product complies with the requirements for joints of preinsulated district heating pipes given in EN 489 and recommendation L2/2010 published by Finnish Energy Industries. This certificate is valid from 31st of January 20xx for one year at a time provided that the extent, functioning and results of the manufacturer's quality surveillance and periodic testing of samples meet the specified requirements.

This certificate supersedes certificate no 2/20yy.

Helsinki, January 31st 20xx

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

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ANNEX E Executive Committee for Quality Assurance CERTIFICATE NO 3/20xx

P A T T E R N C E R T I F I C A T E

The Executive Committee for the Finnish Quality Assurance System for District Heating Pipes grants this certificate based on type tests carried out in independent laboratories.

Product: Joint PUR insulation

- mixing ratio, polyol/isoc. xxx/yyy (vol.)

Manufacturer:

Applicant:

Type test report:

The Executive Committee verifies that this product complies with the requirements for the PUR foam in preinsulated district heating pipe joints given in EN 489 and recommendation L2/2010 published by Finnish Energy Industries. This certificate is valid only for PUR foam with above mentioned mixing ratio.

This certificate is valid from 31st of January 20xx for one year at a time provided that the extent, functioning and results of the manufacturer's quality surveillance and periodic testing of samples meet the specified requirements.

This certificate supersedes certificate no 3/20yy.

Helsinki, January 31st 20xx

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

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ANNEX F Veli-Pekka Sirola COMMUNICATION Lxx/20xx

Finnish Energy Industries, District Heating 31.1.20xx

To member companies

P A T T E R N Ref: ET-district heating binder 2/11 QUALITY ASSURANCE OF DH PIPE SYSTEMS, CERTIFICATES 20xx

Enclosed list gives the certificates that are valid 31.1.20xx.

Each certificate defines which product or construction they cover. Heat shrinkable sleeves and other joint materials (which can be used in different joint constructions) must not be quality marked, instead they are granted a quality certificate.

Finnish Energy Industries recommends its member companies to buy and use only certified products. Product certification is recommended to be part of requirements in the invitation to tender documents. When nevertheless uncertified products are offered by the bidder, this should clearly be stated in the bid. This communication will be emailed to those concerned in the beginning of every year. In the meantime the certificate lists are kept up-to-date in internet, http://www.energia.fi/fi/kaukolampo/kaukolampojohtojen_laadunvarmistus/tiedotteet. Further information: Veli-Pekka Sirola, Finnish Energy Industries, tel. +358 9 5305 2303, e-mail: veli-pekka.sirola@energia.fi.

Veli-Pekka Sirola APPENDIX List of certificates / 31.1.20xx

Executive Committee for Quality Assurance ANNEX G FEES FEES RELATED TO CERTIFICATE The fees associated with the scheme are determined by the Board. Basic application fee No application fees are invoiced. Annual fee Annual Certificate fees are invoiced per product in the beginning of the year. The annual fee 2010 is 350 €. Inspection and testing fees The certificate holder is responsible for meeting all the costs associated with

type and spot testing and any special inspection or testing where necessary (e.g. when dealing with non-compliance to the scheme rules or complaints), invoiced by the ExCo or Testing Institute, as applicable.

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