The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released draft guidelines on the periodicity of type tests for major equipment in the power sector.
The objective is to bring uniformity, reduce repetitive testing and avoid overloading of testing facilities. According to the draft, the purpose of setting periodicity is threefold. First, it will ensure uniformity across utilities and stakeholders in the acceptance of type tests, eliminating subjectivity that currently arises due to varied practices. Second, it will prevent the unnecessary repetition of type tests in cases where no significant change has been introduced in the design, technology, material, construction, performance characteristics, or standards of the equipment. Third, it will help avoid overloading of accredited testing facilities, where repeated type testing of identical equipment has created capacity constraints, delaying testing of new or modified products required for research, development and commercial deployment.