Article 1This Regulation provides for safety rules of containers to be filled with high pressure gas, capable of being transported at ground level, pursuant to the provisions of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act (Act No. 204 of 1951; hereinafter referred to as the "Act") and the Order for Enforcement of the High Pressure Gas Safety Act (Cabinet Order No. 20 of 1997) (excluding containers to which the Regulation on Safety of Containers Relating to International Mutual Recognition (Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry No. 82 of 2016)) applies; hereinafter simply referred to as a "Container").

Article 2As used in this Regulation, the terms set forth in the following items have the meanings set forth therein, respectively:

Article 3The technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 41, paragraph (1) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

Article 10(1)A person who intends to make labels pursuant to Article 46, paragraph (1) of the Act (excluding a manufacturer or importer of a container obviously intended for assignment) must make them in accordance with the following items:

(2)In case of any change to a name, etc., the container owner who labels the container with the name, etc. pursuant to item (iii) of the preceding paragraph is to reflect the change to the labels without delay.In this case, labels are to be made in accordance with item (iii) of the preceding paragraph.

(3)A person who intends to make labels pursuant to Article 46, paragraph (2) of the Act must make them in accordance with the method to clearly indicate the matters set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii), (a) and paragraph (1), item (iii); provided, however, that for a container for export, it is not necessary to clearly indicate the matters set forth in paragraph (1), item (iii).

(4)Beyond what is set forth in the preceding three paragraphs, a person who intends to make labels pursuant to Article 46, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act on a Compressed Hydrogen Container for Transportation Automobiles must make them in accordance with the method specified by public notice.

(5)Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) to (3), if the container complies with the methods to be separately provided in public notice as those which would pose no safety risk, or if the labeling method has been approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, labels under Article 46, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act may be made in accordance with the method specified in the public notice or the method approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 11A person who intends to make labels pursuant to Article 47, paragraph (1) of the Act must make them in accordance with paragraph (1), item (iii) and paragraph (5) of the preceding Article.

Article 12A person who intends to make labels pursuant to Article 54, paragraph (3) of the Act must make them in accordance with Article 10, paragraph (1), items (i) and (ii), and paragraph (5) of the same Article.

Article 13The accessories specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in the main clause of Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

Article 14A person who intends to receive an accessories inspection pursuant to the main clause of Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application for accessories inspection using Form 3, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (or, to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the accessories, in the case of accessories fitted on a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fitted on a railroad vehicle)), the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body having jurisdiction over the location of the accessories (in the case of accessories manufactured by a manufacturer of accessories, the location of its business establishment, or in the case of imported accessories, the place of landing of those accessories; the same applies in this Article).

Article 15The accessories for the usage specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-2, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act, are accessories for export and other accessories obviously not intended to enter into distribution channel in Japan.

Article 16The methods specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-2, paragraph (1) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

Article 17(1)The specifications for accessories by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-2, paragraph (4) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for a type which has passed a Type Test, an accessory inspection which is identical to the test performed during the course of the Type Test may be omitted, and for a type which has passed an accessories inspection, a Type Test which is identical to the test performed during the accessories inspection may be omitted.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, for accessories found to be acceptable by the test, Type Test or examination set forth in the following items (hereinafter referred to as "inspection, etc." in this Article), the specifications for the inspection, etc. are treated as specifications for accessories by the type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-2, paragraph (4):

Article 18(1)A person who intends to make a stamping pursuant to Article 49-3, paragraph (1) of the Act must make the stamping of the matters set forth in the following items (in the case of a fusible pressure relief valve for an acethylene container, items (i) to (iv) and (vii)) in a clear and indelible way on a visible part of the wall of accessories, in accordance with the same order; provided, however, that for accessories not fit for stamping, the above method may be replaced with firmly attaching to a visible part of the accessories a thin plate on which the relevant matters are stamped, by way of welding, soldering or brazing:

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if the accessories comply with the method set forth in the following items as those which would pose no safety risk, or if the method of stamping, etc. has been approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, a stamping under Article 49-3, paragraph (1) of the Act may be made according to the method set forth in the relevant items or the method approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry:

Article 19The containers specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act, are the containers set forth in the following items, and the accessories specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, referred to in the same item, are the accessories set forth in the following items:

Article 20The container specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (2), item (iii) of the Act, is a Non-Refillable Container, and the accessories specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, referred to in the same item, are pressure relief valves.

Article 21(1)The technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for processing of a container complying with the standards specified in Article 14, paragraph (1) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act performed by a person who has obtained an airworthiness certification pursuant to Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, the relevant standards may be applied as the technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Act; and the standards approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, if the approval is obtained, may be applied as the technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Act.

Article 22(1)The method specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, referred to in the items of Article 48, paragraph (4) of the Act, are the following formula:

G=V÷C

In this formula, the characters "G", "V" and "C" are to represent the following figures, respectively:

G: figure of mass of liquefied gas (Unit: kilogram)

V: figure of internal volume of container (Unit: liter)

C: In the case of liquefied petroleum gas to be filled in a Low-temperature Container, Ultra Low-temperature Container and Liquefied Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, an inverse number of a figure obtained by multiplying the figure of specific gravity of the liquefied gas (Unit: kg/L) at the maximum normal operating temperature of the container by 9/10 (or, in the case of a Container for Liquefied Hydrogen Transportation Automobiles, an inverse number of a figure obtained by multiplying the figure of specific gravity of liquefied hydrogen to be filled in that container (Unit: kg/L) at the boiling point under atmospheric pressure by 9/10; in the case of other gases set forth in the left column of the table of Article 2, item (xxvi) which is liquefied gas to be filled in a container specified in A of the same appended table whose Hydrostatic Test Pressure is 24.5 megapascal, the pressure at the temperature of 48°C; in the case of liquefied gas to be filled in a container specified in B of the same appended table, the figure of volume of one kilogram of the liquefied gas (Unit: liter) whose pressure at the temperature of 55°C is 14.7 megapascal or below; or, in the case of other gases, the constant value set forth in the right column of the following appended table, in accordance with the types of liquefied gases as respectively set forth in the left column of the same appended table.

Article 23A person who intends to obtain a permission under Article 48, paragraph (5) of the Act must submit a written application for special permission for filling using Form 4, together with a document explaining the reason, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry having jurisdiction over the location of the business establishment where the gas is filled (or, to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the business establishment where the gas is filled, in the case of a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fixed on a railroad vehicle)), having jurisdiction over the location of the business establishment where the gas is filled.

Article 24(1)The period specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (v) of the Act, is the period set forth in the following items, starting from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month shown in stamping, etc., in the case of a container which has not received a container re-inspection (hereinafter referred to as "month in which the container passes the inspection") (or, in the case of a container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, High-Pressure Gas Container for Transportation Automobiles, Compressed Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System and Liquefied Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, the date immediately preceding the month/date shown in stamping, etc.); or starting from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month shown in the stamping under Article 37, paragraph (1), item (i) or the mark under paragraph (2), item (i) of the same Article made at when the container passes the previous container re-inspection (hereinafter referred to as "month in which the container passes the re-inspection") (or, in the case of a container with an internal volume not less than 4,000 liters, High-Pressure Gas Container for Transportation Automobiles, Compressed Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System and Liquefied Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, the date immediately preceding the month/date shown in stamping, etc.), in case of a container which has undergone an accessories inspection:

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for the first container re-inspection of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System to be filled with liquefied petroleum gas when it is fitted on an Automobile for which the effective period of a Motor Vehicle Inspection Certificate specified in Article 61 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act is one year, the period starting from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the inspection until the inspection under Article 62 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act performed on the Automobile on which the relevant container is fitted for the first time after six years elapse from the relevant starting date may be applied as the period under Article 48, paragraph (1), item (v) of the Act.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the period so approved may be applied as the period specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (v) of the Act.

Article 25(1)The method specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act, is as provided in public notice.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the method so approved may be treated as the method specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act.

Article 26(1)Among the specifications of containers by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the specifications for an Aluminum Alloy Seamless Container for Scuba Diving, General Seamless Container, Welded Container, Brazed Container and General FRP Composite Container are as set forth in the following items; provided, however, that for an Aluminum Alloy Seamless Container for Scuba Diving, in cases of a container re-inspection other than the first container re-inspection after four years and one month elapse from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the inspection or from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the container passes the re-inspection performed in accordance with items (i) and (iii), from among those set forth in item (i) only those specified by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may be applied:

(2)Among the specifications specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the specifications for Ultra Low-temperature Containers are as set forth in the following items:

(3)Among the specifications specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the specifications for a Compressed Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System, GTR-compliant Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System and Compressed Hydrogen Container for Transportation Automobiles are as set forth in the following items:

(4)Among the specifications specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act, the specifications for a Liquefied Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System are as set forth in the following items:

(5)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraphs, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the specifications so approved may be treated as the container specifications specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49, paragraph (2) of the Act.

Article 27(1)The periods specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the period so approved may be treated as the period specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 48, paragraph (1), item (iii) of the Act.

Article 28(1)The method specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (1) of the Act, is as provided in public notice.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the method so approved may be treated as the method of accessories re-inspection specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (1) of the Act.

Article 29(1)The specifications by type of high pressure gas and degree of pressure specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (2) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if it is separately provided in public notice as those which would pose no safety risk, the specification specified in that public notice may be applied as the specification specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (2) of the Act, or, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the specifications so approved may be applied as the specification specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 49-4, paragraph (2) of the Act.

Article 30(1)A person who intends to obtain a registration under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit, for each container re-inspection station, a written application for registration of container re-inspection station using Form 5, attaching a written description of inspection equipment, to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container re-inspection station.

(2)The matters corresponding to the standards set forth in Article 33 must be included in the written description of inspection equipment under the preceding paragraph.

Article 31(1)A person who intends to obtain a renewal of a registration pursuant to Article 50, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit, for each container re-inspection station, a written application for renewal of registration of container re-inspection station using Form 6 to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container re-inspection station.

(2)At the time of the application under the preceding paragraph, if the inspection equipment is different from those at the time of receiving a registration of the relevant container re-inspection station (or, in the case where the registration has been renewed, the time of receiving the previous registration), the applicant must attach a written description of inspection equipment to the written application under the preceding paragraph.

Article 32(1)When the prefectural governor makes a registration of a container re-inspection station or renewal thereof pursuant to Article 50, paragraph (3) of the Act, the prefectural governor must issue a registration certificate for container re-inspection station using Form 7 to a person who received the registration or renewal thereof.

(2)A person who has been issued a registration certificate for container re-inspection station under the preceding paragraph must return the certificate to the prefectural governor who issued the certificate without delay, when five years elapse from the date of issuance of the certificate, if the person has discontinued container re-inspection service, or if the person's registration is rescinded pursuant to Article 53 of the Act.

Article 33The technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 50, paragraph (3) of the Act, are as set forth in the following items:

Article 34A person with knowledge and experience satisfying the conditions specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as referred to in Article 52, paragraph (1) of the Act, is a person set forth in any of the following items:

Article 35A person who intends to make a notification of appointment or dismissal of a chief inspector pursuant to Article 52, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a written notification of chief inspector using Form 8, attaching a copy of the production safety management certificate received by the chief inspector or a document certifying the qualification under the preceding Article to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container re-inspection station; provided, however, that in the case of dismissal, an attachment of the copy or document may be omitted.

Article 36(1)A prefectural governor, the Institute, a Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body or a person who obtained a registration of container re-inspection station under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act conducts a radiation inspection of a Welded Container at the time of a container re-inspection under that paragraph, if so requested by a person who receives the container re-inspection.

(2)A prefectural governor, the Institute, a Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body or a person who obtained a registration of container re-inspection station under Article 49, paragraph (1) of the Act is to use the character "radiation" clearly indicated on a container which has passed the radiation inspection under the paragraph by way of stamping, etc.

Article 37(1)A person who intends to make a stamping pursuant to Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act must make the stamping in accordance with the following methods:

(2)A person who intends to attach a mark pursuant to Article 49, paragraph (4) of the Act must attach the mark in accordance with the method set forth in the following items (i) and (ii), in the case of a container other than a Compressed Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System, GTR-compliant Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System, Liquefied Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, General FRP Composite Container (limited to a full-wrapped container), Plastic Liner General FRP Composite Container and Compressed Hydrogen Container for Transportation Automobiles; the method specified in item (iii) in the case of a Compressed Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System, Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System, GTR-compliant Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System and Liquefied Natural Gas Container for Automobile Fuel System; or the method set forth in item (iv) in the case of a Metal Liner General FRP Composite Container (limited to a full-wrapped container), Plastic Liner General FRP Composite Container and Compressed Hydrogen Container for Transportation Automobiles:

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, for a container which conforms to Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, the standard specified in Article 14-2, paragraph (10) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act may be applied as a stamping under Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act or an attaching of a mark under paragraph (4) of the same Article, or, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the standard so approved may be applied as a stamping under Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Act or an attaching of a mark under paragraph (4) of the same Article.

Article 38(1)A person who intends to make a stamping pursuant to Article 49-3, paragraph (3) of the Act must make a stamping of a symbol representing the name of the inspection agency and the year/month/date of the accessories re-inspection (or, in the case of accessories to be fitted on a GTR-compliant Compressed Hydrogen Container for Automobile Fuel System, the year/month), by way of stamping them below or on the right side of the stamping made under Article 18, paragraph (1) or Article 68; provided, however, that for accessories not fit for stamping, the person may, in lieu of the above, use the method to be specified in public notice.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for accessories which conform to Article 10 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, the standard specified in Article 14-2, paragraph (10) of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act may be applied as a stamping under Article 49-4, paragraph (3) of the Act, or, if an approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is obtained, the standard so approved may be applied as a stamping under Article 49-4, paragraph (3) of the Act.

Article 39A person who intends to make a notification of discontinuance of re-inspection service at a container re-inspection station pursuant to Article 56-2 of the Act must submit a written notification of discontinuance of business of a container re-inspection station using Form 9 to the prefectural governor having jurisdiction over the location of the container re-inspection station.

Article 69When the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body intends to make a report under Article 56, paragraph (2) of the Act, it must submit a report on non-compliance with container specifications in Form 33, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry having jurisdiction over the location of the relevant container (or, to the prefectural governor having the jurisdiction over the location of the relevant container, in the case of a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fixed on a railroad vehicle)).

Article 70When the Institute or Designated Container Conformity Inspection Body intends to make a report under Article 56, paragraph (2) of the Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (4) of the same Article, it must submit a report on non-compliance with accessories specifications using Form 34, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry having jurisdiction over the location of the relevant accessories (or, to the prefectural governor having the jurisdiction over the location of the relevant container, in the case of accessories to be fitted on a container with an internal volume not exceeding 500 liters (excluding a container to be fixed on a railroad vehicle)).

Article 71(1)The matters to be entered in books under Article 60, paragraph (1) of the Act are the matters set forth in the right column of the following appended table, in accordance with the categories of the persons set forth in the left column of the same appended table.

(2)A person who obtained a registration of a container manufacturer and container re-inspection station pursuant to Article 60, paragraph (1) of the Act must keep books including the matters set forth in the preceding paragraph for each of containers and accessories, and must store them for the period set forth in the following items:

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the period for which a person who has received a registration of a container manufacturer and a container re-inspection station must maintain and store the books including the matters set forth in paragraph (1) for each of containers and accessories are as specified in the following items:

(4)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, if a container manufacturer assigns a container, the period for which the container manufacturer must maintain and store the books including the matters set forth in paragraph (1) for each of containers are as specified in the following items:

Article 72(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 or Article 26, the specifications for an inspection or re-inspection of a container to be fitted on a railroad vehicle are specified by public notice of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 17 or Article 29, the specifications for an inspection or re-inspection of accessories to be fitted on a railroad vehicle are specified by public notice of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.