Circular No. 43/2017/TT-BTNMT on technical inspection procedures for high-altitude meteorological stations and weather radars

CIRCULAR

Technical regulations for inspecting high-altitude meteorological stations and weather radars

and weather radars

Pursuant to the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology dated November 23, 2015;

Decree No. 38/2016/NĐ-CP dated 15 the 5 Pursuant to Decree No. 32/2019/NĐ-CP dated April 10, 2019 of the Government on assigning tasks, procurement or tendering for the supply of products and services using state budget from regular operating expenses;16 Pursuant to the Government's detailed regulations on certain provisions of the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology On the proposal of the Director General of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, the Head of the Science and Technology Department, and the Head of the Legal Affairs Department;;

On the basis of Decision No. 36/2017/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2017, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgates this Circular

stipulating technical regulations for inspecting high-altitude meteorological stations and weather radars. This Circular stipulates technical regulations for inspecting high-altitude meteorological stations and weather radars.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in high-altitude meteorological observation and weather radar activities.

Article 2. Applicability

It refers to the examination and evaluation of the operational status of machinery, equipment, measuring instruments, station facilities, and compliance with technical regulations on high-altitude meteorological observation and weather radar operations.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Technical Inspection Regular inspection

2. is a technical inspection activity carried out annually according to a plan. is a technical inspection activity not conducted according to a plan but based on specialized technical management requirements.

3. Surprise inspections TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

Chapter II

Article 4. Inspection regime, timing, and deadlines

a) Regular inspections of high-altitude meteorological stations and weather radars shall be conducted at least once a year;

1. Inspection System

b) Unscheduled inspections shall be carried out when there are cases of suspicion regarding non-observation, fabrication of data, failure to issue reports or issuing incorrect reports; malfunctions of machinery and equipment or improper installation, use, and repair; implementation of requirements from competent authorities.

2. Regular inspections shall be conducted before the rainy season.

3. The deadline for regular inspections of one station shall be at least three working days.

Article 5. Inspection procedures

The inspection team shall proceed as follows:

1. For regular inspections:

a) Announce the inspection decision and discuss the inspection program with the leadership of the direct superior management unit of the high-altitude meteorological stations and weather radars;

b) The leadership of the direct management unit of the high-altitude meteorological stations and weather radars shall report on the station's operational situation and provide relevant files and documents related to the inspection content;

c) Conduct the inspection and verification as prescribed in Article 6 of this Circular;

d) Prepare the technical inspection record.

2. Unscheduled inspections:

c) Conduct the inspection as prescribed in point b, Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular;

b) The leadership of the direct management unit of the high-altitude meteorological stations and weather radars shall report on the station's operational situation and provide relevant files and documents related to the inspection content;

c) Conduct the inspection and verification as prescribed in Article 6 of this Circular;

1. Technical inspection of high-altitude meteorological stations

2. Unscheduled inspections:

Article 6. Contents of Inspection

a) Inspect the station facilities, including: technical corridors around the station, standard objects around the station; facilities for various types of machinery, equipment, and measuring instruments; material storage; observation gardens and weather shelters; electrical systems, antennas, lightning protection systems.

b) Inspect machinery, equipment, and measuring instruments, including: observation equipment systems comprising data collection, processing, and transmission devices, electrical systems, computers, printers; auxiliary equipment systems; technical documents and logbooks.

c) Inspect organizational work in professional fields.

d) Inspect safety measures for the station and occupational safety, including: posting and compliance with internal rules and regulations, warning signs; training in internal rules as required; fuel storage areas; check the quantity, quality, and type of fire extinguishers; check fire prevention and extinguishing plans.

e) Inspect calibration, verification, and use of technical materials, including: compliance with calibration, verification, and periodic inspection regimes for machines and equipment; use and preservation of technical materials.

g) Inspect hydrogen preparation and balloon pumping work.

h) Inspect the performance of observation shifts by observers, including: preparation for observations; tasks from the start to the end of observations; reporting observation results; data control and report preparation; evaluation and comments.

i) Inspect the implementation of previous inspection teams' conclusions and professional technical guidance.

2. Technical inspection content for weather radar stations

a) Inspect station facilities, as prescribed in point a, Clause 1 of this Article.

b) Inspect machines and equipment, including: inspect equipment; inspect radar technical parameters and auxiliary equipment; inspect maintenance and periodic calibration work; inspect antenna system stability, transmission-reception system, and display system.

d) Inspect safety measures for the station and occupational safety, as prescribed in point d, Clause 1 of this Article.

d) Inspect safety measures for the station and occupational safety, including: posting and compliance with internal rules and regulations, warning signs; training in internal rules as required; fuel storage areas; check the quantity, quality, and type of fire extinguishers; check fire prevention and extinguishing plans.

e) Inspect observation work for observers, including: preparation for observations; observation and information reporting work; information analysis and weather warning work.

g) Inspect disaster prevention and mitigation observation preparation work, specifically: plans and schemes; reserve materials and equipment.

h) Inspect the implementation of previous inspection teams' conclusions and professional technical guidance.

h) Check the implementation of the conclusions of the previous inspection team and the technical guidance and directives.

Article 7. Inspection Record

1. Based on the inspection results, the Inspection Team shall prepare the inspection record immediately upon completion of the inspection at the Station.

2. The inspection record must meet the following requirements:

a) Fully, accurately, and truthfully record the results of all inspection contents;

b) The opinion of the Station Director or the representative of the inspected station.

c) Must have signatures of all parties related to the inspection.

3. The inspection record at the station shall be detailed according to Model No. 01 or Model No. 02 issued together with this Circular.

Article 8. Report on Inspection Results

Within five working days from the date of completing the inspection, the Inspection Team shall report the inspection results to the Head of the Inspection Authority according to Model No. 03 issued together with this Circular.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 9. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from December 8, 2017.

Article 10. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Director of the Ministry's Office, the General Director of the Hydro-Meteorological Service, the Heads of subordinate units under the Ministry, the Directors of Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment under central cities and provinces, and organizations and individuals related to this Circular shall be responsible for its implementation.

2. The Hydro-Meteorological Service shall be responsible for guiding, monitoring, and supervising the implementation of this Circular.

During the implementation of this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall reflect them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and resolution./.