(1) Reasons for Proposal

This proposal aims to strengthen motor vehicle operation safety through the addition of inspection methods regarding hydrogen pressure vessels in accordance with an increasing supply of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles; contribute to car accident prevention through limiting excessive tinting of children’s vans to confirm the safe boarding and alighting of the children and to secure drivers’ field of vision; and otherwise improve and supplement certain shortcomings that have surfaced in the current system.

(2) Major Provisions

A. Clarification of Notification Method Regarding Persons for Whom Regular Inspection Periods Have Passed (Article 77-2)

- Clarify that the method of notifying owners of motor vehicles for which regular inspection period has passed, which previously consisted only of mail due to lack of clarification regarding notification method, shall now include mail or text messages using mobile phones.

B. New Insertion of Tinting Inspection for Children’s Vans (Article 80 and attached Tables 15, 16, 18)

- Add failure to meet permissible visible light penetration standards for children’s vans as a non-conforming factor in motor vehicle inspections with the aim of contributing to car accident prevention through limiting excessive tinting of children’s vans to confirm the safe boarding and alighting of the children and to secure drivers’ field of vision.

C. Clarification of Basis for Imposing Administrative Fines in Case of Elapse of Re-Inspection Period (Article 81)

- Clarify the basis for imposing administrative fines by prescribing that motor vehicles which were deemed non-conforming in regular inspections and which did not receive re-inspection or failed to be deemed conforming within the re-inspection period shall be deemed not to have received regular inspections, in consideration of the fact that administrative fines for non-inspection of motor vehicles are currently imposed on motor vehicles which do not receive inspection within the inspection period.

D. Introduction of Scientific Inspection Methods Regarding Hydrogen Pressure Vessels, etc. (attached Table 5-8)

- Prescribe that inspection of defects in pressure vessels, which has been conducted mainly through visual examination, shall now be conducted with respect to even internal defects in pressure vessels using devices such as ultrasonic flaw detectors, defect detection cameras, and electronic device meters, etc., and that standards for re-inspection of pressure vessels shall be strengthened by requiring installation of thermal imaging cameras and compulsory ventilation facilities, etc., in consideration of the fact that hydrogen gas, in case of fire, may also cause explosions given the characteristics of colorless flames.

E. Relaxation of Manufacturing Standards for Hydrogen Gas Leak Detectors and Mobile Inspection Equipment (attached Table 12)

- Enable devices which only show whether hydrogen gas leakage has exceeded the permissible level rather than only allowing hydrogen gas leak detectors which show measurement values in succession, and allow exceptions to manufacturing standards for mobile inspection equipment in consideration of the fact that mobile inspection equipment, which by their nature are loaded in motor vehicles, cannot meet manufacturing standards of inspection equipment installed in inspection stations.

F. Include Hydrogen Pressure Vessels Among Those Subject to Pressure Vessel Installation Inspections in Tuning Inspections and in the Scope of Limited Work for Professional Motor Vehicle Maintenance Business (attached Tables 15 and 26)

- Prescribe that pressure vessel installation shall be inspected when inspecting tuning of hydrogen pressure vessels to prevent safety accidents when tuning or performing maintenance work on hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in consideration of their increasing supply, and prescribe that installation, removal, and maintenance of pressure vessels using high-pressure gases such as hydrogen shall be included in the scope of limited work for professional motor vehicle maintenance business.

G. Supplementation of Certain Shortcomings by Reflecting Amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, etc. (Article 77, Special Measure Form 34-10, Form 34-12, Form 34-14)

- Reflect changes in the provisions, the name of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, and CI in accordance with the entire amendment (Jan. 16, 2020) to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and adjust the period for processing pressure vessel installation inspections (immediate  3 days) in consideration of travel, etc., to equipment manufacturers.