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Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency offers Service for Searching and Analyzing Data using AI
The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) has introduced an AI-based service for searching and analyzing research data, aimed at enhancing research outcomes and their accessibility. Utilizing technology similar to ChatGPT for natural language interaction, this service simplifies access to over 3,500 documents including research and epidemiological reports, without requiring specialized training. KOSHA is responsible for KCs Certification, which is mandatory for many products that are to be imported into Korea and sold there.
It aims to lower barriers in research fields and boost field applicability by making complex research findings more approachable. Additionally, a “Research Report Writing Curriculum Using ChatGPT” was launched to further integrate AI into research practices.
Institutions like KOSHA are responsible for assuring that products entering the Korean market for distribution comply with national quality and safety regulations, as definedin national standards, and aim to continously improve their operation methods.
Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration.
Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261
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Email: info@korea-certification.com
For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.
Enhanced Safety Measures and Certification Criteria for Aerial Work Platforms and Industrial Lifts
The regulations for the KCs Safety Certification and Safety Inspection for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP) and industrial lifts have been revised as of September 1st. These updates are part of a broader initiative to enhance workplace safety by the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency (KOSHA). Work platforms and industrial elevators generally require KCs certification in order to be approved for import and distribution in Korea.
In response to the revisions, industrial lift operators handling equipment with a capacity of less than 0.5 tons are mandated to submit for safety inspections within six months from March 2nd 2024, the date these changes take effect. The Ministry of Employment and Labor has decided to forego administrative penalties like “suspension of operation” for those who apply for inspection within the designated period, recognizing the adjustment phase. Facilities that fail the initial inspection will be granted a period to make necessary improvements.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor, led by Minister Lee Jeong-sik, is set to implement significant updates to the safety standards for aerial work platforms and industrial lifts. Announced adjustments focus on the prevention of fatal accidents. These adjustments specifically target the enhancement of safety devices in aerial work platforms and comprehensive safety protocols for industrial lifts.
Key amendments for aerial work platforms include stricter manufacturing and safety criteria. These now specify the materials, quantity, and installation methods for over-rise prevention devices, which are required to be installed in accordance with defined heights and quantities. For industrial lifts, the new regulations require all lifts capable of carrying less than 0.5 tons to undergo safety inspections. Additionally, fall protection measures that were previously only required for operation heights of 10m or more are now required across the board, necessitating the installation of critical safety features such as impact dampening devices, slack rope detectors, and fall prevention systems to ensure comprehensive accident prevention.
Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration.
Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261
Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673
Email: info@korea-certification.com
For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.
Simplification of the KC Standard for Children’s Playground Equipment Announced for Korea
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea announced on January 5, 2024, that it has revised the safety standards for children’s products (children’s playground equipment) that are subject to the KC Safety Certification under the Children’s Product Safety Special Act.
Previously, for one-time installations of multiple models of playground equipment, each model, even if made of the same material, had to undergo individual hazardous chemical substance tests. However, the recent revision streamlines this process. Moving forward, only one model within such a group will be subjected to hazardous chemical substance testing for the same material.
This adjustment is designed to make the certification process more efficient while maintaining the highest safety standards for children’s play equipment. It will reduce the cost and time burden for manufacturers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, who produce children’s play equipment in small quantities or for specific purposes, such as playgrounds, schools, or amusement parks.
The ministry said that the revision will not compromise the safety of children’s play equipment, as it will still require the same level of quality and performance tests for each model. It also said that it will strengthen the post-management of safety standards, by conducting regular inspections and monitoring the market.
Kim Sang-mo, the director of the Product Safety Policy Bureau, said that the revision will help the children’s play equipment industry to grow and innovate, while ensuring the safety and health of children. He also urged the manufacturers to comply with the revised standards and obtain the KC certification before selling their products.
Different children’s products require a KC Safety approval. Here you can find out more about the KC Safety Certification.
Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration.
Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673
Revisions to Pressure Vessel Standards relevant for KGS Certification
After the 148th meeting of the Gas Technical Standards Committee, revisions of 12 detailed standards were approved, including KGS AC111. This code defines that the KGS factory registration is required for pressure vessels in South Korea. The revisions have been implemented on November 11th, 2023 and affect various sectors, encompassing high-pressure gases, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and hydrogen-related equipment.
Among the notable changes, the committee has specified the targets for the destructive and fatigue testing of hydrogen compressed gas facilities, introducing a clear definition, and adding a pressure test procedure. In the LPG sector, standards for the installation of inlet valves and measures for transverse pipe expansion and contraction have been aligned with city gas facility standards.
The scope of destructive and fatigue failure testing for hydrogen compressed gas facilities has been clarified by limiting it to specific openings. Additionally, gas (at 1.25 times the design pressure) has been introduced as a pressure test fluid for valves in toxic gas pipelines. Manufacturing standards were also clarified to allow the production of cylinder cabinets without piping.
For the manufacturing and filling of high-pressure gases, specific facilities and pressure regulators with a total weight of less than one ton (excluding gas weight) that pose no risk of ground subsidence were excluded from ground surveys. The standards were rationalized by acknowledging ASME standards for calculating the thickness of high-pressure gas and piping facilities.
In the case of LPG applications, standards for protecting pipes outside and passing through buildings, installing inlet valves, and measures to absorb expansion and contraction of transverse pipes have been aligned with city gas facility standards.
Here you can find more information about the KGS Factory Registration.
Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration.
Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261
Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673
Email: info@korea-certification.com For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.
Approval of Revisions to KGS Code AH271 for Electrolyzers in Korea
The 147th meeting of the Gas Technical Standards Committee in Korea approved a revision to the KGS Code AH271, under which electrolyzers are required to obtain a KGS factory registration. The revisions, which have come into effect on October 5th, 2023, emphasize the committee’s focus on refining and advancing industry standards underlining their commitment to safety and technological progress.
1. Simplification of Requirements for Automatic Shut-Off Valves:
The committee has introduced substantial changes to the durability performance test for automatic shut-off valves, aimed at elevating industry standards and fortifying safety protocols. A new safety standard, grounded in product characteristics, replaces the previous practice of overly applying durability performance confirmation through cycling repetitions (250,000 times). Importantly, valves deemed unlikely to cause hazardous situations during malfunction or impaired function are now exempt from the durability test. This represents a departure from the previous requirement, allowing for a more nuanced evaluation based on valve characteristics.
2. Relaxation of Hydrogen Quality Standards for Electrolysis Facilities:
Considering South Korea’s recent 10-year average lowest temperature of -11.6°C and the operational pressure in current commercial water electrolysis equipment, the committee has proposed a relaxation of restrictions on moisture concentration. Water electrolysis facilities with a rated hydrogen production pressure of 5 MPa or less are now permitted to relax the water limit to 50 μg/g (50 ppm). This adjustment accounts for real-world operational dynamics and ensures a balanced approach to hydrogen quality standards.
3. Clarification of Corrosion Performance Testing of Metallic Materials:
The committee aims to streamline standards for the exemption of corrosion resistance testing when utilizing corrosion-resistant materials. This involves a reflection of omitted conditions and acceptance criteria from specific corrosion resistance tests, including spray time with saline solution. The proposed changes seek to provide greater clarity in assessing the corrosion performance of metallic materials.
The changes are relevant for KGS Certification for South Korea.
Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration.
Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261
Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673
Email: info@korea-certification.com
For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.
New Technical Standards for Unlicensed Radio Equipment in South Korea
At the end of December 2022, changes were announced that affect the requirements for unlicensed radios in Korea. Manufacturers can often equip mobile radios with ultra-wideband technologies with additional functions that add various specifications to the basic functions, which are intended to enable more accurate and energy-efficient positioning. Radios and similar products typically require KC-EMC certification to be approved for import and operation in Korea.
South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) amended technical standards in late December 2022 with Announcement 2022-75 to address such possible additional functions.
According to Announcement No. 2022-75, portable wireless devices for both mobile service must meet the following requirements:
- The devices must be able to operate in the 6.0-8.8 GHz frequency band.
- Inadmissible radio waves must not be emitted.
- From the start of communication with the device, radio wave emission should automatically stop within 10 seconds by default if no data/ signal is being sent or received.
- The devices must have the function of interrupting radio emission in air-mobile vehicles as well as in water vehicles. ß is this a correct statement?
- Wireless devices intended to be paired with wireless portable devices shall emit radio waves only when necessary
- The accompanying documents of the device must contain the note “Do not use in aircraft or on ships”.
Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration.
Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261
Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673
Email: info@korea-certification.com
For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.
New Certification System planned for H2 Hydrogen in South Korea
In order to promote the country’s hydrogen economy, the South Korean government plans to introduce a hydrogen certification system in 2024 that takes into account hydrogen production methods as well as international trends and the domestic industrial situation. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (Motie) is currently conducting a study to prepare the certification system, the draft of which will be published in 2023 and implemented in 2024.
Motie aims to respond to the need for a clean hydrogen certification system and incentives for various hydrogen production methods such as ammonia and carbon capture and utilization (CCUS). In addition, an amendment to the Hydrogen Act was recently passed to provide a legal basis for the creation of a clean hydrogen market. A variety of institutional support for hydrogen power sources is needed for policy and related hydrogen and ammonia cogeneration systems. The government plans to introduce a “clean hydrogen power system” for hydrogen power plants in 2023, but did not provide further details on the plan.
The government has set a goal of meeting the total hydrogen demand of 27.9 million tons with clean hydrogen by 2050 and increasing the self-sufficiency rate of clean hydrogen to over 60%.
“Hydrogen is the core of the new energy industry, and the government will provide solid institutional support to stimulate private investment,” said Park Il-joon, Motie’s second vice minister.
Motie will also provide policy support and regulatory innovation to support a privately led hydrogen fund launched in early July. The industry association Korean H2 Business Summit launched the hydrogen fund with a goal of raising 500 billion South Korean won ($381 million) by the end of this year to make investments.
The Ministry of Industry aims to establish a clean hydrogen certification system and support measures for various hydrogen production processes such as ammonia and carbon capture and utilization (CCUS). To create the legal conditions for the development of a market for clean hydrogen, an amendment to the law was recently passed.
Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration.
Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261 Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673
Email: info@korea-certification.com
For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.
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