Directive 2014/94/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure provides for the development of both a sustainable alternative fuels strategy and appropriate infrastructure. The requirements of the Directive were implemented into the Polish legal system by the Act of 11 January 2018 on electromobility and alternative fuels. In accordance with this Act, the Office of Technical Inspection is required to issue opinions on the compliance of technical documentation of designed stations with technical requirements and to carry out technical tests on recharging stations and points before they are put into operation, and after repairs and upgrades.

In accordance with Article 17(1) of the above Act, detailed technical requirements for safe operation and the scope of documentation to be enclosed with an application for tests on recharging stations and recharging points forming part of recharging infrastructure for public road transport vehicles are specified in a regulation of the minister responsible for energy. 

Therefore, the Office of Technical Inspection has begun to accept the applications for tests referred to in Article 16 of the Act and to issue the opinions referred to in Article 15 of the Act. In accordance with Article 15(1) of the Act, the Office of Technical Inspection issues only opinions on the compliance of technical documentation of designed stations with the technical requirements set out in Article 13 and in provisions issued under Article 17. Opinions are not issued for recharging points forming part of recharging infrastructure for public road transport vehicles.

When is equipment subject to tests

Reporting of equipment for tests

Recharging stations and recharging points forming part of recharging infrastructure for public road transport vehicles should be reported for tests to the UDT local branch or department having jurisdiction over the location of the equipment, or to the UDT Headquarters in Warsaw by completing the application below. Applications may also be submitted via the e-UDT portal (the maximum size of a single file is 100 MB).

Fees

The amount of the fee for preliminary tests is determined on the basis of the average monthly remuneration in the national economy in the previous year. In 2021, it amounts to:PLN 902.48. The fee is paid after the tests are completed.

The amount of the fee for an opinion is determined on the basis of the average monthly remuneration in the national economy in the previous year. In 2021, it amounts to:PLN 180.50 for each commenced hour of work, but cannot exceed PLN 4512.41.

• APPLICATION

In order to register technical equipment, an application for tests / changes in the details of equipment subject to technical inspection / changes in the operator’s details should be submitted to a UDT Branch. The application should be accompanied by two sets of documentation (in Polish) for every item of equipment reported.

Send an application

• VERIFICATION

The competent UDT Branch will examine the application without undue delay. After any shortcomings are rectified, a UDT inspector will proceed to carry out acceptance tests. To this end, the UDT inspector will agree with the applicant when and where the tests are to be carried out and will instruct the applicant on how to prepare for the tests.

• TECHNICAL TESTS

Before the equipment subject to technical inspection is put into operation, the operator reports it, in writing or via the eUDT portal, to the competent technical inspection authority to obtain an operating permit. Before issuing such a permit, the UDT inspector carries out technical inspection activities, in the presence of the applicant or a person authorised by the applicant, technical inspection activities, inter alia:

• examines the condition of the equipment, its accessories and marking,

• carries out technical tests before starting the equipment and under operating conditions.

After the tests, the inspector draws up a technical inspection report, the receipt of which is confirmed with a signature by the applicant or the authorised person.

The applicant for whom the technical inspection activities are carried out, must ensure safe conditions for their efficient implementation and keep a set of reports on the technical equipment concerned, called the ‘inspection log book’.

• DECISION

If the result of the tests is positive, the UDT inspector may issue an operating permit for the equipment. The inspection log book will be set up on the basis of the permit issued. It will be delivered in a manner agreed with the applicant.

• APPEAL

The party may lodge an appeal against the permit to the Minister for Development, within 14 days from the date of receipt of the permit, through the President of the Office of Technical Inspection, ul. Szczęśliwicka 34, 02-353 Warsaw. During the time specified for lodging an appeal, the party may waive the right to appeal against the public administration authority that issued the permit. The permit becomes final on the date on which the public administration authority receives a declaration on the waiver of the right to appeal by the last party to the proceedings.

• FEES

The amount of the fees for technical inspection activities is specified in the Notice of the Minister for Development of 19 April 2016 on the publication of the consolidated text of the Regulation of the Minister for the Economy on the amount of fees for activities carried out by technical inspection authorities.

Send an inquiry about the amount of the fee

• periodic tests – for equipment subject to full inspection, within deadlines set for the type of equipment concerned;

• ad hoc performance tests – carried out as needed;

• ad hoc checks – for equipment subject to limited inspection, within deadlines set for the type of equipment concerned, carried out as part of supervision over compliance with the technical inspection rules;

• ad hoc post-accident or post-failure tests – carried out if dangerous damage to equipment or a personal accident associated with equipment operation occurs, with the view of determining the causes of these incidents, drawing conclusions in respect of preventive measures and implementing these measures.

The operator prepares equipment for tests (in accordance with guidelines set out in the operating manual) within the deadlines set in applicable laws, to the extent necessary to carry out the tests. The equipment should be prepared in a way that ensures the safety of persons carrying out the tests. Safe access to the equipment and appropriate labelling must be ensured, and a workstation must be designated. An appropriate hazard analysis must be conducted by the operator, on the basis of which the operator decides whether the entire station or only the specific dispenser undergoing the tests needs to be shut down to prepare the workstation for testing individual items of fuel vapour recovery equipment.

The inspector may establish additional guidelines on preparing the equipment for the tests, for example, depending on the testing method selected by the operator:

• a ‘dry’ method – the flow of petrol is simulated, while the fuel vapour recovery system is actually in operation for the purposes of the tests,
• a ‘wet’ method – the dispenser is actually in operation, i.e. petrol is actually flowing for the purposes of the tests

Fuel vapour recovery equipment is subject to full technical inspection and undergoes periodic and ad hoc technical tests during operation.

Periodic tests are carried out at the operator’s request:

1. once a year,
2. once every three years for automatic monitoring systems for fuel vapour recovery equipment.

An automatic monitoring system is a system which:

• detect faults in the proper functioning of a fuel vapour recovery system and in the monitoring system itself,
• signals that faults have been detected,
• automatically stops the flow of petrol from a faulty liquid fuel dispenser if a fault is not rectified within 7 days.

Ad hoc technical tests are carried out:

1. at the operator’s request to obtain authorisation for placing into service after a negative result of the previous test,
2. as needed, as part of supervision over and verification of compliance with applicable laws.