The Galician Cold tunnel

SYC Applus+’s Galician Cold Laboratory is an official testing station in the area of  international transport for perishable goods (ATP), accredited by ENAC, in accordance with that laid down in standard UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 on general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, to undertake the test measurements and/or verification of the global coefficient of “K” heat transfer, which characterizes the insulation of vehicles used for the transport of perishable goods (ATP).

Types of testing

  • Determination of the K coefficient

    Test to determine the heat transfer coefficient required to obtain normal isotherm category “IN” or reinforced isotherm “IR”. In general this applies to new units or prototypes.

  • Verification of the K coefficient

    Test to verify that the unit continues to have the value of the “K” coefficient which in its day was granted to that type of unit (IN or IR). This is applicable to:

    • Vehicles that are more than 15 years old, 21 years old and then every 3 years.
    • New vehicles for conformity of production.
    • Imported vehicles that are more than 6 years old.
    • Vehicles in any situation, on a voluntary basis.
    • Vehicles that are more than 15 years old and less than 21 years old, when they have reached the age of 23.

Legal framework

  •  International ATP agreement

    on international transport of perishable goods and on special vehicles used in such transport, of 1 September 1970.

  • Royal Decree 237/2000, of 18 February

    laying down the technical specifications that must be met by special vehicles for the transport of food products at a regulated temperature and the procedures to control conformity with the specifications.

  • Order ITC 370/2021, of 14 april

    amending the annexes and appendices of Royal Decree 237/2000.

Testing application

The indications of the document Instructions to apply for testing in the Galician Cold Laboratory, must be followed to apply for testing, also available at the customer service offices of ITV Stations.

According to what is established in this the Request for testing of insulated, cold storage and refrigerated transport vehicles, form will need to be completed, also available at the customer service offices of ITV Stations.

This form will indicate the type of testing wished to be undertaken (determination or verification of the “K” coefficient) and dimensional insulation data of the test sample.

Instructions to apply
Request for testing
Rates

Documentation

Test requests must be submitted together with the following documentation:

To determine the “K” coefficient:

  • Certificate of the characteristics of a special vehicle prototype (Appendix 1 RD 237/2000).
  • 3 plans of the appropriate sections for new vehicles (height, elevation and profile):
    • Horizontal plane cut parallel to floor and ceiling.
    • Vertical plane cut parallel to the side walls of the sample to be tested.
    • Vertical plane cut perpendicular to the side walls of the sample to be tested.

To verify the “K” coefficient:

  • Characteristics File (Appendix 4 RD 237/2000).
  • Certificate of Conformity of the vehicle (Appendix 5 or 6, RD 237/2000) in force.
  • Original ITV card.
Julio Garcia CordoniéDirector

ADDRESS

Estación SYC itv do Espírito Santo.

Estrada Nacional VI, Km 582- Pol. O Espírito Santo.
15168 – Sada (A Coruña)