G/TBT/N/USA/837  
 
3 July 2013  
(13-3491)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [854] 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided  in addition, where applicable): Explosion 
protection (ICS 13.230), Electrical equipment for working in special conditions (ICS 29.260), Electrical equipment. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Electrical 
Equipment in Hazardous Locations (15 pages, in English).     
6. Description of content:  The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations. This 
proposed subpart would be applicable to fore ign Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), 
floating facilities, and vessels that engage in OCS activities for the first time after the 
effective date of the regulations. The proposed subpart would also be applicable to newly 
constructed U.S. MODUs, floating facilitie s, and vessels, excluding offshore supply 
vessels (OSVs). The proposed regulations would expand the list of national and 
international explosion protection standards deemed acceptable, as well as add the 
internationally accepted independent third-party certification system, the IEC System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for use in Explosive Atmospheres, as an accepted method of testing and certifying electrical equipment intended for use in 
hazardous locations. The proposed regulation s would also provide owners and operators 
of existing U.S. MODUs, floating OCS facilities, and vessels, other than OSVs, that e n g a g e  i n  O C S  a c t i v i t i e s  a n d  U . S .  t a n k  v e s s e l s  t h a t  c a r r y  f l a m m a b l e  o r  c o m b u s t i b l e  
cargoes the option of choosing between the compliance regime contained in existing 
regulations. This proposal would support the U.S. Coast Guard's maritime safety mission. 
 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of Human health or Safety 
8. Relevant documents:   78 Federal Register (FR) 37760, 24 June 2013; Title 33 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 143 and Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 
110 and 111.  Will appear in the Federal Register when adopted.   
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    To be determined To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  23 September 2013 G/TBT/N/USA/837 
 
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  11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [  ], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:    
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2013-06-24/pd f/2013-14951.pdf  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2013-06-24/html /2013-14951.htm