Updated TSG 21-2026 Requirements for Pressure Vessel Manufacturing Licenses | China Compliance

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has released the long‑awaited revision of the TSG 21-2026 Fixed Pressure Vessel Safety Technology Regulation (also known as the “Revised General Regulation”), which will replace TSG 21-2016 and its first amendment. This update represents the first comprehensive overhaul of China‘s core pressure vessel safety regulation in a decade, introducing expanded scope for emerging industries, stricter manufacturing supervision, updated safety device requirements, and streamlined administrative procedures. For foreign manufacturers seeking or renewing pressure vessel manufacturing licenses for export to China, understanding these changes is critical to avoiding delays, compliance gaps, and customs clearance issues.

1. Expanded Scope: New Pressure Vessel Types and Emerging Materials

The most significant change in TSG 21-2026 is the expansion of the regulatory scope to cover new pressure vessel types and advanced materials that were previously unregulated. Key additions include:

• Hydrogen storage high‑pressure vessels – New dedicated sections define technical requirements for both non‑welded (type IV) and welded hydrogen pressure vessels, with limits of design pressure above 41 MPa for non‑welded vessels and above 17 MPa for welded vessels. The regulation introduces material grain size control requirements for hydrogen‑exposed steel and specifies protective measures for nitrogen gas sealing during transportation.
• Cryogenic ultra‑low temperature pressure vessels – Defined as vessels with design temperatures below ‑196°C, such as those for liquid hydrogen and liquid helium storage with vacuum insulation systems. New requirements mandate that low‑temperature steel pipes be produced via ladle refining, and nickel‑based alloys must maintain a solid solution state.
• Silicon carbide (SiC) pressure vessels – As non‑metallic materials gain traction in corrosive chemical environments, TSG 21-2026 formally incorporates silicon carbide vessels with dedicated manufacturing and inspection requirements.
• Spin‑formed seamless pressure vessels – Defined as seamless steel tubes (nominal diameter > 400 mm) closed via hot spinning, now have explicit classification rules.
• Tower solar thermal power plant devices – Added to cover molten salt thermal energy storage systems, addressing high‑temperature creep, fatigue, and corrosion conditions.

For foreign manufacturers with products in these new categories, an immediate gap analysis against TSG 21-2026 is recommended, as many existing certificates may not cover these newly defined vessel types.

2. Manufacturing Management and On‑Site Requirements

The manufacturing chapter (Chapter 4) of TSG 21-2026 has been substantially revised to address quality control gaps identified in recent years:

• On‑site manufacturing notification – New Clause 4.1.1(3) requires that before any on‑site fabrication, field assembly welding, or field bonding of pressure vessels takes place, the manufacturing unit must submit a written notice to the local special equipment safety supervision authority, referencing the procedures in Clause 5.1(4). This is particularly relevant for large vessels that cannot be fully assembled in a factory.
• Electronic output documentation – Product delivery or as‑built documentation may now be provided in electronic storage media, reflecting current digital documentation practices.
• Leak test adjustments – The original leak test clause (4.1.10.1(1)) has been deleted. Manufacturers must confirm applicable leak test methods based on updated requirements.

Foreign manufacturers engaging in on‑site assembly or large vessel projects should establish procedures for local authority notification and ensure digital documentation systems meet China’s electronic record‑keeping standards.

3. Welding Process Control and Non‑Destructive Testing (NDT)

Welding remains a critical control point, and TSG 21-2026 introduces stricter rules for welding process qualification and NDT timing:

• Non‑standard welding methods – For welding methods not covered by NB/T 47014, manufacturers must now obtain written consent from both the design unit and the supervision inspection body before developing enterprise standards and qualifying the process. This is designed to accommodate emerging welding technologies while maintaining safety standards.
• NDT timing for reheat crack‑prone materials – For materials susceptible to reheat cracking, an additional surface NDT must be performed after heat treatment but before the hydrostatic test.
• NDT before component assembly – Welded joints that will be covered by internal or external components must undergo NDT before those components are installed. This prevents joints from becoming inaccessible for later inspection.
• Expanded “combined testing” definition – “Combined testing” now explicitly includes various UT combinations and RT or UT with surface testing, significantly improving defect detection rates for increasingly complex vessel geometries. Phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) is now standardized: full inspection requires technical level ≥ B and acceptance level Ⅰ, while partial inspection requires technical level ≥ B and acceptance level Ⅱ.

Foreign manufacturers should review their welding procedure qualification records and NDT protocols for compliance with the updated requirements, particularly for vessels using high‑strength steels or non‑standard welding methods.

4. New Materials Integration and GB/T Standards Alignment

TSG 21-2026 aligns with major updates to GB/T material standards, particularly the GB/T 713 series, which expanded material coverage from 9 to 22 steel grades. Key material updates include:

• New material grades – Q460R for mobile pressure vessels, four new low‑temperature grades (Q420DR, Q460DR, 13MnNiDR, 11MnNiMoDR), and two new nickel‑based grades (07Ni5DR and cost‑reduced 7% Ni steel 06Ni7DR) for cryogenic applications down to ‑196°C.
• High‑manganese steel – New GB/T 713.5 standard for high‑manganese steel (Q400GMDR) for low‑temperature applications down to ‑196°C.
• Quenched and tempered high‑strength steel – Four new grades (Q580R, Q580DR, Q690R, Q690DR).

Material selection and change responsibility now rests exclusively with the design unit, reinforcing upstream quality control. For non‑metallic pressure vessels, manufacturing and testing acceptance criteria must be proposed by the design unit. Foreign manufacturers should verify that their material suppliers can provide certificates demonstrating compliance with the updated GB/T 713 series standards.

5. Safety Accessories, Safety Protection Devices, and Instrumentation

The revision introduces several important changes to safety accessory management:

• Safety protection devices reintroduced – The regulation formally reinstates “safety protection devices” as a regulated category, specifically including electrostatic discharge devices and safety interlocking systems for quick‑opening pressure vessels. Pressure gauges are now reclassified as “safety protection devices” rather than safety accessories, aligning with Clause 1.5 of TSG 21-2016[reference:25].
• Expanded safety attachment scope – TSG 31-2025 (Industrial Piping Safety Technology Regulation, effective January 1, 2026) now includes emergency shut‑off valves for the first time and adds new requirements for hydrogen‑compatible safety accessories[reference:26][reference:27]. These interact with pressure vessel systems requiring harmonized certification.
• Mandatory traceability documentation – Safety accessories, safety protection devices, and instrumentation must be shipped with product quality certification documents bearing permanent markings to ensure identity and performance traceability.
• Updated medium hazard classification – Clause A1.2.3 now references GB/T 42594-2023 (the new hazard classification standard for pressure equipment media), replacing the outdated HG 20660-2000.

Foreign manufacturers must ensure all safety accessories and protection devices comply with the updated classification scheme and include the required certification and traceability documentation.

6. Installation Notification and Supervisory Inspection Changes

TSG 21-2026 significantly streamlines administrative procedures for pressure vessel installation, addressing long‑standing bottlenecks in project timelines:

• Installation notification eliminated – The requirement to submit a written notification before installation has been removed entirely.
• Supervisory inspection for repairs limited – Notifications for repairs and major alterations are required only when those repairs fall under mandatory supervisory inspection. Non‑supervised repairs no longer require written notification.

While these changes reduce administrative burden, they increase manufacturers’ accountability for self‑verification. Foreign manufacturers must establish rigorous internal procedures to compensate for reduced external oversight.

7. Practical Compliance Roadmap for Foreign Manufacturers

To navigate the updated TSG 21-2026 pressure vessel manufacturing license requirements, follow this five‑phase plan:

1. Gap analysis (Months 1-2) – Compare your existing manufacturing license application or renewal documents against TSG 21-2026, focusing on material acceptance under expanded GB/T 713 coverage, welding process qualification under NB/T 47014 updates, NDT protocol and personnel certification (PAUT, combined testing), safety accessory classification and documentation, and quality assurance system updates.
2. Material and supply chain verification (Month 3) – Ensure all steel grades and other vessel materials are listed in updated GB/T standards. Obtain updated material certificates from suppliers. For new material grades (Q460R, Q580R, etc.), pre‑qualify with your testing lab.
3. Welding and NDT process validation (Months 3-4) – Validate welding procedures for any new material. Qualify non‑standard welding methods with design unit and inspection body approval. Train NDT personnel on PAUT requirements and equipment calibration.
4. Documentation and translation (Month 4) – Update quality assurance manuals to reflect new clauses (on‑site notification, digital documentation, combined testing). Translate all documents into certified simplified Chinese, including welding procedure specifications, NDT procedures, safety accessory certifications, and quality records.
5. Application, inspection, and maintenance (Months 5-7) – Submit application via local agent to SAMR (A‑level) or provincial authority (lower levels). Host on‑site inspection including document review, production facility evaluation, and personnel qualification. After license issuance (valid 4 years), maintain records for annual supervision inspections and internal audits, and notify changes promptly[reference:32].

Summary: TSG 21-2026 represents the most significant update to China’s fixed pressure vessel safety regulation in a decade. Key changes include expanded scope for hydrogen, cryogenic, and silicon carbide vessels; stricter manufacturing management and on‑site notification requirements; updated welding and NDT protocols; integration with new GB/T 713 material standards; revised safety accessory classification and documentation rules; and streamlined installation notification procedures. Foreign manufacturers must conduct gap analyses, update material certifications, qualify welding processes, and revise quality documentation before the December 31, 2026 transition deadline. Early investment in compliance ensures uninterrupted China market access and reduced risk of license suspension or product rejection at customs.