ATP/FRC Certification: 20 Most Important Questions [2022]

ATP FRC certification comes from the ATP agreement and actually FRC is one of 34 ATP certification classes in the ATP agreement.

It is very important for reefer trucks to comply with ATP certification (FRC / FNA certificate, etc.) requirements because it is mandatory in international transportation. A reefer truck without ATP certification may cause various penalties.

You can prevent possible bad consequences by getting brief information about ATP FRC certificate.

Below you can find the answers to the frequently asked questions about ATP FRC certification.

ATP FRC Certification [Q&A]

1. What is the ATP Agreement?

“Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be used for such Carriage (ATP).” You can get detailed information about the agreement in this blog post

2. What is ATP Stands for?

“ATP” is derived from the French name of the treaty: Accord relatif aux transports internationaux de denrées périssables et aux engins spéciaux à utiliser pour ces transports.

3. Which Countries are Party to the ATP Agreement?

The Contracting Parties are Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uzbekistan.

4. What are Perishable Foodstuffs?

ATP agreement states;

raw milk, red meat and large game (other than red offal), meat products, pasteurized milk, butter, fresh dairy products (yogurt, kefir, cream and fresh cheese), ready-cooked foodstuffs (meat, fish, vegetables), ready to eat prepared raw vegetable and vegetable products, concentrated fruit juice and fish products, game (other than large game), poultry and rabbits, red offal, minced meat, untreated fish, molluscs, crustaceans.

5. Does ATP Agreement Include Fresh Fruit and Vegetables?

ATP agreement does not include fresh fruit and vegetable transportation rules yet.

6. What is Insulated Equipment (Vehicle)?

Equipment of which the body is built with rigid (rigid in this case refers ton on-flexible continuous or non-continuous surfaces, for example, full solid walls or roller shutter doors) insulating walls, doors, floor and roof, by which heat exchanges between the inside and outside of the body can be so limited that the overall coefficient of heat transfer (K coefficient) is such that the equipment is assignable to one or other of the following two categories:

Normally insulated equipment (IN) and Heavily insulated equipment (IR).

Wagons, lorries, trailers, semi-trailers, containers, and other similar equipments are the special equipments which are specified in the agreement title.

7. What is ATP Certificate?

If you want to transport perishable foodstuffs included in the agreement between the countries that are parties to the ATP agreement, you have to obtain the ATP certificate.

8. What is FRC?

FRC is one of the 34 ATP certification classes included in the ATP agreement. F means mechanically refrigerated equipment, R means heavily insulated equipment, C means temperature condition.

Another example of this certification class sign is FNA. F means mechanically refrigerated equipment, N means normally insulated equipment, A means temperature condition.

9. What are the Certicification Classes in the ATP Agreement?

The certification classes are mentioned as distinguishing marks in the ATP agreement. The certification class depends on the type of equipment, type of cooling/heating method, and temperature condition of the inside of the body.

IN, IR, RNA, RRA, RRB, RRC, RND, RRD, FNA, FRA, FRB, FRC, FND, FRD, FRE, FRF, CNA, CRA, CRB, CRC, CRD, BNA, BRA, BRB, BRC, BRD, BRE, BRF, BRG, BRH, BRI, BRJ, BRK, BRL are the distinguishing marks that are specified in the agreement.

10. What is Normally Insulated and Heavily Insulated Equipment (Vehicle)?

If the overall heat transfer coefficient (K value) of the insulated equipment is smaller or equal to 0.4 W/m2.K, it is designated as heavily insulated equipment. If K value is equal or smaller than 0.7 W/m2.K, it is designated as normally insulated.

11. What is the Difference Between Normally and Heavily Insulated Equipment?

For the ATP agreement, frozen foodstuffs (below zero Celsius) should be transported by using heavily insulated equipment. Normally insulated equipment is used for chilled product transportation.

12. What are the Types of Equipment?

In the ATP agreement, equipment is classified according to the cooling/heating method. Insulated, refrigerated, mechanically refrigerated, heated, mechanically refrigerated and heated, multi-temperature is the type of equipment.

13. How is the K-value Coefficient Calculated?

The K-value of insulated equipment (vehicle) is calculated in an authorized laboratory. The heat transfer coefficient is calculated by using the energy consumption of electrical heaters, the geometric mean of inside and outside of the insulated equipment, and temperature difference inside and outside of the insulated equipment.

14. Where can I Find an Authorized Laboratory for Type Testing?

Authorized type testing laboratories are listed on the UNECE web site. You can reach the list from here.

16. Are There Any Other Criteria for the ATP Certification?

A data logger complies with EN 12830 standard is also needed for ATP certification. The data logger needs to be verified annually.

17. How Long does an ATP Certificate Last For?

The first certificate lasts for six years but can be renewed for a further three years after the re-certification test is carried out in the service.

18. What are the Tests Performed in ATP Certificate Renewal?

Firstly visual tests performed on the insulated equipment. There should not be any cracks or defects on the insulation protection panel.

After visual inspection, a temperature test in accordance with the class of the equipment is performed on the insulated equipment. The data logger is used to calculate the time required for the vehicle to reach its class temperature at the test.

19. How can I Find an Authorized Periodical Inspection/Testing Station for ATP Certificate Renewal?

Authorized Periodical Inspection/Testing Stations are listed on the UNECE web site. You can reach the list from here.

20. My Vehicle Does Not Have a Certificate How Do I Get an ATP Certificate?

If the vehicle does not have an ATP certificate before, an ATP certificate can be obtained with the ATP type test report and the manufacturer’s declaration issued to the vehicle from the vehicle manufacturer. (in case of serially production insulated equipment manufactured by an authorized manufacturer)

ilyas EMER