The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released draft guidelines for Model Quality Assurance Plans (MQAPs) for major equipment in the power sector. These guidelines aim to standardize the Quality Assurance Plans (QAPs) currently being used by different manufacturers and utilities, thereby reducing costly mistakes, mitigating risk, and ensuring a uniform approach to quality control across the country.
The new guidelines are a response to a recognized need for a consistent framework that will reduce redundancies in testing, save time and money, and ultimately lower costs for end consumers. The CEA’s initiative is also a follow-up to a Ministry of Power decision to discontinue the inspection of materials and equipment at manufacturer premises.
Key Features of the Draft MQAP Guidelines
The draft guidelines provide a structured approach to quality assurance throughout the entire product lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to final commissioning. They categorize the tests performed on equipment into three broad types:
- Type Tests: Conducted on a prototype unit to validate the design and ensure it meets basic expectations.
- Routine Tests: Performed on each individual unit in a production lot to confirm its operational performance.
- Special Tests: Additional tests agreed upon by the manufacturer and purchaser to obtain information useful for the user.
The guidelines further classify these tests based on when and where they are conducted:
- Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT): Tests performed at the manufacturer’s works to verify that the equipment meets specifications before being dispatched. The FAT is meant to ensure that the equipment meets the purchaser’s order specifications and requirements.
- Site Acceptance Tests (SAT): Tests conducted at the project site during erection and commissioning to confirm that the equipment has not been damaged during transit, storage, or installation.
Purpose and Objectives
The main objectives behind publishing these MQAP guidelines are to:
- Establish a single, uniform set of guidelines for all major electro-mechanical equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and purchasers in the country.
- Optimize unnecessary and repetitive tests at different stages of the project lifecycle to save time and costs.
- Reduce the number of mandatory inspection points by identifying tests for which a test certificate will be sufficient, thereby lessening the burden on all parties.
- By specifying the validity period of type tests and reducing repetitive non-critical tests, the guidelines aim to reduce the burden on limited testing facilities, leading to a reduction in waiting times.
The draft guidelines also specify that utilities may request additional tests at their own cost, but they should refrain from making it a regular practice. The document emphasizes that manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their equipment fully conforms to all relevant specifications and standards, and that all measuring and test equipment used for inspections must be periodically calibrated as per NABL guidelines.
The CEA has requested all stakeholders to submit their comments on the draft guidelines to the Chief Engineer (PSE&TD Division) via email at ce-psetd@gov.in by September 17, 2025.