BPVN,
There is no specified accuracy required for those pressure gauges except your own specification, calling for a recognized gauge manufacturer. For a range not larger than double of the test pressure, the accuracy of those gauges are deemed acceptable. I wonder if any AI or even insurance companies would have a specification or the like on these requirements.
The ambiguous issue is the interpretation of the "calibration" and re-calibration intervals. Would you trust the recommended 12 month recalibration time on a Chinese gauge, risking to blow up your vessel? Would you recalibrate every three months all the 24 gauges in your inventory, just in case one is out of calibration? Is it acceptable to use a gauge unchecked for 12 months, assuming acceptable accuracy without any appropriate test? Would the AI accept the gauge's log book, to prove the re-calibration done 11 months and 25 days ago? What are the legal ramifications of a bad gauge, having a good logbook, but no test since re-calibration?
Any other comments?
cheers,
gr2vessels