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Guidance on the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000

Guidance

 

Guidance on the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000

 

The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 define a pressurised system as;

'A system comprising of one or more pressure vessels of rigid construction, any associated pipework and protective devices or pipework with its protective devices to which a transportable pressure receptacle is, or intended to be, connected or a pipeline and its protective devices which contains, or is liable to contain, a relevant fluid'.

 

Note: Relevant fluid is defined as:

- steam at any pressure;

- a gas at a pressure of 0.5 Bar above atmospheric pressure;

- a liquid which would have a vapour pressure greater than 0.5 Bar above atmospheric pressure when in equilibrium with the vapour at actual temperature or at 17.5 oC;

- a gas dissolved under pressure in a solvent contained in a porous substance e.g. acetylene.

 

Examples of pressure systems include boilers and steam generating equipment, process plant and piping, air compressors and piping, pressure cookers, autoclaves, pipework, gas cylinders and many other systems.

 

Requirements of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000.

To comply with these regulations the following is required:

 

  • The supplier/ installer of the pressure system should provide the School/Unit with all relevant information about the system. This information should contain the safe operating limits of the equipment;
  • The user of the equipment to produce and implement a 'Safe System of Work';
  • Pressure systems must be maintained in good working order and regularly serviced by a 'competent' engineer; The pressure systems must be deigned, constructed and installed so as to prevent danager and must contain all necessary protective devices;
  • Records must be kept of all maintenance, services, repairs and modifications to the pressure system;
  • All protective devices used to stop systems becoming pressurised or to stop systems exceeding their safe operating pressure limits should be well maintained and kept free from obstruction;
  • Statutory annual examinations (in accordance with a written scheme) of the pressure system must be performed by a 'competent' engineer if the pressure system uses steam or the pressure in the system multiplied by the internal volume exceeds 250 Bar litres.

 

Exemptions from the requirements of the regulations

There are many exemptions from these regulations for example fire extinguishers, gas fired heating systems, systems which are only pressurised during leak testing, plant or equipment required for diving (these are managed under the Diving at Work regulations 1997), equipment temporarily pressurised during a research experiment. A full list of exemptions and exceptions is given in the regulations.

 

Guidance documents

Safety of Pressure Systems, Approved Code of Practice , L122, (HSC)

 

 

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