Pressure regulations: what are they and why do you need to know?
What are the pressure regulations?
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) defines the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) as covering the safe design and use of pressure systems. The aim of PSSR is to prevent serious injury from the hazard of stored energy (pressure) as a result of the failure of a pressure system or one of its component parts. Maziak provide the service to ensure your pressure system is fully compliant with this regulation.
What is a written scheme of examination (wse)?
A WSE is a legal document that contains information about selected items of plant or equipment which form a pressure system, operate under pressure and contain a ‘relevant fluid’. The WSE is required prior to the use of the Pressure System. This is legislated by the UK Pressure System Safety Regulations (PSSR) regulation 8.1. It specifies items for examination, frequency for examination and who can complete the examination.
As quoted by the HSE “The user of an installed system and owner of a mobile system shall not operate the system or allow it to be operated unless it has a WSE for the periodic examination, by a competent person.”
Items for examination
A WSE specifies items for examination and their frequency. The scheme also specifies how the items are to be examined and any safety measures that may be required in this process. This will include items such as: pressure vessels over 250 bar/litre capacity, safety valves, pressure switches, over temperature switches, gauges and pipework. All defects will be reported and rectified.
Frequency for examination
The WSE must remain relevant to the Pressure System it relates to, and therefore requires periodic inspections. Frequency of these may vary depending on the “competent person” Risk Assessments.
Competent examiner
The examiner or competent person must carry out careful and critical scrutiny of the pressure system to establish the “Safe Operating Limits” and therefore its safety. The examiner will report after examinations the actual condition of the system and, most critically, its safety components and settings.
They may then recommend changes be made to either the system operating limits or the frequency of examinations. Competency is defined by the HSE as ‘the combination of relevant training, skills, experience and knowledge that a person has and their ability to apply them’.
Consequences for non-compliance
WSE and Pressure System inspections are a legal requirement under Health and Safety law and non-compliance would expose the owner to potential fines and prosecution by the HSE. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure the safety of machinery in use and its operators. Periodic examination is vital to avoid potential workplace accidents which can even be deadly.
As a competent examiner, Maziak is qualified to complete your pressure system’s Written Scheme and legal inspections. We are committed to BCAS best practice and can maintain your pressure system for maximum efficiency, optimal uptime and HSE compliance.
Maziak are qualified to provide all the services required by the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations:
- Written scheme survey and document preparation
- Schematic drawings
- Statutory pressure vessel inspection and certification
- Pressure vessel testing and certification
- Safety device testing and calibration
- Gauge testing and calibration
For peace of mind and compliance call Maziak now on 01933 222000 or email at enquiries@maziak.co.uk for more information.
For more information, please call 01933 222000 or email us at enquiries@maziak.co.uk
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