Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | SI 1996/825 |
| Year | 1996 |
1996 No. 825
HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996
Made 18th March 1996
Laid before Parliament 21th March 1996
Coming into force 11th April 1996
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 15(1), (2), (3)(a), (4)(a), (5)(b), (6)(b), 43(2) and (6), and 82(3)(a) of, and paragraphs 15(1) and 16 of Schedule 3 to, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 19741(“the 1974 Act”) and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf and for the purpose of giving effect without modifications to proposals submitted to him by the Health and Safety Commission under section 11(2)(d) of the 1974 Act after the carrying out by the said Commission of consultations in accordance with section 50(3) of that Act, hereby makes the following Regulations:
PART I
INTRODUCTION
Citation and commencement
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 and shall come into force on 11th April 1996.
Interpretation
2.—(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
“dangerous fluid” has the meaning given by regulation 18(2);
“emergency shut-down valve” means a valve which is capable of adequately blocking the flow of fluid within the pipeline at the point at which it is incorporated;
“the Executive” means the Health and Safety Executive;
“fluid” includes a mixture of fluids;
“local authority” means—
(a) in relation to England, a county council, a council having the functions of a county council, the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority, a metropolitan county fire and civil defence authority, or the Council for the Isles of Scilly;
(b) in relation to Scotland, the council for a local government area; and
(c) in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council;
“major accident” means death or serious injury involving a dangerous fluid;
“major accident hazard pipeline” has the meaning given by regulation 18(1);
“operator”, in relation to a pipeline means—
(a) the person who is to have or (once fluid is conveyed) has control over the conveyance of fluid in the pipeline;
(b) until that person is known (should there be a case where at a material time he is not yet known) the person who is to commission or (where commissioning has started) commissions the design and construction of the pipeline;
(c) when a pipeline is no longer, or is not for the time being used, the person last having control over the conveyance of fluid in it;
“pipeline” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 3.
(2) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in these Regulations to—
(a)
(a) a numbered regulation or Schedule is a reference to the regulation or Schedule in these Regulations so numbered; and
(b)
(b) a numbered paragraph is reference to the paragraph so numbered in the regulation or Schedule in which the reference appears.
Meaning of “pipeline”
3.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, in these Regulations “pipeline” means a pipe or system of pipes (together with any apparatus and works, of a kind described in paragraph (2), associated with it) for the conveyance of any fluid, not being—
(a)
(a) a drain or sewer;
(b)
(b) a pipe or system of pipes constituting or comprised in apparatus for heating or cooling or for domestic purposes;
(c)
(c) a pipe (not being apparatus described in paragraph (2)(e)) which is used in the control or monitoring of any plant.
(2) The apparatus and works referred to in paragraph (1) are—
(a)
(a) any apparatus for inducing or facilitating the flow of any fluid through, or through a part of, the pipe or system;
(b)
(b) any apparatus for treating or cooling any fluid which is to flow through, or through part of, the pipe or system;
(c)
(c) valves, valve chambers and similar works which are annexed to, or incorporated in the course of, the pipe or system;
(d)
(d) apparatus for supplying energy for the operation of any such apparatus or works as are mentioned in the preceding sub-paragraphs;
(e)
(e) apparatus for the transmission of information for the operation of the pipe or system;
(f)
(f) apparatus for the cathodic protection of the pipe or system; and
(g)
(g) a structure used or to be used solely for the support of a part of the pipe or system.
(3) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph (2) a valve, valve chamber or similar work shall be deemed to be annexed to, or incorporated in the course of, a pipe or system where it connects the pipe or system to plant, an offshore installation, or a well.
(4) A pipeline for supplying gas to premises shall be deemed not to include anything downstream of an emergency control.
(5) In this regulation—
“emergency control” means a valve for shutting off the supply of gas in an emergency, being a valve intended for use by a consumer of gas;
“gas” has the same meaning as it has in Part I of the Gas Act 19862.
Application
4.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), these Regulations shall apply—
(a)
(a) in Great Britain; and
(b)
(b) to and in relation to pipelines and activities outside Great Britain to which sections 1 to 59 and 80 to 82 of the 1974 Act apply by virtue of article 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 19953.
(2) These Regulations shall not apply to any pipeline or part of a pipeline of a kind which is described in Schedule 1.
(3) In the case of a pipeline to which the Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations 19894apply, nothing in these Regulations shall require the taking of any measures to the extent that they are for the prevention of danger within the meaning of those Regulations.
PART II
GENERAL
Design of a pipeline
5. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless it has been so designed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it can withstand—
(a) forces arising from its operation;
(b) the fluids that may be conveyed in it; and
(c) the external forces and the chemical processes to which it may be subjected.
Safety systems
6. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless it has been provided with such safety systems as are necessary for securing that, so far as is reasonably practicable, persons are protected from risk to their health or safety.
Access for examination and maintenance
7. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless it has been so designed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it may be examined and work of maintenance may be carried out safely.
Materials
8. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless it is composed of materials which are suitable.
Construction and installation
9. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline (save for the purpose of testing it) unless it has been so constructed and installed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is sound and fit for the purpose for which it has been designed.
Work on a pipeline
10. The operator shall ensure that modification, maintenance or other work on a pipeline is carried out in such a way that its soundness and fitness for the purpose for which it has been designed will not be prejudiced.
Operation of a pipeline
11. The operator shall ensure that—
(a) no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless the safe operating limits of the pipeline have been established; and
(b) a pipeline is not operated beyond its safe operating limits,
save for the purpose of testing it.
Arrangements for incidents and emergencies
12. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline unless adequate arrangements have been made for dealing with—
(a) an accidental loss of fluid from;
(b) discovery of a defect in or damage to; or
(c) other emergency affecting,
the pipeline.
Maintenance
13. The operator shall ensure that a pipeline is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
Decommissioning
14.—(1) The operator shall ensure that a pipeline which has ceased to be used for the conveyance of any fluid is left in a safe condition.
(2) The operator of a pipeline shall ensure that work done in discharge of the duty contained in paragraph (1) is performed safely.
Damage to pipeline
15. No person shall cause such damage to a pipeline as may give rise to a danger to persons.
Prevention of damage to pipelines
16. For the purpose of ensuring that no damage is caused to a pipeline, the operator shall take such steps to inform persons of its existence and whereabouts as are reasonable.
Co-operation
17. Where there are different operators for different parts of a pipeline, each operator shall co-operate with the other so far as is necessary to enable the operators to comply with the requirements of these Regulations.
PART III
MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARD PIPELINES
Dangerous fluids
18.—(1) The provisions contained in regulations 19 to 27 shall apply in relation to a pipeline in which a dangerous fluid is being, or is to be conveyed (in these Regulations referred to as a “major accident hazard pipeline”).
(2) For the purpose of these Regulations a fluid is a dangerous fluid if it falls within a description in Schedule 2.
Emergency shut-down valves
19.—(1) The operator of a major accident hazard pipeline which—
(a)
(a) is connected to an offshore installation; and
(b)
(b) has an internal diameter of 40 millimetres or more,
shall ensure that the requirements contained in Schedule 3 are complied with in relation to the...
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