Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 1991

JurisdictionUK Non-devolved
(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 1991.(2) These Regulations shall come into force on 31st December 1991.the components and assemblies contributing to the strength of the vessel under pressure are made either of non-alloy quality steel, or of non-alloy aluminium, or of non-age hardening aluminium alloy;of a cylindrical component with circular cross-section, closed at each end, each end being either outwardly dished or flat and being also co-axial with the cylindrical component; orof two co-axial outwardly dished ends;the maximum working pressure (PS) is not more than 30 bar, and PS . V (being the product of PS and the vessel’s capacity expressed in litres) is not more than 10,000 bar . litres;the minimum working temperature is not lower than minus 50° C, and the maximum working temperaure is not higher than–
  • 300° C in the case of steel vessels; and
  • 100° C in the case of aluminium or aluminium alloy vessels,
and in this paragraph–“maximum working pressure” means the maximum gauge pressure which may be exerted under normal conditions of use;“minimum working temperature” means the lowest stabilised temperature in the wall of the vessel under normal conditions of use; and“maximum working temperature” means the highest stabilised tempera ture in the wall of the vessel under normal conditions of use.(2) The categories of vessels relevant for the purposes of these Regulations are–
  • Category A – vessels whose PS . V is more than 50 bar . litres, this category being subdivided into–
    • Category A.1 – vessels whose PS . V is more than 3,000 bar . litres;
    • Category A.2 – vessels whose PS . V is more than 200 but not more than 3,000 bar . litres; and
    • Category A.3 – vessels whose PS . V is more than 50 but not more than 200 bar . litres;
  • Category B – vessels whose PS . V is 50 bar . litres or less.
(3) In these Regulations–
  • “the Community” means the European Economic Community;
  • “the Commission” means the Commission of the European Communities;
  • “the Directive” means Council Directive 87/404/EEC on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to simple pressure vessels, as amended by Council Directive 90/488/EEC;
  • “EC mark” means the EC mark of conformity consisting of the symbol “CE” of which a form is shown for the purpose of illustration in Schedule 2;
  • “enforcement authority” has the meaning given by paragraph 9 of Schedule 5;
  • “manufacturer’s instructions” means instructions–
    • (a) issued by or on behalf of the manufacturer; and
    • (b) complying with the requirements of regulation 4(5) below;
  • “property” includes domestic animals;
  • “relevant assembly” means any assembly incorporating a vessel;
  • “safe” has the meaning given by regulation 4(4) below;
  • “safety clearance” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 4(2) below; and
  • “supply” is to be read in accordance with section 46 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987
  • , and includes offering or agreeing to supply, and exposing or possessing for supply, and “supplied” and “supplier” have the corresponding meanings.
(4) There is series manufacture within the meaning of these Regulations if more than one vessel of the same type is manufactured during a given period by the same continuous manufacturing processes, in accordance with a common design.(5) Where these Regulations refer to a relevant national standard, the reference is to a standard of which a member State has, in compliance with Article 5.1 of the Directive, published the reference number.(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this regulation, and regulation 6 below, these Regulations apply only to vessels manufactured in series.vessels designed specifically for nuclear use, where vessel failure might or would result in an emission of radioactivity;vessels intended specifically for installation in, or for use as part of the propulsive system of, a ship or aircraft; orfire-extinguishers,it meets the essential safety requirements specified in Schedule 1;it has safety clearance;it bears the EC mark accompanied by the other inscriptions specified in Schedule 2, such mark and such other inscriptions being properly affixed in accordance with that Schedule;in the case of a vessel or relevant assembly supplied in the United Kingdom, it is accompanied by the manufacturer’s instructions;being the manufacturer of a vessel, himself takes that vessel or a relevant assembly incorporating that vessel into service; orhaving imported a vessel or relevant assembly into the United Kingdom, himself takes that vessel or a relevant assembly incorporating that vessel or the first mentioned relevant assembly into service,(2) A vessel has safety clearance if an approved body has issued in respect of it an EC verification certificate or an EC certificate of conformity pursuant to the procedures described in regulations 9 to 13 below, and in these Regulations, “safety clearance” shall be construed accordingly.it is manufactured in accordance with engineering practice recognised as sound in a member State;it bears the inscriptions, other than the EC mark, specified in Schedule 2, such inscriptions being properly affixed in accordance with that Schedule; andit is in fact safe.(4) “Safe”, in relation to a vessel, means that, when the vessel is properly installed and maintained and used for the purposes for which it is intended, there is no risk (apart from one reduced to a minimum) of its being the cause or occasion of death or injury to persons, or damage to property.the manufacturer’s name or mark;vessel type, batch identification or other particulars identifying the vessel to which the instructions relate;particulars of maximum working pressure expressed in bar, maximum and minimum working temperatures expressed in ° C, and capacity of the vessel expressed in litres;the intended use of the vessel; andmaintenance and installation requirements for vessel safety.

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT