BCAS 2018

www.bcas.org.uk 41 PSSR Pressure on The British Compressed Air Society outlines answers to its most commonly asked questions. Two questions came instantly to mind; the first regards compliance with the Pressure System Safety Regulations (PSSR) and the second deals with the responsibilities of a competent examiner if he or she discovers a situation that could give rise to imminent danger. S o first let’s deal with a question which is very much at the top of the list from both BCAS members and non- members alike: Q. What do I need to do to comply with the Pressure System Safety Regulations (PSSR)? Anyone asking this question is obviously aware of the PSSR and recognises the need to be compliant, albeit they need some guidance. Of more concern are the reports we receive regarding compressed air systems being operated without consideration to the PSSR. To put it quite simply, and forcibly, this is illegal. If pressure equipment fails in use, it can seriously injure or kill people and cause serious damage to property. Each year in Great Britain, there are about 150 dangerous occurrences of which around six result in a fatal or serious injury. The regulations have the status of a statutory instrument (SI 128) and therefore are the law; non-compliance is a criminal (not civil) offence. It means that BCAS continues to beat the PSSR drum and endeavours to explain the PSSR, how it affects you as the owner/user and what you have to do to comply. But let’s start at the beginning; the PSSR came into force as a UK Statutory Instrument on 21st February 2001 and applies to any compressed air system operating at a pressure of greater than 0.5 bar. If the pressure/volume relationship is less than 250 bar/litres, then the following regulations will apply: ● Regulation 7 - Safe operating limits ● Regulation 11 – Operation ● Regulation 12 – Maintenance ● Regulation 15 - Precautions to prevent pressurisation of certain vessels (user only) If the pressure/volume relationship is greater than 250 bar/litres, then the following additional regulations will also apply: ● Regulation 8 - Written scheme of examination (WSE) ● Regulation 9 - Examination in accordance with the written scheme ● Regulation 10 - Action in case of imminent danger ● Regulation 11 – Operation ● Regulation 12 – Maintenance ● Regulation 14 - Keeping of records etc. It is Regulation 8 about the Written Scheme of Examination (WSE) that generates the most interest and unfortunately confusion, so it is worth exploring it in greater depth. Competent person The PSSR stipulates that a ‘competent person’ must certify the WSE, albeit any suitably competent and experienced engineer can draw up the content. In this respect the guidance for a competent person is that they should be qualified to at least Chartered or Incorporated Engineer, with practical and theoretical knowledge and actual experience of the relevant systems. They must also have access to specialist services, effective support and professional expertise within their organisation and proper standards of professional probity. It should be noted that these qualification criteria are for guidance only; if an appropriately experienced engineer meets the requirements then there is nothing in the legislation to prevent this person from carrying out the duties of a competent person. You must be aware however that enforcement agencies and/or the courts could test this suitability if any legal action is taken. A competent person must also carry out the WSE (Regulation 9). They should have sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and actual experience of the type of system under examination to identify defects or weaknesses and assess their significance in terms of the