The Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (on legislation.gov.uk) cover pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum allowable pressure (PS) above 0.5 bar. They apply to the design, manufacture and conformity assessment of this equipment.
These regulations do not apply to:
- specific pressure equipment and assemblies listed in Schedule 1 of the regulations (on legislation.gov.uk)
- pressure equipment and assemblies placed on the market before 8 December 2016
- pressure equipment or assemblies placed on the market on or before 29 May 2002 if they comply with the safety provisions in force in the UK on 29 November 1999
- the assembly of pressure equipment on the site of and under the responsibility of a user who is not the manufacturer, Pressure Systems Safety Regulations apply in these cases.
Definition of pressure equipment
Pressure equipment means vessels, piping, safety accessories and pressure accessories. Where applicable, this includes elements attached to pressurised parts such as flanges, nozzles, couplings, supports and lifting lugs.
Vessel
Vessels are housings designed and built to contain fluids under pressure. This includes its direct attachments up to the coupling point connecting it to other equipment. A vessel may be composed of more than one chamber.
Piping
Piping is components intended for the transport of fluids when connected together for integration into a pressure system. This includes a pipe or system of pipes, tubing, fittings, expansion joints, hoses, or other pressure-bearing components as appropriate. Heat exchangers consisting of pipes for the purpose of cooling or heating air are considered as piping.
Safety accessories
Safety accessories are devices designed to protect pressure equipment against the allowable limits being exceeded. These include devices for direct pressure limitation, such as safety valves and bursting discs, and limiting devices which either activate the means for correction or provide for shutdown or shutdown and lock out, such as pressure switches or temperature switches.
Pressure accessories
Pressure accessories are devices with an operational function and having pressure-bearing housings.
Assembly
Assembly means several pieces of pressure equipment assembled by a manufacturer to constitute an integrated and functional whole.
Essential safety requirements
Schedule 2 of the regulations (on legislation.gov.uk) details the essential safety requirements that qualifying equipment must satisfy. The regulations also describe how the different products are classified, the technical requirements that must be satisfied, and the conformity assessment procedures that must be followed.
Conformity assessment
What conformity assessment procedure is appropriate depends on the classification of the pressure equipment or assembly. The relevant conformity assessment procedure can either be self-declaration or require the involvement of a third-party Conformity Assessment Body. It is the responsibility of the manufacture to perform the correct one before placing the product on the market.
New pressure equipment and assemblies placed on the market in Great Britian (England, Scotland and Wales) must be UKCA marked, or CE marked and supplied with instructions in English.
Enforcement
HSE is responsible for enforcing Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations in the workplace. Local authorities are responsible where the equipment or assemblies are for private use or consumption.