Changes to the inspection of diving cylinders

HSE Press Release:E174:04 - 21 December 2004

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is advising owners of diving cylinders to note that from 1 July 2006 the regulations covering the periodic inspection and testing of their cylinders will change. In the future, persons conducting cylinder inspections in the UK will be subject to a third party conformity assessment.

One possible option for people wishing to carry out inspections would be direct assessment by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to ensure their competency. Those who are successfully assessed will then be formally appointed by HSE.

However, the costs of direct conformity assessment and appointment by UKAS could be fairly significant for small businesses; in particular, for those companies currently inspecting and testing cylinders for the recreational market.

The issue of the new requirements placing an increased financial burden on small businesses was recognised some time ago by the Scuba Industries Trade Association (SITA) and the Inspectorate for Diving Equipment Servicing and Testing (IDEST) when the draft directive requiring appointed ‘inspection bodies’ was circulated. As a result, SITA/IDEST have discussed with HSE ways in which their organisations could be included in the new scheme and an alternative option for conformity assessment has been agreed and is being developed. When it is finalised the current HSE guidance will be updated.

Notes to editors

1. The guidelines for appointing diving cylinder conformity assessment bodies, which are required under the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004, were issued in July 2004. The regulations, which came into force on 10 May 2004, implemented EC Directives 2003/28/EC, 2003/29/EC and completed the implementation of Directive 1999/36/EC. They are designed to radically simplify the regulatory framework covering the carriage of dangerous goods by bringing together, in a single set of regulations, requirements previously set out in 14 separate pieces of legislation.

2. The current guidance covering the inspection of diving cylinders: Guidelines for the Appointment of Conformity Assessment Bodies Required by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004.

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