Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016
The Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 came into force on the 8 December 2016 and have subsequently been amended by Schedule 24 of The Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
These Regulations cover pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum allowable pressure PS above 0.5 bar.
HSE is responsible for enforcing the PE(S)R in the case of pressure equipment and assemblies being used in the workplace, and local authorities would be responsible where the equipment or assemblies are for private use or consumption.
The regulations apply to design, manufacture and conformity assessment of pressure equipment and assemblies of pressure equipment with a maximum allowable pressure above 0.5 bar.
Conformity assessment is carried out by Conformity Assessment Bodies (also known as Approved Bodies). There is a list of Conformity Assessment Bodies accredited under PE(S)R on the GOV.UK website.
The regulations do not apply to:
- excluded pressure equipment and assemblies (specified in Schedule 1 to PE(S)R)
- 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.
Definitions
- Pressure equipment - vessels, piping, safety accessories and pressure accessories. Where applicable, this includes elements attached to pressurised parts such as flanges, nozzles, couplings, supports, lifting lugs etc
- Vessel - a housing 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 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 - devices designed to protect pressure equipment against the allowable limits being exceeded. Such devices include devices for direct pressure limitation, such as safety valves and bursting discs etc, 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 etc
- Pressure accessories - devices with an operational function and having pressure-bearing housings
- Assembly - several pieces of pressure equipment assembled by a manufacturer to constitute an integrated and functional whole
Schedule 2 of PE(S)R details the essential safety requirements (ESR) that qualifying vessels must satisfy. Additionally, there are details of how the different products are classified, the technical requirements that must be satisfied, and the conformity assessment procedures that must be followed.
The Office for Product Safety & Standards have produced guidance on the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulations 2016 on GOV.UK.
Note: The Regulations do not apply to the assembly of pressure equipment on the site and under the responsibility of the user, as in the case of industrial installations. In such cases, the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, which contain 'in use' provisions, will apply.
Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 on legislation.gov.uk.