DIESEL SHUNTER PRESSURE VESSEL CERTIICATION

Are the pressure vessels on diesel shunters subject to periodic exam/testing/certification? BSEN 286 3 is vague?
If so, what is the criteria?

 

When I owned D2298 back in '82 I certainly had to have the receivers tested and insured, by the same inspector who did the steam boilers.

 

Grey Area.

Clause 3 of Schedule 1 of the Pressure Systems Regulations 2000 exempts 'A pressure system which forms part of any braking, control or suspension system of a wheeled, tracked or rail mounted vehicle.' However, I have heard arguments to the fact that the air system is used for the whistle/horn and sanders and thus need to comply with the Regs. You can also argue that whistle and sanders are part of the control system. I don't think that there is a test case to prove or disprove these facts so it is opinion. However, if you had an incident, you would be falling foul of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations as it wouldn't be suitably maintained and inspected if you didn't have your own regime in place. I did this for a while but eventually decided it was easier to get my Boiler Inspector to look at them. Traditionally, air receivers were inspected at 26 month intervals but our Inspector is happy to do them at 36 months because of what they are and what they do. In most cases, it's not a difficult task and our Inspector can easily do all of ours in a day with plenty of time for cups of tea between receivers.

PS, if you haven't got a copy of the Rgs, you should have. These can be downloaded at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/128/contents/made

 

As Steve says above, this is indeed a grey area much discussed on PD.

You might care to look at

http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/pdf3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3279&hilit=air+tanks

and

http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/pdf3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3520&hilit=pressure+vessel

Hope this helps
2+2=5 aka Skeggycat.

 

Right, i've just read the best part of these and my best suggestion is to ignore them as it will only serve to confuse! The confusion with what BR and their successors do is historical. The Factories act required an initial hydraulic test and then an examination by a Boiler inspector at 26 month intervals. however, as i've said on another thread about boilers, the railways were outside the Factories Act and developed their own standards, usually requiring an exam at 10 years. then the Pressure Systems regs came along and these brought these anomalies under one piece of legislation. This required pressure systems (inc air) to require a written scheme. Anyone can draw up a written scheme but it must be approved by a Competent Person (aka Boiler Inspector). It's usually easier for the Competent Person to draw up the scheme and, unless it's complex, they don't usually charge for it. The written scheme lays down the requirements for examination of the system and what has to be examined. Competent Persons/Insurance Co's are more used to the old Factories Act legislation and tend to go for the 26 months although they are broadening their approach with experience.

As I said in my first post, diesel loco compressed air systems are arguably exempt under schedule 1 of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations but the catchall of H & S legislation means that you have to have an inspection and maintenance regime in force. In this case, the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regs (PUWER) requires that:' Every employer shall ensure that work equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is inspected—

(a)at suitable intervals...........'

So, basically, you need to examine them. Whether you do the yourself or get a Boiler inspector to do it depends on your interpretation of the law. As i said earlier, it's easier to get it done by the Boiler Inspector.

Skeggycat: I'm afraid your contention that they are exempt under the Simple Pressure Regulations is wrong. Both this legislation and the Pressure Equipment Regulations are made under the European Pressure Equipment Directive, which is a European Single Market directive aimed at enabling free trade throughout Europe and relates to the supply of new equipment. The relevant legislation is the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) or PUWER, made under the H&SAW Act and which deal with operation and use.

If you aren't examining your air receivers to a maintenance scheme, you should be. Full stop.

 

Steve wrote

That clears that up then.

and

Indeed they are examined and rigourously tested and insured.

Question.
How do you account for the hundreds of un-examined/tested air tanks that pass my legs every day affixed to lorries and buses?

 

One of the reasons they are exempt! Still a requirement for them to be inspected under PUWER, though. When I worked in the mining industry, vehicles on the road didn't have to be examined but those working entirely at the mine had to be examined every 26 months as they came under the Mines & Quarries Act. Tyres are even more lethal!

My reference to 'If you aren't examining your air receivers.......' was to a general 'you' and not to you specifically. Reading all the posts, there are obviously a good number of diesel locos out there that aren't being examined.