Pipelines Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Regulation 4(2)

SCHEDULE 1 Pipelines to which these Regulations do not apply

1.  A pipeline for the conveyance of air, water vapour or steam.

2.  A pipeline for the conveyance of water, other than for the purpose of injecting water into an underwater well or reservoir containing mineral resources.

3.  A pipeline contained wholly within the premises occupied by a single undertaking.

4.  A pipeline contained wholly within a caravan site.

5.  In this Schedule “caravan” and “caravan site” have the same meaning as they have in the Caravans Act (Northern Ireland) 1963(1).

Regulation 18(2) and 27(3)

SCHEDULE 2 Descriptions of dangerous fluids

1.  A fluid which—

(a) is flammable in air;

(b) has a boiling point below 5°C, at 1 bar absolute; and

(c) is, or is to be, conveyed in the pipeline as a liquid.

2.  A fluid which is flammable in air and is, or is to be, conveyed in the pipeline as a gas at above 8 bar absolute.

3.  A liquid which has a vapour pressure greater than 1.5 bar absolute when in equilibrium with its vapour at either the actual temperature of the liquid or at 20°C.

4.  A toxic or very toxic fluid which—

(a) is a gas at 20°C and 1 bar absolute; and

(b) is, or is to be, conveyed as a liquid or a gas.

5.  A toxic fluid which—

(a) at 20°C has a saturated vapour pressure greater than 0.4 bar; and

(b) is, or is to be, conveyed in the pipeline as a liquid.

6.  Acrylonitrile.

7.  A very toxic fluid which—

(a) at 20°C has a saturated vapour pressure greater than 0.001 bar; or

(b) is, or is to be, conveyed in the pipeline as a liquid at a pressure greater than 4.5 bar absolute.

8.  An oxidising fluid which is, or is to be, conveyed as a liquid.

9.  A fluid which reacts violently with water.

10.  For the purposes of this Schedule—

(a) a liquid is oxidising; and

(b) a fluid is toxic or very toxic, or reacts violently with water,

if it has been, or is liable to be classified, pursuant to regulation 5 of the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(2), as the case may be, oxidising, toxic, very toxic or as reacting violently with water.

Regulation 19(1) and (2)

SCHEDULE 3 Requirements for emergency shut-down valves on certain major accident hazard pipelines connected to offshore installations

1.  An emergency shut-down valve shall be incorporated in the riser of a pipeline—

(a) in a position in which it can be safely inspected, maintained and tested; and

(b) so far as this is consistent with sub-paragraph (a), as far down the riser as is reasonably practicable;

and such valve shall comply with paragraphs 2 to 8.

2.  An emergency shut-down valve shall be held open by an electrical, hydraulic or other signal to the mechanism for actuating the valve on the failure of which signal the valve shall automatically close.

3.  An emergency shut-down valve shall also be capable of being closed—

(a) by a person positioned by it; and

(b) automatically by the operation of the emergency shut-down system of the offshore installation to which the pipeline is connected,

or, while relevant work of examination or maintenance is being carried out, by one of those means.

4.  If the pipeline is designed to allow for the passage of equipment for inspecting, maintaining or testing the pipeline, the emergency shut-down valve shall also be designed to allow for such passage.

5.  An emergency shut-down valve and its actuating mechanism shall so far as is reasonably practicable be protected from damage arising from fire, explosion or impact.

6.  An emergency shut-down valve shall be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

7.  After an emergency shut-down valve has operated so as to block the flow of fluid within the pipeline it shall not be re-opened so as to permit the flow of fluid until steps have been taken to ensure that it is safe to do so.

8.  In this Schedule “emergency shut-down system” means the system comprising mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic or other arrangements by which the plant on an offshore installation is automatically shut down in the event of an emergency.

Regulations 20

SCHEDULE 4 and 27(1) and (2)Particulars to be included in notification relating to construction of a major accident hazard pipeline

1.  The name and address of the operator of the pipeline.

2.  The proposed route of the pipeline in the form of maps or drawings.

3.  The proposed route of the riser on any offshore installation in the form of drawings.

4.  The length, diameter and wall thickness of the pipeline.

5.  The materials to be used in the construction of the pipeline.

6.  The fluid to be conveyed and such of its properties as are relevant to health and safety.

7.  The safe operating limits of the pipeline.

8.  The intended temperature, pressure, and maximum rate of flow of the fluid to be conveyed.

Regulation 22(2) and (3)

SCHEDULE 5 Particulars to be notified before certain events relating to major accident hazard pipelines

1.  In relation to a change to the route or position of a pipeline, particulars in the form of maps or drawings of the new route or position.

2.  In relation to a change to the safe operating limits of a pipeline, particulars of such change.

3.  In relation to the start of major modification or major remedial work to a pipeline, particulars of such work.

4.  In relation to the conveyance of a new fluid, particulars of—

(a) such of its properties as are relevant to the health or safety of persons; and

(b) the intended or (if, in a case to which regulation 22(3) applies, conveyance has started) actual temperature, pressure and maximum rate of flow of the fluid in the pipeline.

5.  In relation to the start of decommissioning or dismantlement of a pipeline, particulars of the steps to be taken or (if, in a case to which regulation 22(3) applies, decommissioning or dismantlement has started) taken in connection with such decommissioning or dismantlement.

Regulation 31

SCHEDULE 6 Revocation and modification of statutory provisions

Part I Revocation of statutory provisions

1	2	3
Title	Reference	Extent of revocation
The Submarine Pipe-lines Safety Regulations 1982	S.I. 1982/1513	The whole Regulations except regulations 1(1) and 11.
The Submarine Pipe-lines Safety (Amendment) Regulations 1986	S.I. 1986/1985	The whole Regulations.
The Offshore Installations (Emergency Pipe-line Valve) Regulations 1989	S.I. 1989/1029	The whole Regulations.
The Submarine Pipe-lines (Inspectors and Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1991	S.I. 1991/680	Regulation 3.

Part II Modification of the notification of Installations handling hazardous substances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984

The Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984 shall be modified as follows—

(a) in regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—

(i) in the definition of “installation” the words “or pipe-line” shall be omitted; and

(ii) the definition of “pipe-line” shall be revoked;

(b) in regulation 3(1) (notification of installations handling hazardous substances) the words—

(i) “, or in any pipe-line to which these Regulations apply,”; and

(ii) “the appropriate part of”,

shall be omitted;

(c) in regulation 4 (updating of the notification following changes in the notifiable activity) the words “or in the pipe-line” shall be omitted;

(d) in regulation 5 (re-notification where the quantity of a substance is increased to 3 times that already notified) the words “of Part I” shall be omitted; and

(e) in Schedule 2—

(i) the title “Part I” shall be omitted; and

(ii) Part II shall be revoked.

(1)

1963 c. 17 (N.I.)

(2)

S.R. 1995 c. 60 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations