The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000

Examination in accordance with the written scheme

9.—(1) Subject to paragraph (7), the user of an installed system and the owner of a mobile system shall–

(a) ensure that those parts of the pressure system included in the scheme of examination are examined by a competent person within the intervals specified in the scheme and, where the scheme so provides, before the system is used for the first time; and

(b) before each examination take all appropriate safety measures to prepare the system for examination, including any such measures as are specified in the scheme of examination pursuant to regulation 8(3)(b).

(2) Where a competent person undertakes an examination for the purposes of paragraph (1) he shall carry out that examination properly and in accordance with the scheme of examination.

(3) Where a competent person has carried out an examination for the purposes of paragraph (1) he shall, subject to paragraph (4) and regulation 14(4), make a written report of the examination, sign it or add his name to it, date it and send it to the user (in the case of an installed system) or owner (in the case of a mobile system); and the said report shall be so sent as soon as is practicable after completing the examination (or, in the case of integrated installed systems where the examination is part of a series, as soon as is practicable after completing the last examination in that series), and in any event to arrive–

(a) within 28 days of the completion of the examination (or, in the case of integrated installed systems where the examination is part of a series, within 28 days of the completion of the last examination in that series); or

(b) before the date specified in the report under paragraph (5)(b),

whichever is sooner.

(4) Where the competent person referred to in paragraph (3) is the user (in the case of an installed system) or owner (in the case of a mobile system) the requirement in that paragraph to send the report to the user or owner shall not apply, but he shall make the report by the time it would have been required to have been sent to him under that paragraph if he had not been the competent person.

(5) The report required by paragraph (3) shall–

(a) state which parts of the pressure system have been examined, the condition of those parts and the results of the examination;

(b) specify any repairs or modifications to, or changes in the established safe operating limits of, the parts examined which, in the opinion of the competent person, are necessary to prevent danger or to ensure the continued effective working of the protective devices, and specify the date by which any such repairs or modifications must be completed or any such changes to the safe operating limits must be made;

(c) specify the date within the limits set by the scheme of examination after which the pressure system may not be operated without a further examination under the scheme of examination; and

(d) state whether in the opinion of the competent person the scheme of examination is suitable (for the purpose of preventing danger from those parts of the pressure system included in it) or should be modified, and if the latter state the reasons.

(6) The user of an installed system and the owner of a mobile system which has been examined under this regulation shall ensure that the system is not operated, and no person shall supply such a mobile system for operation, after (in each case)–

(a) the date specified under paragraph (5)(b), unless the repairs or modifications specified under that paragraph have been completed, and the changes in the established safe operating limits so specified have been made; or

(b) the date specified under paragraph (5)(c) (or, if that date has been postponed under paragraph (7), the postponed date) unless a further examination has been carried out under the scheme of examination.

(7) The date specified in a report under paragraph (5)(c) may be postponed to a later date by agreement in writing between the competent person who made the report and the user (in the case of an installed system) or owner (in the case of a mobile system) if–

(a) such postponement does not give rise to danger;

(b) only one such postponement is made for any one examination; and

(c) such postponement is notified by the user or owner in writing to the enforcing authority for the premises at which the pressure system is situated, before the date specified in the report under paragraph (5)(c).

(8) Where the competent person referred to in paragraph (7) is the user (in the case of an installed system) or owner (in the case of a mobile system) the reference in that paragraph to an agreement in writing shall not apply, but there shall be included in the notification under sub-paragraph (c) of that paragraph a declaration that the postponement will not give rise to danger.

(9) The owner of a mobile system shall ensure that the date specified under paragraph (5)(c) is legibly and durably marked on the mobile system and that the mark is clearly visible.