Search Legislation

The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996

 Help about what version

What Version

More Resources

Changes to legislation:

The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 May 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

  1. Introductory Text

  2. PART I INTRODUCTION

    1. 1.Citation and commencement

    2. 2.Interpretation

    3. 3.Meaning of “pipeline”

    4. 4.Application

  3. PART II GENERAL

    1. 5.Design of a pipeline

    2. 6.Safety systems

    3. 7.Access for examination and maintenance

    4. 8.Materials

    5. 9.Construction and installation

    6. 10.Work on a pipeline

    7. 11.Operation of a pipeline

    8. 12.Arrangements for incidents and emergencies

    9. 13.Maintenance

    10. 13A.Iron pipelines

    11. 14.Decommissioning

    12. 15.Damage to pipeline

    13. 16.Prevention of damage to pipelines

    14. 17.Co-operation

  4. PART III MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARD PIPELINES

    1. 18.Dangerous fluids

    2. 19.Emergency shut-down valves

    3. 20.Notification before construction

    4. 21.Notification before use

    5. 22.Notification in other cases

    6. 23.Major accident prevention document

    7. 24.Emergency procedures

    8. 25.Emergency plans in case of major accidents

    9. 26.Charge by a local authority for a plan

    10. 27.Transitional provision

  5. PART IV MISCELLANEOUS

    1. 28.Defence

    2. 29.Certificates of exemption

    3. 30.Repeal of provisions of the Pipe-lines Act 1962

    4. 31.Revocation and modification of instruments

  6. Signature

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      PIPELINES TO WHICH THESE REGULATIONS DO NOT APPLY

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

      2. 2.A pipeline for the conveyance of water, other than for...

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

      4. 4.A pipeline which is contained wholly within land which constitutes...

      5. 5.A pipeline contained wholly within a caravan site.

      6. 6.In this Schedule “caravan” and “caravan site” have the same...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      DESCRIPTIONS OF DANGEROUS FLUIDS

      1. 1.A fluid which— (a) is flammable in air;

      2. 2.A fluid which is flammable in air and is or...

      3. 3.A liquid which has a vapour pressure greater than 1.5...

      4. 4.A toxic or very toxic fluid which—

      5. 5.A toxic fluid which— (a) at 20°C has a saturated...

      6. 6.Acrylonitrile.

      7. 7.A very toxic fluid which— (a) at 20°C has a...

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

      9. 9.A fluid which reacts violently with water.

      10. 10.(1) For the purposes of this Schedule—

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      REQUIREMENTS FOR EMERGENCY SHUT-DOWN VALVES ON CERTAIN MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARD PIPELINES CONNECTED TO OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS

      1. 1.An emergency shut-down valve shall be incorporated in the riser...

      2. 2.An emergency shut-down valve shall be held open by an...

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

      4. 4.If the pipeline is designed to allow for the passage...

      5. 5.An emergency shut-down valve and its actuating mechanism shall so...

      6. 6.An emergency shut-down valve shall be maintained in an efficient...

      7. 7.After an emergency shut-down valve has operated so as to...

      8. 8.In this Schedule “emergency shut-down system” means the system comprising...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      PARTICULARS TO BE INCLUDED IN NOTIFICATION RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARD PIPELINE

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

      2. 2.The proposed route of the pipeline in the form of...

      3. 3.The proposed route of the riser on any offshore installation,...

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

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

      6. 6.The fluid to be conveyed and such of its properties...

      7. 7.The safe operating limits of the pipeline.

      8. 8.The intended temperature, pressure, and maximum rate of flow of...

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      PARTICULARS TO BE NOTIFIED BEFORE CERTAIN EVENTS RELATING TO MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARD PIPELINES

      1. 1.In relation to a change to the route or position...

      2. 2.In relation to a change to the safe operating limits...

      3. 3.In relation to the start of major modification or major...

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

      5. 5.In relation to the start of decommissioning or dismantlement of...

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      1. PART I REVOCATION OF INSTRUMENTS

      2. PART II MODIFICATION OF THE NOTIFICATION OF INSTALLATIONS HANDLING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES REGULATIONS 1982

        1. 1.In the definition of “installation” in paragraph (1) of regulation...

        2. 2.In regulation 3 (notification of installations handling hazardous substances) of...

        3. 3.In regulation 4 (updating of the notification following changes in...

        4. 4.In regulation 5 (re-notification where the quantity of a substance...

        5. 5.In Schedule 2 of the 1982 Regulations—

  7. Explanatory Note

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.