The Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations 1989

PART I pressure systems and transportable gas containers excepted from all regulations

Parts II, III and V of these Regulations shall not apply to:–

1.  A pressure system or transportable gas container which forms part of the equipment of–

(a) any ship to which the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1984 apply or would apply if the ship was registered in Great Britain;

(b) any ship or other vessel in the service of the Crown;

(c) any spacecraft, aircraft, hovercraft or hydrofoil.

2.  A pressure system or transportable gas container which forms part of, or is intended to form part of, a weapons system.

3.  A pressure system which forms part of any braking, control or suspension system of a wheeled, tracked or rail mounted vehicle.

4.  That part of a system which is only a pressure system because it is–

(a) subject to a leak test (except that this sub-paragraph shall not apply to a pipeline);

(b) pressurised unintentionally, such pressurisation being not reasonably foreseeable; or

(c) a pipeline pressurised by a relevant fluid solely as part of a test or line clearance operation, but this exception shall not apply if the pipeline–

(i) is used for the conveyance of a relevant fluid, or

(ii) is pressurised beyond its safe operating limits.

5.  Any pipeline and its protective devices in which the pressure does not exceed 2 bar above atmospheric pressure (or 2.7 bar above atmospheric pressure if the normal pressure does not exceed 2 bar and the overpressure is caused solely by the operation of a protective device).

6.  Any pressure system or part thereof, or transportable gas container which–

(a) is the subject of a research experiment; or

(b) comprises temporary apparatus being used in a research experiment,

if, in the case of regulations 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, and 13, it is not reasonably practicable to comply with them.

7.  Any plant or equipment, other than a transportable gas container, required by regulation 5(1)(d) of the Diving Operations at Work Regulations 1981(1) and used or intended to be used in the course of a diving operation to which those Regulations apply.

8.  A working chamber, tunnel, manlock or an airlock within which persons work in compressed air, being work to which the Work in Compressed Air (Special) Regulations 1958(2) apply.

9.  A road tanker or tank container to which the Dangerous Substances (Conveyance by Road in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations 1981(3) apply.

10.  Any pressure system or transportable gas container being carried in a vehicle if–

(a) the vehicle is engaged in an international transport operation within the meaning of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF)(4) as revised or re-issued from time to time; and

(b) such carriage conforms in every respect to the provisions of the Uniform Rules concerning the Contract for International Carriage of Goods by Rail (CIM) which forms Appendix B to that Convention and to the regulations (RID) made thereunder.

11.  Any pressure system or transportable gas container being carried in a vehicle if the vehicle–

(a) is engaged in an international transport operation within the meaning of the European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road (ADR) signed in Geneva on 30 September 1957, as revised or re-issued from time to time;

(b) complies with the conditions contained in Annexes A and B to that Agreement; and

(c) is certified pursuant to that Agreement as complying with it,

or where by a provision of that Agreement the transport operation is subject to a special bilateral or multilateral agreement under the terms of Article 4 of that agreement to which the United Kingdom is a Contracting Party.

12.  Any pressure system or transportable gas container which is carried, or stored as goods in transit, as part of an international transport operation, if it complies with the appropriate provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code issued by the International Maritime Organisation as revised or re-issued from time to time.

13.  Any pressure system comprising a gas propulsion or a gas fired heating, cooking, ventilating or refrigerating system fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer (both within the meaning of section 185(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988(5).

14.  Any water cooling system on an internal combustion engine or on any compressor.

15.  A container of the type known as a two-part beer keg, one part of which is intended to contain a gas or a mixture of gases under pressure.

16.  A container used for the conveyance or storage of beer or carbonated drinks, the capacity of which does not exceed 0.252 cubic metres and the maximum working pressure of which is not greater than 12 bar above atmospheric pressure.

17.  Any tyre used or intended to be used on a vehicle.

18.  Any vapour compression refrigeration system incorporating compressor drive motors, including standby compressor motors, having a total installed power not exceeding 25 kW.

19.  A mobile system of the type known as a slurry tanker, and containing or intended to contain agricultural slurry, and used in agriculture.

20.  Prime movers including turbines but not including steam locomotives or traction engines.

21.  Any pressure system which is an electrical or telecommunications cable.

22.  Any pressure system containing sulphur hexafluoride gas and forming an integral part of high voltage electrical apparatus.

23.  Any pressure system consisting of a water filled fluid coupling and used in power transmission.

24.  Any portable fire extinguisher with a working pressure below 25 bar at 60°C and having a total mass not exceeding 23 kilogrammes.

25.  Any part of a tool or appliance (designed to be held in the hand) which is a pressure vessel.

(1)

S.I. 1981/399.

(2)

S.I. 1958/61; to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(3)

S.I. 1981/1059; to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(4)

Cmnd. 8535.

(5)

1988 c. 52.