Air receiver testing, when did you last have your compressed air receiver tested and do you have a written scheme ?
It’s important to test your compressor air receiver at regular intervals throughout its working life. Under pressure your receiver’s wall thickness does wear down and in extreme circumstances, left un-checked could lead to the receiver exploding. We have also noticed the thickness of new receivers are very close to the legal limits of operation.
The following pressurised systems is likely to require a written scheme of examination:
- Compressed air receiver and the associated pipework, where the product of the pressure in bars multiplied by the internal capacity in litres of the receiver is equal to or greater than 250 bar litres
What is a written scheme ?
The HSE guide writes:
A written scheme of examination is a document containing information about selected items of plant or equipment which form a pressure system, operate under pressure and contain a ‘relevant fluid’. The term relevant fluid is defined in the Regulations and covers compressed or liquefied gas, including air, at a pressure greater than 0.5 bar (approximately 7 psi) above atmospheric pressure; pressurised hot water above 110 °C; and steam at any pressure. Typical contents of a written scheme of examination include:
- Identification of the items of plant or equipment within the system;
- Those parts of the system which are to be examined;
- The nature of the examination required, including the inspection and testing to be carried out on any protective devices;
- The preparatory work needed for the item to be examined safely;
- Where appropriate, the nature of any examination needed before the system is first used;
- The maximum interval between examinations;
- The critical parts of the system which, if modified or repaired, should be examined by a competent person before the system is used again;
- The name of the competent person certifying the written scheme of examination; and the date of certification.
Under this scheme the air receiver will have a schedule of dates in which the receiver should be tested.
Our engineer will come to your place of business and check your receiver using specialist’s equipment. If the receiver passes the legal limits you will be issued with a certificate to say the receiver has been passed and is suitable for use. On the case that it is not, our engineer will issue a certificate condemning the unit.
[ This is not a legal document and it will be up to the individual how they proceed ]
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