UK Statutory Instrument
2016
United Kingdom
Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
54 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
Penalty landscape
1 of 54 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 53 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Plus 12 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesWhat this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Designated standard
Application
Part 2 — Obligations of economic operators
Browse 39 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Design and manufacture in accordance with essential safety requirements and sound engineering practice
Technical documentation and conformity assessment for category A vessels
Declaration of conformity, UK marking and inscriptions for category A vessels
Inscriptions for category B vessels
Retention by manufacturer of technical documentation and EU declaration of conformity
Compliance procedures for series production
Monitoring of vessels made available on the market
Labelling of vessels
Provision of instructions and safety information
Duty of manufacturer to take action in respect of vessels placed on the market which are considered not to be in conformity
Provision of information and cooperation
Appointment by manufacturer of authorised representative
Obligations of authorised representative
Prohibition on placing on the market vessels which are not in conformity
Requirements which must be satisfied before an importer places a category A vessel on the market
Prohibition on an importer placing on the market a category A vessel considered not to be in conformity with the essential safety requirements
Requirements which must be satisfied before an importer places a category B vessel on the marke t
Information identifying importer
Instructions and safety information
Transport and storage conditions
Monitoring by importer of vessels made available on the market
Duty of importer to take action in respect of vessels placed on the market which are considered not to be in conformity
Retention by importer of technical documentation and EU declaration of conformity
Provision of information and cooperation
Duty to act with due care
Requirements which must be satisfied before a distributor makes available on the market a category A vessel
Prohibition on a distributor making available on the market a category A vessel not considered to be in conformity with essential safety requirements
Requirements which must be satisfied before a distributor makes a category B vessel available on the market
Storage and transport conditions
Duty for distributor to take action in respect of vessels made available on the market which are not in conformity
Provision of information and cooperation
Cases in which obligations of manufacturers apply to importers and distributors
Translation of EU declaration of conformity
Identification of economic operators
Prohibition on improper use of UK marking
Obligations which are met by complying with obligations in the Directive
Conformity assessment procedure obligation which is met by complying with the Directive
Further use of the UK marking
Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods
Part 3 — Conformity of Category A Vessels
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Presumption of conformity of category A vessels
Conformity assessment procedures prior to manufacture
Conformity assessment procedures prior to placing a vessel on the market
Records and correspondence language requirements
Declaration of conformity
Identification number
UK(NI) indication
Register of notified bodies established in the United Kingdom
Part 4 — Approval of Conformity Assessment Bodies
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Approved bodies
Approval of conformity assessment bodies
Presumption of conformity of approved bodies
Monitoring
Restriction, suspension or withdrawal of approval
Operational matters in relation to approved bodies
Subsidiaries and contractors
Register of approved bodies
UK national accreditation body
Part 5 — Market surveillance and enforcement
Browse 21 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Designation of market surveillance authority
Enforcement
Enforcement Powers
Exercise of enforcement powers
Evaluation of vessels presenting a risk
Enforcement action in respect of vessels which are not in conformity
EU safeguard procedure
Enforcement action in respect of vessels which are in conformity, but which present a risk
Enforcement action in respect of formal non-compliance
Restrictive measures
Offences
Penalties
Defence of due diligence
Liability of persons other than principal offender
Time limit for prosecution of offences
Service of documents
Recovery of expenses of enforcement
Action by enforcing authority
Appeals against notices
Appropriate court for appeals against notices
Compensation
Part 6 — Miscellaneous
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Review
Transitional provision
Transitional provision in relation to EU Exit
Revocations and savings
Consequential Amendments
Schedules
Materials used in the manufacture of a vessel must be...
- Select materials according to intended use and Schedule 1 rules
(1) A manufacturer must, when designing a vessel, define the...
- Define the vessel's temperature and pressure limits at the design stage
A manufacturer must also take account of the following provisions—...
- Design pressure vessels for inspectability, drainage, durability and corrosion protection
A manufacturer must take account of the fact that under...
- Ensure vessels are not overstressed and limit pressure surges to 10%
Wall thickness
- Determine vessel wall thickness using the correct method
Calculation method
- Calculate minimum thickness of pressurised parts using specified stress limits
Vessels must be constructed and subjected to production checks in...
- Ensure production checks follow the correct schedule
Preparation of the component parts
- Prepare vessel component parts without surface defects or cracks
The manufacturer must also, during manufacture, ensure consistent weld quality...
- Test welds consistently during manufacture and keep a report
Steel vessels
- Use approved steel materials in pressure vessels
Accessories contributing to the strength of the vessel
- Use approved materials for vessel strength accessories
Manufacturing
- Ensure manufacturing conformity and provide pre-production documentation
Vessel checks
- Present vessels in uniform batches, affix approved body ID, and supply certificates
UK marking and declaration of conformity
- Affix UK marking and keep declaration of conformity for 10 years
Manufacturing
- Ensure vessels match approved type and get documents checked before production
Vessel checks
- Affix the approved body's identification number during manufacturing
UK marking and declaration of conformity
- Affix UK marking and keep declaration of conformity for 10 years
Manufacturing
- Manufacturer must ensure vessels match approved type and provide pre-production documents to the approved body
(1) A manufacturer must lodge an application for Type examination...
- Lodge application for Type examination (Module B) for simple pressure vessels
UK marking and declaration of conformity
- Affix UK marking and keep declaration of conformity for simple pressure vessels
(1) The approved body must examine the technical documentation and...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Manufacturer must cooperate with approved body for design review and prototype testing Statutory regulator
The approved body must draw up an evaluation report that...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved body must produce evaluation report and keep it confidential unless manufacturer agrees Statutory regulator
(1) Where the type meets the requirements of these Regulations,...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved body must issue type examination certificate for compliant vessels Statutory regulator
(1) An approved body must keep itself appraised of any...
- Tell your approved body about changes to your pressure vessel type
(1) Each approved body must inform the Secretary of State...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved bodies must share type examination certificates and records with Secretary of State and other bodies Statutory regulator
A manufacturer must keep a copy of the Type examination...
- Keep type examination records for 10 years after placing vessel on the market
The personnel responsible for carrying out conformity assessment must have—...
- Ensure conformity assessment staff are qualified and competent
A conformity assessment body must be able to demonstrate the...
- Conformity assessment bodies must show their top management is impartial
The remuneration of the top level management and the personnel...
- Do not link conformity assessment pay to number or results of assessments
A conformity assessment body must have, and must satisfy the...
- Conformity assessment bodies must have adequate civil liability insurance
A conformity assessment body must ensure that its personnel observe...
- Ensure personnel maintain confidentiality and protect proprietary rights
A conformity assessment body must participate in, or ensure that...
- Participate in standardisation activities and apply coordination group guidance
An approved body must carry out conformity assessments in accordance...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved bodies must follow conformity assessment procedures Statutory regulator
An approved body must carry out conformity assessments in a...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved bodies must assess pressure vessels proportionately, avoiding unnecessary burdens on your business Statutory regulator
An approved body must perform its activities taking due account...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved bodies must consider your business size and production when assessing vessels Statutory regulator
A conformity assessment body must be a third party body...
- Conformity assessment bodies must be independent and free of conflicts of interest
An approved body must respect the degree of rigour and...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved bodies must apply proper rigour and protection when assessing vessels Statutory regulator
Where an approved body finds that essential safety requirements or...
- Approved body must withhold certificate and require corrective measures if safety requirements not met
Where, in the course of the monitoring of conformity following...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Notified body must enforce corrective measures for non-compliant vessels Statutory regulator
Where the approved body has required a manufacturer to take...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Notified body must restrict/suspend/withdraw certificate if manufacturer fails corrective measures Statutory regulator
Where this paragraph applies, the approved body must—
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved body must give notice and hear representations before refusing a certificate Statutory regulator
An approved body must inform the Secretary of State of—...
- Inform the Secretary of State of certificate and assessment activity changes
An approved body must make provision in its contracts with...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Approved body contracts must include client appeal rights Statutory regulator
An approved body must provide other bodies approved under these...
- Approved bodies must share conformity assessment results with other similar bodies
An approved body must participate in the work of any...
- Participate in approved body coordination groups
(1) A conformity assessment body, its top level management and...
- Conformity assessment bodies must be independent from vessel supply chain
A conformity assessment body, its top level management and the...
- Conformity assessment bodies must remain independent and avoid conflicts of interest
A conformity assessment body must ensure that the activities of...
- Ensure subsidiaries and sub-contractors do not compromise your impartiality
A conformity assessment body and its personnel must carry out...
- Carry out conformity assessments with integrity, competence and independence
A conformity assessment body must be capable of carrying out...
- Conformity assessment body must be capable of all approved activities
A conformity assessment body must have at its disposal:
- Ensure conformity assessment body has qualified staff and sound procedures
A conformity assessment body must have the means necessary to...
- Have necessary resources and equipment for conformity assessments
Modifications to the 1974 Act
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with a prohibition notice
Recall notice
- Recall non-compliant vessels from end-users
Browse 37 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Symbols
Circumferential and longitudinal seams must be made using full penetration...
Experimental method
Pressurised parts
Welds on pressurised parts
(1) Welds must be performed by qualified welders or operators...
Putting into service of the vessels
For steel vessels, the material must in addition meet the...
The materials must be accompanied by an inspection slip as...
Aluminium vessels
Welding materials
Non-pressurised parts
Type examination (Module B) is a conformity assessment procedure in...
Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised...
Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised...
Conformity to type based on internal production control is a...
In this Schedule— (a) “design pressure” means the gauge pressure...
(1) The technical documentation referred to in paragraph 2(2)(c) must—...
EU Declaration of conformity (No xxxx)
Name and address of the manufacturer and, where applicable, his...
This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility...
Object of the declaration (identification of the vessel allowing traceability;...
The object of the declaration described above is in conformity...
References to the relevant designated standards used or references to...
The approved body (name, number) performed (description of intervention) and issued the...
Additional information: Signed for and on behalf of: (place and...
(1) A conformity assessment body must have legal personality and...
Paragraph 14 does not prevent the personnel from providing the...
Paragraph 25 applies where an approved body is minded to—...
Enforcement powers under the 1987 Act
Modifications to the 1987 Act
Enforcement powers under the 1974 Act
Enforcement powers under the 1978 Order
Modifications to the 1978 Order
Compliance notice
Withdrawal notice
Interpretation
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- HSENI - Lifting equipment (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Office for Product Safety and Standards
Product safety regulator responsible for ensuring consumer products are safe. Enforces product safety regulations, UKCA marking requirements, and works with market surveillance …
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Regulators
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