Recurring Inspections
Table of Contents
The operation of pressure equipment is regulated by the member states of the European Union. In Germany, this is regulated by the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung) and supplemented by a subordinate body of technical regulations. Due to the special risk that can emanate from pressure vessels, they are classified in Germany as "installations requiring inspection". According to the BetrSichV, a distinction is made between pressure vessels and experimental autoclaves.
- Pressure vessels are equipped with quick-release couplings and contain gases, gas mixtures or superheated liquids or superheated liquids.
- In contrast, experimental autoclaves are used to carry out experiments with unknown reaction processes.
According to the categorization by the pressure content product explained in „Design and CE-Approval“ an operator in Gemrany has to fulfill certain obligations according to BetrSichV § 15: Inspection before commissioning and before recommissioning after modifications requiring inspection or according to BetrSichV § 16: Periodic inspection. The test before commissioning is carried out for the first time on delivery ex works and is documented by the enclosed certificates. These must be kept carefully by the operator as they represent the basis for the recurring inspections.
Test intervals for highpreactor laboratory reactors; operation as pressure vessel:
| Category | P * V | Type of Reactor | Test before Commissioning | Recurring Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art. 4 Abs. 3 | < 25 bar *| |
BR-25 / BR-40 / BR-100 / BR-200 / BR-300 / BR-500 / BR-700 / BR-800 DAB-2 / DAB-3 DB-300 / DB-500 / DB-700 |
n/a | 2 years by qualified person |
| Kat. I | > 25 bar *| | NR-1500 | by qualified person | 2 years by qualified person |
| Kat. II | > 50 bar *| | NR-3000 / NR-5000 / NR-6000 | by qualified person | 2 years by qualified person |
| Kat. III | > 200 bar *| |
BR-1000 / BR-1500 / BR-2000 NR-8000 / NR-10000 / NR-20000 DB-1000 / DB-1500 / DB-2000 |
Approved inspection body (TÜV, Dekra …) | 2 years by qualified person |
| Kat. IV | > 1.000 bar *| | BR-4000 | Approved inspection body (TÜV, Dekra …) | 2 years by approved inspection body (TÜV, Dekra …) |
According to TRB 801 No. 38, periodic inspections of test autoclaves must be carried out by an approved inspection body if the product of the maximum permissible pressure P and the relevant volume V is more than 100 bar x litres. The periodic inspections should be carried out every 5 years at the latest, or when half of the maximum permissible number of load cycles is reached (see chapter 1.2).
In addition, a test autoclave must be tested by a competent person after each use.
Testing intervals for highpreactor laboratory reactors; operation as a test autoclave::
| Category | P * V |
Type of Reactor
|
Test before Commissioning | Recurring Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art. 4 Abs. 3 | < 25 bar *| |
BR-25 / BR-40 / BR-100 / BR-200 / BR-300 DAB-2 / DAB-3 DB-300 |
by qualified person | 10 years by qualified person |
| Kat. I | > 25 bar *| | NR-1500 | by qualified person | 10 years by qualified person |
| Kat. II | > 50 bar *| | NR-3000 | by qualified person | 10 years by qualified person |
| Art. 4 Abs. 3 | < 100 bar *| |
BR-500 / BR-700 / BR-800 DB-500 / DB-700 |
by qualified person | 2 years by approved inspection body (TÜV, Dekra, ...) |
| Kat. II | > 100 bar *| | NR-5000 / NR-6000 | by qualified person | 2 years by approved inspection body (TÜV, Dekra, ...) |
| Kat. III | > 100 bar *| |
BR-1000 / BR-1500 / BR-2000 NR-8000 / NR-10000 / NR-20000 DB-1000 / DB-1500 / DB-2000 |
by qualified person | 2 years by approved inspection body (TÜV, Dekra, ...) |
| Kat. IV | > 1.000 bar *| | BR-4000 | by qualified person | 2 years by approved inspection body (TÜV, Dekra, ...) |
Important notice for operators outside the Federal Republic of Germany!
The operator must comply with the operating regulations applicable in the applicable in the country of installation. With regard to the interval for the in-service inspections within the European Community, an operator may operator can either proceed according to his national regulations or according to the German regulations. This is possible, since the reactor was designed, manufactured and AD 2000 rules and regulations, and these rules and regulations are recognised within the this set of rules is recognised within the EU.