The Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016

The Regulations on simple pressure vessels specifies the essential requirements the product has to meet in order for the manufacturer to affix the UKCA marking.

The 2016 Regulations set out the requirements that must be met before simple pressure vessels can be placed on the GB market. The purpose of the legislation is to ensure only safe vessels are placed on the GB market, by requiring manufacturers to show how their vessels meet the ‘essential safety requirements’. The Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016 implemented Directive 2014/29/EU on simple pressure vessels.

The Regulation applies to simple pressure vessels manufactured in series with the following characteristics:

1. The vessels are welded, intended to be subjected to an internal gauge pressure greater than 0,5 bar and to contain air or nitrogen, and are not intended to be fired;
2. The parts and assemblies contributing to the strength of the vessel under pressure are made either of non-alloy quality steel or of non-alloy aluminium or non-age hardening aluminium alloys;
3. The vessel is made of either of the following elements:

(i) a cylindrical part of circular cross-section closed by outwardly dished and/or flat ends which revolve around the same axis as the cylindrical part or

(ii) two dished ends revolving around the same axis;

1. The maximum working pressure of the vessel does not exceed 30 bar and the product of that pressure and the capacity of the vessel (ps × v) does not exceed 10 000 bar.L;
2. The minimum working temperature is no lower than – 50 °C and the maximum working temperature is not higher than 300 °C for steel and 100 °C for aluminium or aluminium alloy vessels.

An Approved Body verifies the compliance of a product with the Regulations by conducting a conformity assessment. Depending on the use or not of designated standards and the potential pressure hazard determined by the total energetic content of the vessels – determined by the product of PS (pressure) and V (volume) – appropriate conformity assessment procedures are defined in the Regulations.

If the Approved Body is involved in the production control phase, its identification number will follow the UKCA marking. If the product is in compliance with the directive, the Notified body will issue a certificate to confirm this.

These vessels are required to comply with the essential safety requirements set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulations.

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