1. In-service inspection
CYPRUS PED Workshop
Implementation of the PED
Nicosia 3-5 October 2005
Working group 6
In–service inspection
Damjan Hočevar, Ministry of Economy, Slovenia

2. In-service inspection
The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 97/23/EC applies to the:
design,
manufacture and
conformity assessment of pressure equipment and assemblies.
In-service operation of pressure equipment is not in the scope of PED.
This area is regulated by the national legislation of EU Member States.

3. In-service inspection
In general the user (operator) is responsible for the safe operation of PE throughout the expected lifetime period. He should:
- Perform:
regular maintenance (manufacturers instructions for use, users experience)
repairs (if needed)
- Take care of:
periodical in-service inspections (according to the provisions of the national legislation)

4. In-service inspection
The main tasks of in-service inspection should be:
to check whether PE in-service still satisfies the essential safety requirements of PED
to check whether the user operates with PE according to manufacturers instructions for use
to check regularly the technical condition of PE to minimize the risk of hazard

5. In-service inspection
Comparison (TUB – BAYER AG) of national legislations concerning in-service inspections in some Member States shows that the approach differs significantly from one MS to another.
Major differences:
Inspection intervals (costs of operation)
Definition of the scope of application
Similarities:
Responsibility (user)
Supervision (state authorities)

6. In-service inspection
The inspection intervals in EU are on average 4 years for internal inspections and 8 years for pressure tests.
In some EU Member States these inspection intervals are significantly shorter or longer.
Many EU Member States do not have fixed inspection intervals. Risk based assessment and additional investigations (e.g. non-destructive testing) play important roles in the definition of inspection intervals in this case.

7. In-service inspection
Generaly pressure equipment with a high hazard potential may only be inspected by authorized inspection bodies accredited according to standard EN
Some EU Member States allow inspection by user inspectorates.
In some EU Member States, pressure equipment with a low hazard potential may be inspected by specialised personnel usually employed by a user.

8. In-service inspection
TOPICS:
Situation concerning the in-service inspection in the “NEW” Member States
Possibilities of harmonisation of national legislations on in-service inspection
In-service inspection of the pressure equipment used before PED came into force
Risk based assessment as a basis for the extension of in-service intervals

9. In-service inspection
Interventions:
Mr. Guy Baylac, European Pressure Equipment Research Council, France
Mr. Kypros Kyprou, Department of Labour Inspection, Cyprus
Mr. Vitalius Skarzinskas, Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania