UK STATUTORY LEGISLATION
Cashflo Limited has project engineered some large systems, for food manufacturers, hospitals and car manufacturers. It is important to have confidence in your chosen supplier, for this reason Cashflo Limited is your obvious choice. We will take a project and administer it from beginning to end, taking care of such problems as Written Schemes of Examination, Construction (Design & Management) (Amendment) Regulations and the like.
You may be surprised to discover just how many statutory regulations apply to compressed air installations:
Here are just a few Examples
* Written Schemes of Examination. (WSE)
These are a requirement under the 'Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000', the consolidated and updated replacement for the 'Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations 1989'. Almost all compressed air systems fall under the category of a 'Minor System' and will require a formal WSE, which must be signed off by a Competent Person. A Competent Person for a minor compressed air system will typically have a Degree or equivalent, in an Engineering related subject. Additionaly they should have worked for a minimum of 5 years in the respective industry. The person that physically draws up the WSE need not be a Competent Person, so long as that person acts under the direction and supervision of a suitably qualified and experienced person. It is important to note that a WSE is not worth the paper it is written on if it has not been signed by a Competent Person. The maximum fine for not having a WSE for a minor compressed air system is £20,000 in the Magistrates Court.
* Construction (Design and Management) (Amendment) Regulations 2000.
These modified regulations re-define the duties of the designer and apply to projects which include 'the installation, commissioning, maintenance of .....compressed air.....which are normally fixed within or to a structure.' The regulations require the user to appoint a Planning Supervisor who shall ensure that the regulations are applied to each respective stage of the contract. The penalty for not adopting formal CDM Regulations during a compressed air project is another £20,000 in the Magistrates Court.
* Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC (PED)
This piece of legislation was formalised on 29th May 1997 and was implemented in the United Kingdom via the Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999. Other EEC member states have their own statutory legislation to enable the Directive to be enacted in their own respective countries.
* Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 (SI1999/2001).
PED is the EEC Directive, and the UK conduit for implementing this directive is the Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999. The regulation became law in the UK during November 1999, however a transitional period was been granted so that it did not become mandatory until May 2002. PER 1999 requires a supplier to document and demonstrate that 'pressurised assemblies' are safe, have been designed & manufactured according to sound engineering practice, and bear specified markings. This regulation curtailed the activities of some 'plumbers', because depending upon the size of the pressurised system, they are required by law to have in place a formally certified ISO9000 Quality Control System, administered by a UKAS accredited inspection body. Indeed, some larger systems now require the use of 'Notified Bodies' to assess the safety of the final assembly.
* Water Resources Act 1991.
This legislation directly affects all compressed air users. It is absolutely prohibited to pour condensate from a compressor (lubricated and oil-free alike) down a fresh water drain, or to discharge the condensate on to the ground. The penalty is a maximum £20,000 fine in the magistrate's court and possibly a 2-year jail sentence. As every type of compressor produces condensate, this piece of legislation affects every compressed air user. The condensate must be cleaned to the standards applicable to the local water authority, then the condensate can be discharged down the FOUL DRAIN. Regardless of the cleanliness of the condensate, it is an offence to pour the condensate down a rain water drain. Another point to beware of is local bylaws. Some areas may prohibit the use of zinc plated pipework, therefore before selecting materials for the water/condensate system - it's always best to check.
*EPA 1990
This dovetails quite nicely with WRA 1991 and prohibits the discharge of compressor condensate to ground or to air. If you look at the state of the ground around your air compressor, you might be concerned to find out how close you are to a £20,000 fine.
* EMAS - ISO 14001
Voluntary at the moment, these standards apply to Ecology and the Environment. Many large companies have adopted them as a required working practice, insisting that sub-contractors at the very least issue a policy statement regarding their awareness of the environment. It is interesting to note that Environmental Audits for compressor houses and boiler houses are becoming more common. The EH40 level for exposure to mineral oil vapour is 10 mg/cu.m (15-minute STEL) and only 5 mg/cu.m (LTE 8-hour TWA). What is the oil vapour concentration in your compressor house?