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Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)

Guidance Notes

Pressure Equipment Regulations, 2009

Regulation 13 - Repairs and Modifications

 

(1) Subject to the requirement of the relevant health and safety standard incorporated into these Regulations under section 44 of the Act—
(a) any person who intends to modify or repair any pressure equipment shall cause such modification or repair to be carried out in accordance with the relevant health and safety standard, and in accordance with the assessment procedure, as specified by the relevant hazard category as determined by SANS 347;
(b) any modifier or repairer carrying out any modification or repair, referred to in paragraph (a), shall issue a certificate in which the extent of the modification or repair is described and certify that such work is in accordance with the relevant health and safety standard incorporated into these Regulations under section 44 of the Act: Provided that such certificate shall be countersigned by the approved inspection authority, where applicable, as evidence that the design of such modification has been verified and that it has been modified or repaired and tested under its supervision in accordance with the original health and safety standard where reasonably practicable;
(c) any user requiring re-certification of any pressure equipment shall ensure that the recertification is performed under the supervision of an approved inspection authority, as applicable; and
(d) whenever it appears from any inspection or test that pressure equipment cannot be used safely in accordance with its design criteria and the user chooses not to have the necessary repairs effected immediately, the user shall, subject to approval by an approved inspection authority, ensure that the pressure equipment is re-rated, the amended data plate added and the pressure equipment operated within the re-rated criteria: Provided that, in the case of a steam generator, the registration certificate, together with a copy of the approved inspection authority's design verification report, shall be forwarded to the provincial director for updating of the steam generator registration.

 

 

Notes:

(a) Any person who intends to modify or repair any pressure equipment must comply with the relevant hazard category as determined by SANS 347. (See PER 3 Note (a))
(b) Where a pressure test is mandated by the health and safety standard for repairs and modifications on pressure vessels, piping and steam generators the applied hydrostatic test pressure shall be a minimum of 1.25 the design pressure as an alternative to the requirement of the H&SS. The user may opt for a higher test pressure when deemed necessary. See regulation 11(2) for pneumatic pressure testing requirements.
(c) Where a dispensation of a pressure test is required after repairs in accordance with approved repair and in-service Health & Safety Standard, approval must be obtained from the AIA for category II and higher equipment.
(d) AIA to supervise, if applicable any pressure equipment requiring re- certification. See PER 9 for re-certification criteria.
(e) Pressure Equipment excluded under previous regulations is excluded from these requirements. See PER 2 Note (g) for further clarification.
(f) Pressure equipment compliant to the standards enforced at the time of manufacture, i.e data plate stamped by AIA but without documentation of construction details, may be modified after calculations and necessary verifications and tests have been performed in accordance with an appropriate health and safety standard.
(g) Pressure equipment compliant to the standards enforced at the time of manufacture, i.e data plate stamped by AIA but without documentation of construction details, may be repaired after necessary verifications and tests have been performed in accordance with an appropriate health and safety standard.
(h) Any online leak sealing device installed on Category II and higher pressure equipment shall be designed, verified, and manufactured to an appropriate and approved health and safety standard, under the supervision of the AIA. Installation remains the responsibility of the user taking into account the structural integrity of the item to be sealed and shall be considered as temporary.
(i) Sectional or component replacements can be done either in accordance with the original health and safety standard or applicable in-service health and safety standard which includes sectional or component replacements in its scope.
(j) Where a user chooses not to have the necessary repairs affected immediately the user may as an alternative to re-rating, perform Fitness for Service calculations in accordance with a relevant health and safety standard. For Category II and above pressure equipment all Fitness for Service calculations shall be approved by an appropriately registered professional person competent in this field and verified by an AIA as applicable.