Exemption for Pressure Cylinders
08 December 2005
Following months of disscussion and negotiation with Dept of Labour over treatment cylinder operation and the level of toxicity of diluted preservatives, the TPC has been able to achieve an exemption from the Certificate of inspection requirements of the Pressure Equipment, Cranes and Passenger Ropeways Regulations.
The following is an extract from the Best practice Guidelines on the new conditions for Tank Certification;
Timber treatment vessels that are pressurised by steam, gases or liquids fall within the scope of the Health and Safety Employment (Pressure, Cranes and Passenger Ropeways) Regulations 1999 (PECPR Regulations). These vessels must be designed, manufactured, operated, serviced and maintained in accordance with these Regulations. Guidance on the requirements of the Regulations is available in the Approved Code of Practice for Pressure Equipment (Excluding Boilers).
The PECPR Regulations and the Approved Code of Practice for Equipment (Excluding Boilers) and can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/services/eng-safety/document.shtm).
Before a timber treatment vessel is put into service it must be inspected and issued with a Certificate of Inspection by an inspection body recognised under the PECPR Regulations. A certificate of Inspection will generally be valid for a minimum period of twelve months.
Timber treatment vessels that were installed prior to March 2004 and which come within the scope of the exemption issued by the Department of Labour are not required to have a Certificate of Inspection provided all conditions in the exemption have been satisfied. These conditions are as follows:
1. The vessels were in service prior to 1 March 2004.
2. The maximum water capacity of the vessels does not exceed 95,000 litres.
3. The design pressure of the vessels does not exceed 1700 KPa.
4. The vessels operate at ambient temperature.
5. The vessels are full of liquid when under pressure. (There is no steam or air pad within the vessels).
6. The treatment fluids are those water borne preservatives that are currently used within the New Zealand timber treatment industry and are categorised as copper chrome arsenate (CCA), alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), copper azole (CuAz) and boron compounds.
7. The ACQ, CCA and CuAz preservatives are used in timber treatment vessels at a maximum of 6% concentration in water.
8. The boron compound preservatives are used in timber treatment vessels at a maximum of 20% concentration in water.
This exemption is subject to the following conditions:
1. The commissioning date, contained treatment fluids and operating parameters of the vessels must conform to the criteria in 1 to 8 above.
2. Timber treatment vessels and associated systems must comply with Schedule 8, “Controls for Stationary Container Systems� notified in the New Zealand Gazette, Issue No 35, dated 26 March 2005, as though they are equipment that will contain a hazardous substance but which do not need to comply with the PECPR Regulations.
3. The timber treatment system must have a current test certificate issued by a test certifier appointed under the Hazardous Substances and New Organism Act 1996.
4. The process leading to issue of the test certificate noted in 3 above shall include an inspection of the vessels and associated pressure equipment by an equipment inspector employed by an inspection body recognised under the PECPR Regulations or, a chartered professional engineer. The condition of the vessels and equipment and any recommendations for modifications, repairs, maintenance and servicing shall be reported to the controller by the inspector or engineer. These inspection reports shall be kept in the place of work where the equipment is located and be readily accessible to the test certifier and any other person in that place of work who wants to examine them.
5. except as otherwise required by this exemption the vessels and associated pressure equipment shall be operated, modified, repaired, maintained and serviced in accordance with the requirements of the Approved Code of Guideline for the Safe Use of Timber Preservatives & Antisapstain Chemicals.
Any questions on the above should be directed to Kevin Hing or Stefan Jasinski.