Pressure vessels, air receivers, boilers and similar equipment used in South Africa fall under the Pressure Equipment Regulations, made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The regulations place duties on manufacturers, importers and users. This guide lists questions buyers commonly need to ask; it is not legal advice, and the regulations and your Approved Inspection Authority are the authoritative sources.
Questions to ask before ordering
- Which design code is the vessel designed and built to, and is that code acceptable for use in South Africa?
- What is the design pressure, maximum allowable working pressure and design temperature range?
- Which hazard category does the equipment fall into under SANS 347, and what conformity assessment does that category require?
- Will an Approved Inspection Authority need to review the design, witness tests or inspect the equipment?
- Which documents come with the equipment: data report, material certificates, weld records, non-destructive testing and hydrostatic test records?
- What safety accessories are included, such as relief valves and bursting discs, and what are their set pressures and capacities?
Why the documentation matters
Without the right documents, pressure equipment can be difficult or impossible to put into service. Agreeing the design code, inspection plan and document list before manufacture is far easier than trying to obtain them after delivery.
Cryogenic and gas storage
Cryogenic vessels such as liquid oxygen, nitrogen or argon tanks raise further questions: usable capacity by mass, fill limits, cleaning for oxygen service, and whether the vessel may be moved when it contains liquid. The catalogue entry for the 1,000 kg liquid oxygen vessel lists the points FGR Online asks suppliers to confirm.