lindz
17-11-09, 16:51
`Diving information Sheet Number 11
Diving Cylinders - Application of Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations
Introduction
This diving information sheet is part of a series of information sheets providing guidance on diving at work. The information is also relevant to the recreational diving sector. The new Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG) Regulations 2009 have clarified that cylinders manufactured to the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED), namely cylinders for Breathing Apparatus, are not within the scope of these regulations. This information sheet provides guidance on the manufacture, inspection and carriage of diving cylinders in light of this change.
Manufacturing standards
Diving cylinders contain large amounts of stored energy. It is vital that they are made to appropriate standards and used and maintained to ensure the safety of both the divers who use them and the people who fill them. In the EU a cylinder used with diving apparatus cannot be put on the market unless it conforms to the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) which is implemented in UK legislation by the Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999. All diving cylinders manufactured to the PED will bear the CE mark. Cylinders made before the application of the PED will not bear the CE mark but may continue to be used as long as they have been manufactured in accordance with an appropriate British or EN Standard and are maintained in serviceable condition.
In-service inspections and tests
It remains a requirement of health and safety law that equipment used at work or in connection with work is properly maintained. Diving cylinders used at work or filled by a person who is at work must therefore be subject to a suitable inspection and test regime to ensure they are safe. Recreational divers should note that this applies to their cylinders where they are filled by a person at work.
The relevant European Standards describing the inspection requirements for diving cylinders are:
• Steel cylinders BS EN 1968
• Aluminium cylinders BS EN 1802
• Composite cyinders BS EN ISO 11623
These European Standards require that the inspection and test is carried out by a competent person. There is no unique legal definition of competence for cylinder testing. However, the HSE considers that the following provide a suitable level of confidence in a cylinder inspector’s competence for this task:
• Appointment by the Secretary of State for Transport for the purposes of inspection of gas cylinders
• Working within the terms of an industry accredited scheme such as that operated by SITA/IDEST
The appointment or accreditation should be for the specific type of cylinder concerned.
Details of those test house/cylinder inspectors which meet these criteria are provided on the following websites:
Department for Transport Appointment-
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/dgt1/road/packaging/tanks/pressurerecept/
SITA/IDEST Scheme –
http://www.sita.org.uk/IDEST/idest.html
Stampmarking and Labelling
European Standards require a diving cylinder to be stamp marked to show that it has been subject to the relevant inspection/test. A test report should also be provided to the owner. It is recommended that cylinder owners retain these test reports as proof, in addition to the stamp mark, that the test has been conducted by a suitably competent person.
The hazards posed by cylinders containing high pressure gas are considerable. People involved in their handling and in particular the emergency services, when responding to an incident, need to be able to identify these hazards. Diving cylinders should be labelled in accordance with the European Standard EN 1089–2, namely with a label displaying the green compressed gas hazard diamond, an additional yellow hazard diamond if the gas has an oxygen content greater than 21%, plus the UN name and number of the gas contained in the cylinder.
Carriage
The change to the CDG Regulations is unlikely to significantly impact many organisations which carry filled diving cylinders on the road as part of a work activity. Before the new regulations came into force, up to a 1000 litres nominal capacity (water capacity) of diving cylinders could be carried without the full application of the regulations. In such circumstances the only requirement, under the previous regulations, was to carry a 2Kg dry powder fire extinguisher in the vehicle.
References:
1. The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009
2. Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
3. BS EN 1802:2002 Transportable gas cylinders. Periodic inspection and testing of seamless aluminium alloy gas cylinders British Standards Institution
4. BS EN 1968:2002 Transportable gas cylinders. Periodic inspection and testing of seamless steel gas cylinders British Standards Institution
5. BS EN ISO 11623:2002 Transportable gas cylinders — Periodic inspection and testing of composite gas cylinders British Standards Institution
Diving Cylinders - Application of Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations
Introduction
This diving information sheet is part of a series of information sheets providing guidance on diving at work. The information is also relevant to the recreational diving sector. The new Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG) Regulations 2009 have clarified that cylinders manufactured to the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED), namely cylinders for Breathing Apparatus, are not within the scope of these regulations. This information sheet provides guidance on the manufacture, inspection and carriage of diving cylinders in light of this change.
Manufacturing standards
Diving cylinders contain large amounts of stored energy. It is vital that they are made to appropriate standards and used and maintained to ensure the safety of both the divers who use them and the people who fill them. In the EU a cylinder used with diving apparatus cannot be put on the market unless it conforms to the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) which is implemented in UK legislation by the Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999. All diving cylinders manufactured to the PED will bear the CE mark. Cylinders made before the application of the PED will not bear the CE mark but may continue to be used as long as they have been manufactured in accordance with an appropriate British or EN Standard and are maintained in serviceable condition.
In-service inspections and tests
It remains a requirement of health and safety law that equipment used at work or in connection with work is properly maintained. Diving cylinders used at work or filled by a person who is at work must therefore be subject to a suitable inspection and test regime to ensure they are safe. Recreational divers should note that this applies to their cylinders where they are filled by a person at work.
The relevant European Standards describing the inspection requirements for diving cylinders are:
• Steel cylinders BS EN 1968
• Aluminium cylinders BS EN 1802
• Composite cyinders BS EN ISO 11623
These European Standards require that the inspection and test is carried out by a competent person. There is no unique legal definition of competence for cylinder testing. However, the HSE considers that the following provide a suitable level of confidence in a cylinder inspector’s competence for this task:
• Appointment by the Secretary of State for Transport for the purposes of inspection of gas cylinders
• Working within the terms of an industry accredited scheme such as that operated by SITA/IDEST
The appointment or accreditation should be for the specific type of cylinder concerned.
Details of those test house/cylinder inspectors which meet these criteria are provided on the following websites:
Department for Transport Appointment-
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/dgt1/road/packaging/tanks/pressurerecept/
SITA/IDEST Scheme –
http://www.sita.org.uk/IDEST/idest.html
Stampmarking and Labelling
European Standards require a diving cylinder to be stamp marked to show that it has been subject to the relevant inspection/test. A test report should also be provided to the owner. It is recommended that cylinder owners retain these test reports as proof, in addition to the stamp mark, that the test has been conducted by a suitably competent person.
The hazards posed by cylinders containing high pressure gas are considerable. People involved in their handling and in particular the emergency services, when responding to an incident, need to be able to identify these hazards. Diving cylinders should be labelled in accordance with the European Standard EN 1089–2, namely with a label displaying the green compressed gas hazard diamond, an additional yellow hazard diamond if the gas has an oxygen content greater than 21%, plus the UN name and number of the gas contained in the cylinder.
Carriage
The change to the CDG Regulations is unlikely to significantly impact many organisations which carry filled diving cylinders on the road as part of a work activity. Before the new regulations came into force, up to a 1000 litres nominal capacity (water capacity) of diving cylinders could be carried without the full application of the regulations. In such circumstances the only requirement, under the previous regulations, was to carry a 2Kg dry powder fire extinguisher in the vehicle.
References:
1. The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009
2. Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
3. BS EN 1802:2002 Transportable gas cylinders. Periodic inspection and testing of seamless aluminium alloy gas cylinders British Standards Institution
4. BS EN 1968:2002 Transportable gas cylinders. Periodic inspection and testing of seamless steel gas cylinders British Standards Institution
5. BS EN ISO 11623:2002 Transportable gas cylinders — Periodic inspection and testing of composite gas cylinders British Standards Institution