Australian pressure vessel legislation

[hartsa]

Hello,

We are planning to deliver vessel to Australia. I was wondering that can you guys help me to determine whether our vessel is a pressure vessel or not (according to Australian laws).

Basically we have two different vessels. First one is designed against 8 bar and full vacuum at the temperature of 110 Celsius. And volume of vessel is 840 liters. So the design values for the first vessel are:

Design pressure: 8 / -1 bar
Design temperature: 110 celcius
Volume: 840 liters

Design values for second vessel are:
Design pressure: 0.5 / -1 bar
Design temperature: 110 celsius
Volume: 8900 liters

Can it be determined with these values whether our vessels are pressure vessels under the Australian laws or not?

 

[hartsa]

Few things that I forgot to mention:

What I ment was that is there same kind of classification system as for example in European PED. Design pressure x volume for example?

The content of first vessel is water. In PED the first vessel should be manufactured with the sound engineering practice because highest allowable pressure (8 bar) x volume (840 L) < 10000.

Second vessel is automatically categorized to be vessel of sound engineering practice because highest allowable pressure is only 0.5 bar.

So do they have some sort of similiar system in Australia?

BR
Hartsa

 

[vesselguy]

The Aussies uses AS1210. Full design verification has to be carried out per Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) PlantRegulation 1995. These two document should give you enough guidelines to answer your own questions.

Why don't you contact the Austrialian Boilers Branch (or equal) at the location where it is suppose to be shipped to and get the straight fact from them? You can try Queensland and Victoria reps. Better yet, Google it.

Good luck.

 

[roca]

Here is what we specify in our specs - I am in Perth by the way (thats in Australia):

All pressure vessels shall be in accordance with the requirements of AS1210, specific design & construction class shall be as defined on the vessel data sheet.
The Supplier shall comply with the Design Verification and Fabrication Inspection requirements of AS 3920.1, these requirements are based upon the vessel Hazard Level as calculated in accordance with the requirements of AS 4343, and the status of the Designers Quality System.
This Hazard Level will be defined within the vessel data sheet.

You'll need to get a hold of those AS standards. If your client hasn't specified the hazard level you will need to calculate it yourself.
One of our client applies a mandatory factor of 3 to the pV value in AS4343.

 

[hartsa]

Thanks for your replies.

This "problem" started yesterday when our project manager came to me and asked if I could look into this.

Of course I wondered that why he didn't asked this question from our client. but I thought that I try to find out this one myself anyway. Now it's clear to me that I should ask our project manager to deal with this with our client.

I have few Australian standards but I haven't got the time to read them yet. I have AS1200 edition 2000 and AS1210 edition 1997. I think that I should ask those other standards too.

Thanks

 

[gr2vessels]

hartsa,
The rullings of the AS 1210 and associated standards are not very complicated in Australia and are directed mostly to the Australian company, importer / user of your product (the two pressure vessels).
First, the vessels you described above are pressure vessels by definition of AS 1210.
Secondly, the Australian company, the user of your vessels, must register your design in Australia, with the respective local state WorkSafe department. The design must be reviewed and certified by an Australian third party for compliance with AS 1210 (yes, this is your customer job, unless he specified otherwise in the contract). After the vessels been delivered /imported in Australia, the vessels must be re-hydrotested in the presence of a local accredited inspector (for certification) in accordance with AS 1210. Then the vessel will be issued with a "plant registration number" which allows the vessels to be used on the Australian industrial site, perhaps with a new nameplate if required for compliance with AS 1210.
Obviously, you should have clarified by now the purchasing specification, which tells you all these details for complinance with the Australian law. Otherwise, you do not have to get involved in any way with the compliance issue. It will be done by your Client.
If you are required to act in behalf of your Client for compliance with the Australian regulations, you simply pass your design to an Australian, certified vessel "Chartered Professional Engineer" (individual or small consultancy) and they will do the needfull on your behalf (usually not expensive, depending on the application).
Cheers,
gr2vessels

 

[hartsa]

Thanks for your reply gr2vessels.

Last friday I received information regarding one of our older project. I was told that earlier our vessels were designed and fabricated according to EN 13445 (standard, that is harmonized with European pressure equipment directive) and then they were inspected and approved by local Australian inspector, just like you mentioned.

I think that this time we are doing the same also.

BR
Hartsa