Replacing an expansion vessel

[DanAnglo1981]

Hi my question is, what procedures should you follow to replace an expansion vessel say on an heating system connected to a pressurisation unit say a 500ltr expansion vessel. Do you have to be qualified to do so,if so what qualifications. And what regulations do you follow. I presume it would be the pressure regulations 2000.
Also in my last employment I was told if the internal bag splits and can't drain out then jut drill a hole in side wall, which I refused to do, is this the right thing to do.
Also was never aware of certain regulations until I had a accident with a vessel and lost part of my finger as previous employer never told us or trained us.

 

[mk3223]

I presume it would be the pressure regulations 2000.

Sorry to hear the accident happened to you in the past.
You need to search and confirm if it's the only one required by your local government, or if anything others as well.
Even without requirement of the local rule & regulation, the pressure vessel may be fabricated per certain "Code and Standard", such as ASME Section VIII, Pressure Vessel Code. For the equipment repair, API Code may be followed to ensure the equipment is properly modified, tested, and safe for operation.

 

[LittleInch]

Dan,

you're coming up as based in the UK, so you should really be looking at the HSE website for information.

Procedures only you or your company can produce, but you need, legally, to have "safe systems of work".

Usually for anything containing pressure this would involve means of removing any pressure in a "safe" or low risk manner using specialised tools if required, before working on it.

Levels of qualification are difficult to state, but would require adequate training by a "competent person".

The UK legislation is generally "goal setting", not prescriptive.

See this if you haven't already which at least gives you a start point.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg261.pdf

Your previous employer sounds like they were operating outside the law - /I realise they are overworked, but the HSE have inspectors to enforce these regulations, but need to be told about them. If the company plays fast and loose with work practices, then time to be looking hard for another employer.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[DanAnglo1981]

Hi thanks for the both replies, do help massively. Yes I'm in the UK, I never knew anything about the regulations that the HSE set until after my accident. My previous employer had never shown me or even been trained to work on pressure/expansion vessels safely or a safe systems of work.
Yes will be informing HSE of there practices.
I disagree with this UK 'competent person'thing, I feel you must be qualified to do most things especially doing pressure/expansion vessels as there's alot to know and think about especially safety wise.

 

[LittleInch]

Dan,

The reality is that breaches of regulations are commonplace and don't attract the level of fines or prosecutions that they should, but HSE incidents are criminal acts and directors have been know (occasional) to be jailed for them and held personally liable.

In the first instance the HSE tends to try and educate and encourage compliance rather than go straight to the prosecution or STOP notice stage unless it's really bad.

The competent person thing is a bit wooly, but you can get very competent people who haven't seen the inside of a class room since they left school and some maybe didn't go that often even then. but they can be very good at what they do and understand the issues and safe practices, so it's difficult tos ay just because some has the bit of paper that they are actually "competent".

But have a look at the HSE website - it's not bad and nearly everything is downloadable for free and the they have many useful guides to the regulations which are written in ways to help people understand them, not legalese.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.