Process pipelines

Equipment subject to technical inspection

 

Technical inspection covers process pipelines, in the part forming technical equipment within the meaning of the Technical Inspection Act, for poisonous, caustic and flammable hazardous materials under pressure p > 0.5 bar and with a nominal diameter DN > 25, manufactured or reconstructed after 16 July 2002, intended for:

  • compressed gases, liquefied gases, gases dissolved under pressure, vapours and those liquids for which vapour overpressure at the maximum allowable temperature is > 0.5 bar;

  • liquids whose vapour overpressure at the maximum allowable temperature is < 0.5 bar and the product of the allowable overpressure of the liquid and the nominal diameter of the pipeline DN is > 2 000 bar

 

Forms of inspection and deadlines for tests

Fluid in the pipeline

Pipeline parameters PD and DN

Form of technical inspection

Period between successive deadlines for periodic technical tests in years External inspections

Period between successive deadlines for periodic technical tests in years Main inspections

Period between successive deadlines for periodic technical tests in years Pressure tests

Stable gases, vapours and liquids with vapour overpressure higher than 0.5 bar at the temperature TD, excluding items 8 to 12, 14 and 15 

PD>0.5 bar and DN>350 or 1003 500 bar

full

1

3

6

Stable gases, vapours and liquids with vapour overpressure higher than 0.5 bar at the temperature TD, excluding items 8 to 12, 14 and 15 

PD>0.5 bar and 1001 000 bar

full

1

6

6

Stable gases, vapours and liquids with vapour overpressure higher than 0.5 bar at the temperature TD, excluding items 8 to 12, 14 and 15 

PD>0.5 bar and 25

limited

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

Unstable gases, including acetylene

PD>0.5 bar and DN>25

full

1

3

6

Liquids with vapour overpressure lower than 0.5 bar at the temperature TD, excluding item 14

PD>500 bar and DN>25

full

1

3

6

Liquids with vapour overpressure lower than 0.5 bar at the temperature TD, excluding item 14

10 bar25 and PDxDN>2 000 bar

full

1

6

6

Liquids with vapour overpressure lower than 0.5 bar at the temperature TD, excluding item 14

0.5 bar2 000 bar

limited

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

Water vapour

DN>100 and PDxDN>3 500 bar

full

1

4

1)

Water vapour

DN>100 and PDxDN>3 500 bar

In the case of pipelines operating with new and upgraded boilers with a capacity exceeding 100 t/h 2)

full

1

5

1)
 

DN≤32 or PDxDN≤3 500 bar

limited

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

An ad hoc technical check at least every 2 years

Acetylene

PD≤0.5 bar

and DN>25

simplified

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Fluids in refrigerating systems4)

PD>0.5 bar and DN>25

limited

Ad hoc technical checks at least every 4 years

Ad hoc technical checks at least every 4 years

Ad hoc technical checks at least every 4 years

Liquefied gas in systems at liquid fuel stations or standalone liquefied gas stations4)

PD>0.5 bar and DN>25

full

2

10

10

o    Carried out during main inspections only if it cannot be assessed whether a pipeline can continue to operate safely during a main inspection.

o    Applies to boilers constructed or comprehensively upgraded after 1998.

o    Should be determined during the next technical test for equipment previously covered by this form of technical inspection.

o    New deadlines for tests should be determined during the next technical test for equipment previously covered by this form of technical inspection.

 

Required technical documentation

 

Technical documentation of a CE-marked pipeline submitted by the operator for acceptance tests should include:

  • an EC declaration of conformity issued by the manufacturer of the pipeline or its authorised representative, containing the data specified in the Regulation of the Minister for the Economy of 21 December 2005,

  • technical documentation of the pipeline and its components specified by the manufacturer or its authorised representative,

  • technical documentation of pipeline connections to other pressure equipment, if these connections are not covered by the EC declaration of conformity,

  • an operating manual for the pipeline,

  • a commissioning manual for the pipeline, if commissioning is planned in the technical documentation and is not carried out by the manufacturer.

  • Acceptance tests for pipelines CE-marked by their manufacturers are carried out to the extent that the conformity assessment conducted is not infringed.

 

Technical documentation of a pipeline subject to the provision specified in the Regulation of the Minister for the Economy of 21 December 2005 and non-CE-marked, submitted by the operator for acceptance tests should include:

  • an operating manual, which should include at least:

  • information on permitted parameters, materials used, qualified manufacturing technologies, and design standards and specifications applied,

  • information that makes it possible to assess the selection of safety equipment,

  • information on assembly, start-up, use and maintenance, including operations carried out by the operator,

  • the types of tests carried out before putting the pipeline into operation, as well as testing methods,

  • technical documentation of pressure equipment forming part of the pipeline, containing EC declarations of conformity (for EC-marked equipment),

  • as-built technical documentation of connections made by the operator, including in particular information on the execution and examination of permanent connections by qualified staff,

  • the route of the pipeline.

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