Operation of pressure equipment

The purpose of this article is to specify the new provisions in force concerning the operation of pressure equipment and simple pressure vessels, brought in by the Ministerial Order (AM) of November 20, 2017, replacing the Order of March 15, 2000. These boiler-made equipment, and their associated pressure accessories and safety accessories, were designed, manufactured and placed on the market, according to regulatory provisions depending on their date of manufacture, before or after the implementation of European directives such as Directive 99/23/EC revised under No. 2014/68/EU, known as the PED (Pressure Equipment Directive). Whatever the manufacturing regime, the conditions for commissioning, monitoring in operation and repair or modification of such equipment were detailed in the Order of March 15, 2000, now replaced by the Order of November 20, 2017, whose requirements are analyzed in this article. The scope of application (equipment concerned) is detailed in Title I of this order. This replacement meets several objectives:

• inclusion of this equipment in the scope of application of the Environment Code (Chapter VII of Title V of Book V), as hazardous products and equipment;

• generalization of two in-service monitoring methods. With inspection plan, as defined in the text, and without inspection plan. Given that the establishment of an inspection plan is conditional on the existence of approved professional guides or technical specifications, which serve as a working basis for the equipment concerned;

• simplification of the regulatory architecture by repealing numerous old texts and integrating a list of specific provisions (Appendix I), which remain applicable;

• integration of equipment intended for the operation of road vehicles, public transport vehicles and railway rolling stock (Appendix I of the AM).

Compliance with the requirements of this decree is important. The Environment Code provides for criminal penalties for certain offences.