Rhodesia.

Govelnment
Norice No. 303 of 1975.
lcAP.283
FactoriesandWorks(Pressure-vessels)
Regulations,1976 i

. ARRANGEMENTOF SECTIONS
i*rr,r,*e*t
Section
i. Title.
2. Interpretation of terms.
v Pnnrl
PRESSURE-VESSELS
' 3. Design,constructionand manufacture.
4. Manufacturer'splates.
5. Maintenance.
6. Record-books.
l. Installation.
8. Access-andinspection-ports
andopenings.

Panr II
PRESSURE-VESSELAPPURTENANCES
9. Pressure-gauges.
10. Safety-valves.
11. Stop-valves.
12. Drain-cocks.
i3. Level-indicators.
14. Pressure-reducing
valves.
15. Door-interlocks.

Panr III
STATUTORY INSPECTIONAND TESTS
16. Inspectionsandtests.
17. Reductionin permittedpressure,
andrepair.

Prnr IV
PORTABLE GAS.CONTAINERS
18. Construction
anduse.
19. Handling.
1355
 Regulations,I 976
Factoriesand Works (Pressure-vessels)

IT is hereby notified that the Minister of Labour and Social

Welfare has, in terms of subsection (1) of section 34 of the Factories
and Works Act lChapter 283), made the following regulations:-

PBsr-n"rrNRBv

1. ( 1) These regulations may be cited as the Factories and Works

(Plessure-vessels) Regulations,1976.
(2) These regulations shall come into operation on the 1st
Ma y.1 9 76.

of terms
,"r"rlJr"{ltation
2.rnthese
"Chief Inspector" means the Chief Inspector of Factories
appointed in terms of section 4 of the'Act;
"code of practice" means a publication-
(a) embodying a code of practice laid down by the
British StandardsAssociation or the Central Afri-
can Standards Association or the South African
Bureau of Standards;and
(b) copies of which are held at Occupational Safety
Offices where they maybeinspectedfree of charge:
"competent person" means a person who has served an
apprenticeshipin an appropriatetrade or who has not
less than five years' practical experience in working
with machinery and who has a thorough knowledge of
the machinery,or classof vesselof which he is in charge
or which he may be required to examine;
"qualified person" means a person who is able to submit
documentary proof that he has received a thorough
theoreticaland practical educationand training in engi-
neering to the satisfactionof a competentprofessional
institution recognizedby the Chief Inspector, and who
hasheld a position ofindependeni respcnsibility for the
control and supervision of machinery;
"gauge pressure"meansthe pressureaboveorbelow that due
to the atmosphere;
"inspector" meansan inspectorappointedin terms of section
4 of the Act;

I 356
 R.G.N.No.303of 1976
"pressure-vessel"meansany closedvesselother than a boiler,
or the cylinder or chamber of a steam or intemal_
combustion engine, which is subjected to an internal
pressure higher or lower than that due to the atmo-
sphere;
"user" meansan occupier or builder as defined in the Act, or
the person or personsusing or leasing the machinery.

Panr I

PRESSURE-VESSELS

Design, construction and manufacture

3. ( 1) No user shall use or causeor permit a pressure-vesselto

be usedunless-
(a) it has been designedand constructed in accordance
with a code of practice approved by the Chief Inspector;
or
(b) it has been approved by the Chief Inspector where no
approved code of practice exists for any particular
vessel: and
(c) it has been manufactured under the supen'ision of an
inspectionauthority.

(2) Every user of a pressure-vesselshall have in his posses-

sion a certificate issuedbv an inspection authority in which the code
to which the vesselwas manufacturedand the supervisionexercised
by the inspection authority during construction is certified:

Provided that, where the product of the maximum working

pressure in kilopascals and the volume in cubic metres of the
pressure-vesseldoes not erceed the figure 250, a batch certificate
shall be deemedto be sufficient compliance with this subsection.

(3) The Chief Inspectormay appro!'eany organizationwhich

employs inspection engineersto canryout the prescribedfunctions in
regard io design, construction and manufacture of pressure-vessels
and portable gas containersas an inspection authority.

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 Regulations,I 976
Factoriesand Works (Pressure-vesiels)

(4) In giving effect to the provisionsof subsection(3)'i the

Chief Inspectormay require an organizationto submit to him such
particularsof its technicalequipmentandresources,the extentof the
qualificationsandexperience ofits personnelandsuchothermatters
ashe may considernecessary.
(5) Any approvalof an inspectionauthorityby the Chief
Inspectormay be withdrawn at any time.
plates
Manufacturer's
4. Everyuserof a pressure-vessel slrallcausea manufacturer's
platewith thefollowing particularsto be securelyfixed in a conspicu-
ousplaceto the shellof everysuchvessel-
(a) manufacturer's name;and
(b) country of origin; and
(c) maker'snumber: and
(d) yearof construction; and
in kilopascals;and
(e) maximumsafeworking-pressure,
(0 capacity,in cubicmetres;and
(g) nameandnumberof codeandmanufacture.

Maintenance
5. No usershalluseor causeor permita pressure-vessel to be
usedunless-
(a) it is kept cleanand free from-
(i) carbonizedoil or otherflammablematterwhich
may igniteunderworkingconditions;or
(ii) any matterforeignto the normalintendeduseof
the vessel;or
(iii) matterwhichis liableto chemicalreactionwhich
may causean uncontrolledrise in pressure;and
(b) it is at all timesmaintainedin safeworkingcondition.
.- Record-book,s
6. Everyuserof a pressure-vesselshallkeepon the premisesa
recordbookwhich shallbeopento inspectionby an inspectorandin
which shall be entereda written record of all tests.internal and
1358
 R.c.N. No. 303of 1976

external examinations,cleaning and repairs, and which shall be

signedby the personcarrying out tests,examinations,cleaningand
repairs.

Installation
7. A usershallcauseeverypressurevesselto be so installedas
to be readily accessiblefor inspectionand test.

Access-and inspection-portsand openings

8. A usershall causeevery presslrrevesselto be fitted with-
(a) suitableinspectionopenings,sosituatedthatall internal
surfaces,longitudinalseamsandcircumferentialseams
may be convenientlycleanedand inspected;and
(b) at least one manhole, where the dimensionsof the
pressurevesselare suchas to permit of entry into the
vesselwhich shall be not lessthanthreehundredand
eightymillimetresby twohundredandeightymillimetres
in the case of elliptical maholes,and at least three
hundredandeighty millimetresin diameterin the case
of circularopenings:
Provedthat=
(i) wherethereis no dangerfrom internal corrosive
actionno manholeneedbe Provided;
(ii) an inspectorshall determinewhetherthe number
andsizeofinspectionopeningsaresufficientand
may require more inspectionopeningsto be
provided.

Penr II

PRESSURE-VESSELAPPURTENANCES
Pressurelgauges
shallcauseeverysuchvesselto be
9. A userof a pressure-vessel
fitted with a suitablegauge designed to show at all timesthe correct
internal pressurethe dial of which shall be-
(a) graduatedto showpressurein kilopascals,andthemaxi-
mum pressurewhich the gauge shall be capableof
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 Factoriesand Works (Pressure-vessels)
Regulations,1976
registeringshallbe not lessthanthe hydraulictestpres-
sureasdefinedin section16andnotmorethandoublethe
maximumsafeworking-pressure of the vessel;
(b) markedwith aprominentredmarkat themaximumsafe
working-pressure of the vessel:
Provided that, where two or more pressure-
vesselswith the samemaximumsafeworking-pressure
areconnected to a commonsupplymain,onepressure-
gauge fitted to the supply main, so situatedthat its
reading is easily visible from any of,the pressure-
vessels.shallbe sufficient.
Safety-valves
10.A usershallcauseeyerypressure-vessel to be fitted with at
leastonesafetv-valve.
whichshallbe-
(a) keptlocked,sealedor otherwiseinaccessible to unau-
thorizedpersons;
(b) set to open at or before reachingthe maximum safe
working-pressure;
(c) of suchsizeasto preventthepressure
risingin excessof
ten per centum above the maximum safe workine-
pressure;
(d) attached to,or asnearaspracticable to, andincapableof
beingshutoff from, the pressure-vessel, exceptwhere
two or morepressure-vessels with the samemaximum
safe working-pressure are connectedto a common
supplymain,onesafety-valve fitteddirectto thesupply
main, so situatedthat i[ is easily visible from any
pressure-vessels, shallbe sufficient:
Providedthat, wherea pressure-vessel is ca-
pableof being isolatedfrom sucha common
lupply
main, an inspectormay requirethe fitting of a fusible
plug or rupturingdiscto suchpressure-vessel;
(e) constructed ofmetalof atypeapprovedby aninspector;
(f) aranged to dischargeby meansof pipes, where the
discharge consistsof dangerous
or toxic gases,vapours
or liquids,in sucha manneras to ensurethe safetvof
persons:
1360
 R.G.N.No.303of 1976
Providedthat-
(i) whenaninspectoris satisfiedthattheuseof safety
valve in a particularprocessis impracticabledue
. to its inability to operateunderall working condi-
tions,hemayrequireorpermittheuseof rupturing
discssubjectto suchfurtherconditionsashe may
prescribe.
(ii) with the permissionof an inspector where the
. maximuinsafeworking-pressure of steamreceiv-
ers cannotbe exceeded,no safetyvalve needbe
fitted to suchreceiver.

Stop;valves
I 1. A usershallcauseeverypressure-vessel
to be fitted with a
stop-valvewhich shallbe-
(a) placedin the supplymain as closeas possibleto the
pressure-vessel:
Provided that, where two or more pressure-
vessOlsoperatein a groupa stop-valvefittedcloseto the
group shall be sufficient;
(b) constructedof metalof a typeapprovedby aninspector.

Drain-cocks
12.A userof a pressure-vessel shallcauseeverysuchvesselin
which liquid may collectto befitted with a suitabledrainat thelowest
part of thevessel,thedischargewhereofshallbe controlledby a cock
or valveandled to a safeplace.

Level-indicators
13.A usershallcauseeverypressure-vessel, in whichthe level
of the liquid in the vesselis materialto the safetyof persons,to be
fitted with a meansof indicatine at all times the actuallevel of the
liquid, andwhich-
(a) shall be conspicuouslymarked,with corresponding
marks on the shell of the vessel,to indicatethe safe-
working level limits of the liquid in the vessel;
(b) in the caseofa glasstubulartypelevel-indicator,
shall
be-
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 Regulations,1976
Factoriesand Works (Pressure-vessels)

(t fitted with an efficient guard which shall be so

constructedas not to obscurethe readingof the
indicator;
(ii) so constructedthat, in the event of the glass
breaking,it shallautomaticallypreventtheescape
of poisonous,hot, explosive or flammable sub-
stancesinto the atmosPhere.

Pressurereducingvalves
.
14.( 1)A usershallcauseeverypressure-vessel whichis ,wotked
from a supplythe pressureof which is higherthanthe safeworking-
pressureof suchvesselto be fitted with-
(a) apressure-reducing valveto reducethesupplypressure
to the maximum safeworking-pressureof the vessel;
and
(b) a safety-valvefittedadjacentto thelow-pressure sideof
the reducingvalve and set to releaseat the maximum
Safeworking-pressure of the vessel,andof suchsizeas
topreventthe pressurerising in excessoftenpercentum
above the maximum safe working-pressure.

(2) Where two or more pressure-vessels with the same

working-pressureare connected to the same source of supply, one
valve and one safety-valveshall be sufficient.
pressure-reducing

Door-interlocks
15.A usershallcauseeverypressure-vessel which is intended
to operateunder pressureand which is equippedfor operational
purposeswith-qemovable or hingeddoorsor coversto be fitted with
interlocksor othereffectivemeansfor preventing-
(a) a risein pressureor vacuuminsidethevesselbeforethe
door or coveris in the fully closedor lockedposition;
and
(b) thereleaseofthe dooror coverfrom thelockedor closed
positionbeforethe pressureinsidethe vesselhasbeen
reducedto atmosphericpressure.

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 R.G.N.No. 303of tr976

Penr III
STATUTORYINSPECTIONAND TESTS
Inspectionand tests
16.(1) A usershallcauseeverypressure-vessel to be subjected
to inspectionand test by a qualified personor a competentperson
appointedby the user,in writing, in accordancewith the following
provlslons-
(a) a pressure-vessel in which theproductofthe designed
working-pressurein kilopascaisand the capacity in
cubic metresexceedsthe figure 75 but doesnot exceed
the figure 250 shall be inspectedandtestedbeforeuse
for the first time;
(b) pressure-vessels in which the productof the designed
working-pressureand the capacity in cubic metres
exceedsthe figure250 shallbe-
(i) inspectedand testedbeforecommissioningafter
'installationfor the first or any subsequenttime or
afterhavingbeenout of commissionformore than
two yearsor after major repairs;
(ii) inspected atregularintervalsof notmorethantwo
years;
(iii) testedat regular intervals of not more than four
years:
Providedthat, where particularworking
conditionsexist, an inspectormay require more
frequentinspectionsand teststo be carriedout.
(2) Theinspectionandtestrefemedto in subsection 1i.1shall
consistof-
(a) an examinationofthe internalandexternalsurfacesof
the vesseland of all the fittings and appurtenances;
(b) a pressuretest by water,or, wherewateris impracti-
cable,by anotherneutralliquid, to a pressureof one
comma three times the maximum safe working-pres-
sureof the vessel:
Providedthat, where-
(i) theconstruction of thevesselis suchasto preclude
a thoroughinspectionof all the internalsurfaces,
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 Factoriesand Works (Pressure-vessels)
Regulations,1976

theintemalinspectionmay
suchasvessel-jackets,
by a pressuretest;
be substituted
(ii) it is impracticable
to usea liquid for suchtest.an
inspectornraypermita testwith a non-flammable
gas to a pressureof onc commaone limes the
maximumsaf'eworking-pressure of thevesseland
on conditionthatthetestis precededby aninternal
inspection and on such further conditions and
precautionary measures ashe may instruct.
(3) Notwithstandinganythingto the contrarycontainedin
this section,cooking-pots,tyre-mouldsandsimilarjacketedvessels
shall, irrespectiveof size, be subjectedto inspectionand test as
prescribedby paragraph(b) ofsubsection(l) ofthis section-

Reductionin permittedpressure,and repairs

17. (l) When it appearsfrom an examinationor test that a
pressure-vesselcanno longerbe workedwith safetyat themaximum
working-pressure, anduserdeclinesto havethenecessary renewalsor
repairsetfected.the inspectormay fix a new maximumworking-
pressureat which the vesselmay continueto be worked,and the
inspectorshallrequirethe new reducedpressureto be markedon the
manufacturer's plate,andno usershallrequireor permitsucha vessel
to be workedat a higherpressure.
(2) When,on exanination,a pressure-vesselis foundto be in
a conditionfrom which imrnediatedangermay arise,the usershall
suspend forthwiththeworkingof suchvessel,andit shallnotbe used
until repairshavebeencarriedout andpermissionhasbeengranted
theretoby the inspector.

Pear IV

PORTABLEGAS-CONTAINERS
Constructionand use
18. No occupieror usershall fill, placein serviceor use any
portablegas-containerexceptthoseusedfor medicalgasesor for
solelydomesticuseunless-

(a) it complies r.vith a code of practice approved by the

Chief lnspector with respectto-
1364
 R.G.N.No. 303of 1976
(t initial and periodicalinspectionand tests;and
(ii) fittings and safetydevices;and
(iii) identificationmarkings:and
(iv) colourmarkings:and
I
(v) charging;
and
l.
(b) it has beenmanufacturedunder the supervisionof an
approvedinspectionauthorityto a codeapprovedby the
' ehief Inspector;or
(c) i.tis approvedby theChief Inspectorwhereno approval
,.codeexistsfor suchgas-container.

Handling
19, During storage,transportationandfuse of portable gas-
containers,the usershallcauseeffectivemeasuresto be takenagainst
bumping,falling, rolling, overheatingor corrosion.
20. In the caseof toxic, inflammable and corrosivegases,the
container-valveshall be adequatelyprotectedat all tirnes, except
whenbeingusedor filled, by meansof a metalcapor coversecurely
attachedto the container,unlessthe valve is so recessedor shrouded
or thecontainerissoboxedor cratedasto preventthevalvefrom being
damagedduringimpact.

\.<:

a
I

r365