Statutory Inspection
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At OCA Global, we rely on our professional team, the best in the sector, and we organise our services and resources to meet your demands. As a highly qualified independent inspection body with a global presence, we guarantee the quality and efficiency of all our inspection services anywhere in the world.
Inspection is necessary in most projects and products to guarantee the highest standards of quality and safety in each stage of the process. Through our regulatory inspection services, we help our clients to reduce risks and to comply with the necessary regulatory requirements in the different regions and existing markets.
Pressure equipment
A boiler is any pressurised appliance in which the heat coming from a source of energy is converted into usable energy, in the form of calories, through a means of transport in liquid phase or vapour.
This is applicable to boilers and their associated elements – economisers, superheaters, etc. –, excluding:
- Those integrated in power generation plants included in ITC EP-2.
- Those integrated in refineries and petrochemical plants included in ITC EP-3.
- Those steam and superheated water boilers classified in article 3.3 and on the category I of those specified in article 9 and annex II of Royal Decree 769/1999 on pressure equipment (PED 97/23/EC).
- Those hot water boilers for industrial use with Pms x VT < 10,000 [Pms = Maximum service pressure in the installation expressed in bar; VT = Total Volume of the boiler in litres], and those included in Royal Decree 1027/2007, which approves the Regulation of thermal installations in buildings (Reglamento de instalaciones térmicas en edificios (RITE)).
- Those of thermal fluid with Pms x Vi < 200 if Tms > 120 ºC, or with Pms x Vi < 2,000 if Tms <= 120 ºC [Pms = Maximum service pressure in the installation expressed in bar; Vi = Total volume of the installation in litres; Tms: Maximum service temperature].
Unlike what is required in level A, B, and C inspections, for equipment in general, particularly boilers, it is added: visual inspection prior to cleaning, visual inspection after cleaning, performance testing, and mandatory non-destructive tests.
Applicable regulations
- Royal Decree 2060/2008
- ITC EP-1
Applicable to all pressure equipment included in the enclosure of an electric energy generating plant with a power exceeding 50MW, including thermal, hydraulic, combined cycle, nuclear, and urban solid waste incineration plants.
Equipment excluded:
- Fire extinguishers.
- Equipment classified or assimilated to Article 3.3. (PED 97/23/EC o REP Art. 3.2).
- Transportable pressure equipment included in the scope of application of Royal Decree 222/2001 (Directive 1999/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment).
- Equipment integrated in refineries and petrochemical plants included in ITC EP-3.
- Cryogenic deposits included in ITC EP-4.
- Devices designed specifically for nuclear use whose failure can cause radioactive emissions.
Safety valves should be inspected by an Authorised Inspection Agency (AIA) during ordinary shutdowns or periodic inspections. This type of inspection also includes other specific requirements necessary for this type of plants.
Applicable regulations
- Royal Decree 2060/2008
- ITC EP-2
This type of inspection is applied to pressure equipment installed in oil refineries and petrochemical plants.
Equipment excluded:
- Gas cylinders for breathing devices included in the ITC EP-5.
- Transportable pressure equipment included in the scope of application of Royal Decree 222/2001 (Directive 1999/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment).
- Fire extinguishers.
- Oil pipelines, gas pipelines, and urban distribution networks.
- Pipelines leading to another external installation from the last isolation device within the limits of the company.
- The casings or enclosures of dynamic elements.
- Equipment classified or assimilated in article 3.3. (PED 97/23/EC or REP Art. 3.2).
The containers are classified, according to fluid groups (group 1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4) and risk potentials from 1 to 5, depending on the product (P · V, expressed in bar · m3), in classes for 1 to 5, defining the agents (internal inspector, AIA, etc.), and the periodicity of the periodic inspections.
In addition, specific requirements are defined for this type of inspections, such as the execution of NDT, PSV calibration, etc.
Applicable regulations
- Royal Decree 2060/2008
- ITC EP-3
This inspection applies to cryogenic tanks, with volumes exceeding 1,000 litres of geometric capacity, and their equipment intended for storage and use of cryogenic gases – argon, nitrogen, CO2, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, nitrous oxide (N2O), krypton, neon, xenon, ethane, ethylene, hydrogen, and air.
Cryogenic liquid is defined by having a boiling temperature at atmospheric pressure below –40 ºC (-20 ºC for CO2).
The following items are excluded from the application of the precepts of this ITC:
- Transport elements of these products (tankers).
- Cryogenic bottles for transport and supply.
- Refinery and petrochemical plants equipment included in ITC EP-3.
Applicable regulations
- Royal Decree 2060/2008
- ITC EP-4
‘Transportable pressure equipment’ refers to all pressure receptacles, their valves and other accessories, tanks, battery vehicles/wagons, multiple element gas containers, and gas cartridges. In addition, specific requirements concerning devices intended for connection with other equipment, colour codes, and conditions of use are also defined.
The directive is applied on the use conditions and recharging centres of transportable pressure vessels for industrial, food and medical use, which are included in Directive 2010/35/EU on transportable pressure equipment.
The following are excluded in this directive:
- Fire extinguishers.
- Aerosols.
- Pressure equipment defined in Annex 3.3 of Directive 2008/68/EC.
- Gas cylinders for breathing apparatus.
Applicable regulations
- ITC EP-6
- Royal Decree 2060/2008
- Directive 2010/35/EU
This directive will apply to the design, manufacture and to the conformity assessment of pressure equipment and assemblies subjected to a maximum allowable pressure PS greaten than 0.5 bar. It ensures that pressure equipment and the assemblies marketed meet the requirements that provide a high level of protection of health and safety for people, as well as protection for domestic animals and property.
The manufacturer has several ways to obtain the “CE marking” of his equipment. OCA Global is authorised to carry out the following modules:
Module A2: Internal production control plus supervised pressure equipment checks at random intervals
Internal production control plus supervised pressure equipment checks at random intervals is the conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down on the directive, and ensures and declares on this sole responsibility that the pressure equipment concerned satisfy the requirements of this Directive.
Module B: EU-type examination
EU-Type examination – production type
EU-type examination – production type is the part of a conformity assessment procedure in which a notified body examines the technical design of the pressure equipment and verifies and attests that the technical design of the pressure equipment meets the requirements of this Directive.
EU-Type examination – design type
EU-type examination – design type is the part of a conformity assessment procedure in which a notified body examines the technical design of the pressure equipment and verifies and attests that the technical design of the pressure equipment meets the requirements of this Directive.
Module C2: Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised pressure equipment checks at random intervals
Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised pressure equipment checks at random intervals is the part of a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in the directive, and ensures and declares on his sole responsibility that the pressure equipment concerned is in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and that it satisfies the requirements of this Directive that apply to it.
Module F: Conformity to type based on pressure equipment verification
Conformity to type based on pressure equipment verification is the part of a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in the directive, and ensures and declares on his sole responsibility that the pressure equipment concerned, which has been subject to the provisions of point 3, is in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and satisfies the requirements of this Directive which apply to it.
Module G: Conformity based on unit verification
Conformity based on unit verification is the conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in the directive, and ensures and declares on his sole responsibility that the pressure equipment concerned, which has been subject to the provisions of point 4, is in conformity with the requirements of this Directive that apply to it.