Pressure Equipment

Pressure Equipment Inspections

Pressure systems and pressure equipment, such as pressure vessels, autoclaves, compressors and heating plants, are widely used in civil and industrial environments. For this reason, they must be subject to periodic inspections to ensure safety for users and correct operation over time.

The periodic inspections required by current legislation are intended to verify that the equipment is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, maintained in proper condition and equipped with all required safety devices.

ECO Certificazioni, as an authorised body, has defined simple procedures and operates all over the Nation in order to respond promptly to requests.

Steps required

To comply with the legislation and ensure the safety of people and equipment, the employer using pressure equipment or assemblies must fulfil the following obligations:

1. Notify the commissioning of the pressure equipment or assembly to INAIL through the CIVA portal, which assigns a registration number. If the equipment or assembly is not excluded from commissioning inspection pursuant to Article 5 of Ministerial Decree 329/2004, a commissioning inspection pursuant to Article 4 of Ministerial Decree 329/2004 must be requested before it is put into service.

2. Request the first periodic inspection from INAIL through the CIVA online procedure, indicating an authorised body such as ECO Certificazioni. The inspection is carried out according to the frequencies set out in Annex VII of Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008, starting from the commissioning date declared by the employer.

3. Request subsequent periodic inspections directly from ECO Certificazioni, in accordance with the frequencies provided for in Annex VII of Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008.

Inspection frequency

The inspection frequencies for pressure equipment are defined in Annex VII of Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008 and vary depending on the type of equipment, the fluid contained and the category defined by the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU.

Fluids are classified as follows:
• Hazardous fluids, Group 1
• Non-hazardous fluids, Group 2

Carrying out inspections at the prescribed intervals is a legal obligation and represents a fundamental safeguard for safety and operational continuity.

1. Pressure vessels

Pressure vessels containing Group 1 hazardous fluids require an operational inspection every 2 years and an integrity inspection every 10 years.

Pressure vessels containing Group 1 liquids require an operational inspection every 5 years and an integrity inspection every 10 years.

Pressure vessels containing Group 2 non-hazardous fluids, category III and IV, require an operational inspection every 3 years and an integrity inspection every 10 years.

Pressure vessels containing Group 2 non-hazardous fluids, category I and II, require an operational inspection every 4 years and an integrity inspection every 10 years.

2. Steam generators

Steam generators require an operational inspection every 2 years, an internal inspection every 2 years and an integrity inspection every 10 years.

3. Hot water generators

Hot water generators require an operational inspection every 5 years.

4. Piping

Piping containing Group 1 hazardous fluids requires an operational inspection every 5 years and an integrity inspection every 10 years.

Piping containing Group 2 non-hazardous gas or vapour with operating temperature above 350 °C requires an operational inspection every 5 years and an integrity inspection every 10 years.

Piping containing Group 2 non-hazardous gas or vapour with operating temperature equal to or below 350 °C requires an integrity inspection every 10 years.

If an indivisible assembly includes one or more items subject to periodic inspection, the most restrictive inspection frequency applies.

Regulatory framework

Periodic inspections of pressure equipment are governed by Art. 71 of Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008 and regulated by Ministerial Decree 329/2004, which defines the procedures for commissioning, use, inspection of safety accessories, repairs and modifications of pressure equipment and assemblies identified as Group GVR - Gas, Vapour, Heating.

Users of pressure equipment may rely not only on public bodies such as INAIL and ASL, but also on authorised private bodies.

The main regulatory references are:
• Art. 71, paragraph 11 of Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008
• Annex VII of Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008
• Ministerial Decree 329/2004
• Ministerial Decree 111 of 11 April 2011