The Framers Forum

Hi

Like most of us, I use air compressors to run the underpinner and CMC and was wondering whether it is necessary to inspect these compressors for insurance purposes. I remember years ago we had "engineering insurance" which covered pressure vessels, but I currently do not have any specific cover for them now. Any advice would be much appreciated

Regards

Steve

I have never heard of an "insurance inspection" for an air compressor.

I do however inspect my compressor every 90 days to check the belt and the oil level and condition. Water is drained almost daily from the tank and the several water traps.

There will most probably be mention of "pressure vessels" in you insurance policy and it would be wise to read this in case you do need to keep an engineer's report on file. I seem to remember something about the age of the item being involved.

I think compressors with a receiver tank over a certain size are meant to be inspected and checked annually, to comply with health and safety laws/legislation.
I'm not sure what size this is, and if it would apply to most framers. My compressor will be serviced in the next week or two, so I will remember to ask the engineer!

Unless your tank has inspection ports for arms and or a body I do not think there is much to bother with. Most of the regulations are for high pressure tanks (welding gasses, SCUBA, boilers, etc) and or large tanks over 36" in diameter.

Many thanks Guys for this information.

I have checked my insurance policy and it is very vague on what is/is not covered in terms of pressure equipment, but there is a specific note on steam pressure vessels (boilers) but not on air systems.

The point that JFeig makes is very valid in that there is no real way of testing if there are no inspection reports. Difficult one really. I might contact Bambi who supply the compressors.
It would be interesting to know what your engineer says framemaker.

Cheers

Steve

Within the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 the question is asked: Is the pressure x volume of the pressure vessel greater than 250 bar litres? If YES - then a written scheme and inspection certificate will need to be issued to comply with the legislation.

This calculation takes the pressure rated in bars and this is multiplied by the capacity of the tank in litres. This is commonly found on a plate on the receiver.

e.g. MWP 11 bar 50 litres capacity

In this example the maximum working pressure (MWP) is 11 bar multiplied by the 50 litre capacity, which gives a rating of 550 bar litres. 1 bar is equivalent to approximately 15 psi. As a general rule air receivers with a diameter in excess of 12 inches operating at 150psi will probably need to comply with the legislation.

The other components of the air compressor set (i.e. compressor and motor) do not need a statutory inspection. If an air compressor has no receiver it does not need an inspection. Hydrovane manufacture compressors with no receivers and so are exempt from the legislation.

It is a bit of a grey area I think. We always had a 200 litre tank. We would buy a cheap compressor - they would need inspecting after 18 months and then once a year thereafter. It was cheaper to buy a new compressor every 18 months and sell the old one on ebay. The difference was cheaper than having an inspection once a year.

Also the cheaper compressors can't be inspected! I spoke to one Air Specialist and he said he had never come across an air tank going bang under normal use.....

I have a large Hydrovane with a 200l tank which I have serviced by the company who I bought it off. I know he pressure tested it when he supplied it as it was a refurbished machine. I would be interested to know what we are meant to do.

Cheers

AG

I took this a little further with a friend of mine who works in the plant maintenance industry and he came up with the same parameters as mentioned earlier in the thread. I subsequently asked him how we go about inspecting such a compressor (mine is 100litre) and he then took this to RSA who inspect all their plant.

The inspector said that a visual inspection with a torch was the usual first step to see if there is rust in the tank. If not then pressure testing to the maximum test pressure would be carried out.

It was at this point I decided it was not going to be done in my workshop and have decided that Plan B is the best route and I shall sell it after first purchasing a new one. Its quite right that a new compressor and selling the old one is cheaper than having an inspection. A sad world - but safer. I too have never heard of an air compressor going bang, but I dont want to be the first either

Steve

I had my compressor serviced yesterday, and asked the engineer about this, basically he said what has been already mentioned and what you have found out Steve.

The engineer said that over a certain size, the vessel should be checked every 2 years, on my compressor there are large screw in bolts at either end, these are taken off, then the inside is inspected and cleaned out. If there is any sign of pitting, flaking, serious rust etc then it would need to be sent of to a specialist company who do the pressure testing. But he did say this is only ever done for really large/expensive units.
So basically a visual inspection is carried out (not possible on all compressors anyway! ) and a written report by the engineer covers HS legislation.