BS EN 1440:2016 pdf download – LPG equipment and accessories — Transportable refillable traditional welded and brazed steel Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders — Periodic inspection
5 Inspections and tests
5.1 General Relevant cylinder data shall be identified before any inspections or tests are carried out. Cylinders which cannot be safely emptied of gas shall be set aside for special handling. Cylinders with inoperative or blocked valves shall be set aside for safe valve removal. Before preparing for inspection, manufacturer’s guidelines shall be taken into account to avoid any damage to the cylinders. Any chemical solutions and/or cleaning methods used shall be selected to ensure that they do not adversely affect cylinder material.
5.2 External visual inspection 5.2.1 Preparation for external visual inspection
a) If necessary, the cylinder shall be cleaned and have all loose coatings or labels, corrosion products, tar, oil or other foreign matter removed from its external surface,
b) Care shall be taken to avoid damaging the cylinder,
c) When cylinders are treated by a process that might remove cylinder material, the inspection body shall decide whether a thickness test is required, e.g. ultrasonic thickness check.
NOTE Cleaning methods include wire brushing, shot blasting (in accordance with EN ISO 8504 [6] series and EN ISO 8501-1 [5]), water jet cleaning, chemical cleaning or other suitable methods, that do not adversely affect any part of the cylinders.
5.2.2 Inspection procedure
LPG cylinders shall be inspected for:
a) dents, cuts, gouges, bulges, cracks, laminations or punctures while applying the criteria for rejection in Annex A;
b) corrosion, applying the criteria for rejection given in Annex A; while giving special attention to areas where water can be trapped EXAMPLE at the base of the cylinder; the junction between the cylindrical shell and the foot-ring; the junction between the cylindrical shell and the valve guard or shroud; and hidden corrosion (e.g. under handles).
c) other defects (e.g. depressed bung or fire damage) while applying the criteria for rejection given in Annex A;
d) integrity of all permanent attachments; and
e) integrity of all mandatory permanent markings.
5.2.3 Rejection criteria The specific requirements for external visual inspection of LPG cylinders are described in Annex A including defect descriptions and rejection limits.
5.3 Proof pressure test
5.3.1 General
The test shall consist of one of the proof pressure tests described in 5.3.2 and 5.3.3. Proof pressure testing, according to 5.3.3, requires the agreement of a competent authority. The pneumatic proof test as described in 5.3.3 shall only be implemented where such an operation does not entail any danger. Pressure gauges that are used to read the cylinder test pressure, shall be in accordance with EN 837-1:1996 and EN 837-3:1996, accuracy class 1,6 or better. They shall be calibrated or checked for accuracy against a master gauge at regular intervals and not less frequently than once every six months. The master gauge shall be re-calibrated in accordance with national requirements. All joints within the system shall be leak tight. The test equipment shall not restrict the expansion of the cylinder.
5.3.2 Hydraulic proof pressure test 5.3.2.1 General A non-corrosive liquid that is compatible with the material of construction of the cylinder shall be used as the test medium.
5.3.2.2 Preparation of cylinders a) Cylinders shall be depressurized in a safe and controlled manner before proceeding.
b) The external surface of the cylinder shall be in such a condition that any leak can be detected. If the cleaning method involves the wetting of the outside surface or if the outside surface is wet due to outdoor storage conditions, the outside surface shall be completely dried before commencing the test procedure.
5.3.2.3 Test equipment The design and installation of the equipment and the cylinders connected to it shall ensure that no air is trapped in the system. A device shall be fitted to the test equipment to ensure that no cylinder is subjected to pressure in excess of its test pressure by more than the tolerance given in 5.3.2.4.