When you are using any kind of compressed air system that is over 250 bar/litre capacity, there will be strict pressure regulations in place to protect you and anybody else using the air compressor. These are designed to ensure that you can operate all equipment safely without the danger of causing unintentional harm, that could be caused by the incorrect usage of a compressor or overusing it and it malfunctioning due to a buildup of pressure. If you own or operate air compressors, you have to agree to use them within the set pressure regulations to make sure they will be safe and you are doing everything in your power to control the way in which you are using them.

Pressure regulations exist in order to protect people – this is the bottom line. Whilst it might seem restrictive to you at times, all health and safety policies are in place to protect people and to make sure equipment is being used in the way it was intended to be used. If regulations are not adhered to, the results could be:

• Serious equipment malfunctions, breaking the air compressor beyond repair.
• Serious injury to people operating the machinery.
• Serious injury to people in the vicinity, who could be hurt by a compressor that malfunctions due to being used at an incorrect pressure.

So much of the damage and/or injury caused by air compressors is completely preventable if people use the equipment as it should be used. This is why it’s so important to abide by all health and safety regulations and do what is required of you in the workplace.

What do you need to do in order to comply with pressure regulations?

To make sure air compressors comply with pressure regulations, a written scheme of examinations is required. This written scheme of examinations, or WSE, is a legal document, detailing all the essential information regarding a pressure system. You cannot use an air compressor over 250 bar/litre without a WSE. The WSE will have all the information regarding examination of pressure systems, to ensure that they comply with air pressure regulations. It will detail the frequency of inspections that are required, and other circumstances under which examinations might be required, such as before the first use of a new compressor system.

All information regarding this legislation is detailed in the UK Pressure System Safety Regulations (PSSR), specifically regulation 8.1.

Examination by a competent person

The examinations detailed in the written scheme of examinations needs to be carried out by a competent person. This will often be someone like an insurer, or the person who has supplied and installed the air compressor system. If you have bought a new compressor system from a supplier, you will often be able to set up regular servicing packages to ensure your compressed air system is operating within legal limits and is meeting with pressure safety regulations. If you then need examinations at any other time, you can set these up with the same ‘competent person’ that carries out your regular examinations.