Rank: New forum user 
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I am trying to find details about the requirements for a Gas Holder Thorough Inspection. The holder is not connected to the grid and contains BioGas which we produce on site from an anerobic digestion process.
To help, the gas holder comprises an outside cover which is pressurised by constant airflow fans and an inner membrane/bag that can move freely inside.
So help on this would be great, my COO is seeking justification of the need to do this as it would involve shutting the plant down to conduct and without definate need he is loathe to do it
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Rank: Forum user
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I would think there is a most definite requirement, but not sure where you would find it - my own experience is with storage and pressure vessels for flammable/hazardous liquids where the guidance is EEMUA159. You could try the EEMUA web site www.eemua.co.uk or talk to one of the inspection companies such as Axiom - they may be able to point you in the right direction.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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is it a pressure vessel under the Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 1991 eg does it operate at >0.5 bar? If so it would come under those regs and need a scheme of examination. You ned to talk to a competent person - I would start with who supplied / installed it.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Your DSEAR risk assessment will almost certainly identify a need for the container to be subject to a robust system of inspection & maintenance, whilst the requirement to eliminate of reduce risks will also include this.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Horne
Not sure whether repealed/revoked yet but certainly intended
Section 39 of the Factories Act 1961 requirement for examination of water-sealed gasholders with storage capacity of 5000 cu ft metricated to 140 cu m
+ The Gasholders (Record of Examinations) Order 1938
HSE consultative document says no longer required as a result of DSEAR.
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Rank: New forum user
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Thanks everyone:
Not a water sealed holder, been down that route already :-(
Can't really talk to the installers as we built it
Have come into a young buisness and trying to get them operating correctly
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Rank: Super forum user
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I'm guessing that this is one of those "big round thnigs" that ones sees at some sewage treatment works... interesting.
You say that your COO will be reluctant to agree to shut down for inspection unless there is a definite need - for which I read "statutory". Again an interesting scenario - has he not heard of goal setting approach, understood that not everything is set out in law etc?.
Has a risk assessment been caried out? Can you assess the risk of suden failure due to a fault that couldl have been determined by inspection. And what about the consequences of such a failure? Sudden escape of gas - risk to health of employees? fire/explosion potential? effects on neighbours etc. What is cost of those against cost of shut down? Plus possible fines if regulators became involved.
You may want to look up similar incidents - just a few years ago two farm workers (Essex?) died after massive escape of slurry and resultant gas cloud.
Phil
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Rank: Super forum user
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There are far more of these systems per capita on the European mainland than in the UK, though we are starting to catch up.
Have a look at the German guidance at http://www.biogaspro.com...-biogas-systems-2008.pdf
If in the open air very low risk due to low pressure, and relatively low calorific value and propagation speed.
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