Testing and Inspection of Diving Cylinders after 1st July 2006 

From 1st July 2006, the HSE (now DfT) requirement for a “competent person” to carry out cylinder inspection and testing was removed and replaced with the requirement for such testing to be carried out by an accredited body/person.  This is to comply with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004.  

The accreditation needs to be carried out to the satisfaction of United Kingdom Accreditation Services which is the only accreditation Body that government (DfT (and HSE) is prepared to recognise.  

Cylinder Test Houses that are currently independent (i.e. not assessed and approved by UKAS or SITA/IDEST will, after 1st July 2006, be faced with 3 possible actions:-  

• A centre employing more than 3 testing technicians will need to apply for accreditation as an inspection body directly to UKAS. 
• At a centre employing up to three testing technicians, these technicians can apply for certification to SITA/IDEST, which has achieved UKAS accreditation for personnel certification of diving and breathing gas Cylinder Test Technicians. SITA/IDEST can only offer certification to technicians working in Test Houses that employ up to 3 Cylinder Test Technicians.
• Cease the inspection and testing activity on their premises.

 

The Cylinder Test Technicians who are assessed by SITA/IDEST will be able to seek appointment as “Appointed Persons” for periodic inspection of transportable breathing gas cylinders under the Regulations from the Department for Transport and will meet the requirements of the DfT guidance for the inspection and test of diving and breathing gas cylinders only.

IDEST will continue to Inspect, Assess and Approve Cylinder Test Houses but this activity will not be UKAS accredited.