Published: October 2020
We’ve updated the European standard that details inspection requirements for shell boilers. This blog post describes the standard and explains what’s new in the revision.
Are you involved in the manufacture, operation, maintenance or inspection of shell boilers? If so, you should be aware of revisions to one part of the European standard on shell boilers. The code in question is: BS EN 12953-5:2020 Shell boilers. Inspection during construction, documentation and marking of pressure parts of the boiler.
Adequately protected
BS EN 12953-5 is the fifth of 14 European standards in this series on shell boilers. It exists to make sure that the hazards of operating shell boilers are reduced to a minimum and that any remaining hazards are adequately protected against when the boiler is in service. Part 5 is also important because it helps manufacturers comply with the European Union’s Pressure Equipment Directive (PED).
The standard makes shell boilers safer by specifying requirements for inspection during and after construction, as well as covering the documentation and marking of shell boilers as defined in BS EN 12953-1:2012. Such shell boilers have volumes in excess of 2 litres for the generation of steam and/or hot water at a maximum allowable pressure greater than 0,5 bar and with a temperature in excess of 110 °C. They’re intended for land use for providing steam or hot water.
Protection is achieved when the design, manufacturing, testing and inspection methods and techniques in the standard are properly applied. Note that the standard makes manufacturers responsible for ensuring the boiler conforms to the requirements of the standard. That starts with ensuring that the boiler is welded by individuals who’ve been approved under the requirements of BS EN 12953-4:2018 on workmanship and construction of pressure parts of the boiler.
Non-destructive testing
Non-destructive testing (NDT) of boilers also needs to be performed, where required, by certified individuals. NDT techniques include magnetic particle testing, penetrant testing, ultrasonic testing and radiographic testing; and manufacturers also need to establish procedures to ensure that the measuring and testing devices used in manufacture and inspection are properly calibrated to maintain their accuracy within defined limits.
In terms of documentation, certification and marking – manufacturers need to produce a design and manufacturing data dossier and store it in line with national requirements for at least a decade. Radiographic film and electronic data on the boiler needs to be kept for the same period.
Manufacturers must also sign a declaration that the boiler has been designed and manufactured to the requirements of the standard, including that it’s been permanently and legibly marked with specified information, which includes the name and address of the manufacturer, the year of manufacture, the maximum allowable pressure PS in bar; and as appropriate, the maximum water outlet temperature and the nominal maximum heat output in kW or MW for hot water boilers.
The revisions
BS EN 12953-5 hadn’t been revised since it was first published in 2002. It therefore underwent a full technical review that resulted in a complete revision of the inspection and testing content, and a revision of the sections on documentation, certification and marking.
As well, a lot of new content has been introduced. This includes new definitions, a new annex on economizers, superheaters and piping connected to a shell boiler; a new annex summarizing significant technical changes in the 2020 edition; an updated annex on the relationship between the 2020 edition and the PED and a new bibliography – all of which will ensure that the standard goes on fulfilling its role of helping ensure shell boilers are safe.
