Define the scope of a pressure system correctly for inclusion within a written scheme of examination.
Engineering & Maintenance
Pressure Equipment Safety and Written Scheme of Examination for Pressure Vessels
Develop and manage a written scheme of examination for pressure systems, covering safe operating limits, examination scope and competent person involvement for pressure vessels.
🗓️Duration5 training days
📚Content4 modules · 8 sessions
🎓On completionAccredited attendance certificate
About the programme
Course Overview
Pressure vessels and connected pipework store energy that can be released catastrophically if wall thickness, corrosion allowance or safety devices are not properly managed, which is why a written scheme of examination is a statutory requirement. This course prepares engineers, competent persons and compliance managers to develop and manage a written scheme that correctly identifies the scope of a pressure system, the examination methods appropriate to each component, and the maximum interval between examinations justified by a documented risk-based rationale. Participants work through defining safe operating limits for pressure and temperature, and understand how these limits must be respected by both the scheme and operating procedures. The course covers selecting non-destructive testing methods appropriate to vessel construction and degradation mechanism, including ultrasonic thickness surveys, and interpreting corrosion rate data to justify intervals. Participants also practise reviewing a written scheme for adequacy, understanding the responsibilities of the user, owner and competent person, and managing an examination that finds a vessel unsafe to operate. By the end, participants can commission and maintain a scheme that remains defensible under regulatory scrutiny.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Establish safe operating limits for pressure, temperature and related parameters for each pressure vessel.
Select non-destructive testing methods appropriate to vessel construction and known degradation mechanisms.
Justify examination intervals using corrosion rate data and risk-based rationale rather than default assumptions.
Review a written scheme prepared by a competent person for technical adequacy and completeness.
Distinguish the respective responsibilities of the system user, owner and competent person under the scheme.
Manage the operational consequences when an examination identifies a vessel is unsafe to continue in operation.
Who Should Attend
Engineers responsible for pressure system compliance and written scheme management.
Competent persons preparing or reviewing written schemes of examination.
Site compliance managers overseeing statutory pressure equipment obligations.
Maintenance planners scheduling pressure vessel examinations around production.
Process engineers managing vessels operating near their safe operating limits.
Inspection engineers conducting non-destructive testing on pressure equipment.
Course Modules
Select any module to see its sessions and points.
01Scope and Legal Basis of the Written Scheme
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Defining Pressure System Scope for the Written Scheme
- Identify which vessels, pipework and protective devices fall within the statutory definition of a pressure system.
- Distinguish components requiring examination under the written scheme from those covered by routine maintenance.
- Map interconnected pressure equipment to determine where system boundaries should be drawn for the scheme.
- Confirm the written scheme addresses protective devices as well as the pressure-containing components themselves.
Session 2Roles and Responsibilities Under the Scheme
- Distinguish the responsibilities of the system user, the owner and the competent person under the scheme.
- Confirm the competence and independence required of the person preparing or certifying the written scheme.
- Establish internal accountability for implementing examination recommendations arising from the scheme.
- Document the review process required when equipment, process conditions or ownership change.
02Safe Operating Limits and Examination Scope
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Establishing Safe Operating Limits
- Define safe operating limits for pressure, temperature and other relevant parameters for each vessel.
- Cross-check safe operating limits against the vessel design code and original manufacturer documentation.
- Ensure operating procedures and control system alarms are consistent with the documented safe operating limits.
- Review safe operating limits when process changes could alter the vessel's operating envelope.
Session 2Determining Examination Scope and Methods
- Select internal or external visual examination scope appropriate to vessel access and degradation risk.
- Apply ultrasonic thickness surveys at locations most likely to show accelerated corrosion or erosion.
- Choose additional non-destructive testing methods suited to known degradation mechanisms such as cracking.
- Specify examination scope for protective devices, including safety valves, alongside the vessel itself.
03Setting and Justifying Examination Intervals
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Risk-Based Interval Setting
- Analyse historical corrosion rate data to calculate a technically justified remaining life for each vessel.
- Compare calculated remaining life against proposed examination intervals to confirm an adequate safety margin.
- Adjust examination intervals where process changes have increased or decreased degradation risk.
- Document the rationale for any interval that differs from default guidance to withstand regulatory scrutiny.
Session 2Reviewing a Written Scheme for Adequacy
- Check that a written scheme prepared by a competent person addresses every component within its stated scope.
- Verify that examination methods specified are capable of detecting the degradation mechanisms identified.
- Confirm intervals stated in the scheme are supported by documented technical justification rather than assumption.
- Identify gaps where the scheme fails to address recent modifications or changes in service conditions.
04Managing Examination Outcomes and Compliance
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Responding to Examination Findings
- Interpret competent person examination reports to identify defects and recommended remedial timescales.
- Manage the immediate operational response when an examination finds a vessel unsafe to continue in operation.
- Coordinate repair, re-rating or replacement decisions following a significant examination finding.
- Verify remedial action before returning a vessel to service and updating the written scheme accordingly.
Session 2Sustaining Compliance Across the Pressure System Portfolio
- Maintain a compliance register tracking written scheme status and examination due dates across all vessels.
- Coordinate examination scheduling with shutdown planning to minimise unplanned production impact.
- Audit written scheme compliance periodically against statutory record-keeping requirements.
- Report portfolio-wide pressure equipment compliance status to site and corporate engineering leadership.
What the participant receives
4 course modules
A structured syllabus
8 training sessions
across 5 days
32 detailed points
Applied, detailed content
Accredited attendance certificate
On completing the programme
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