Designated technical equipment is a topic that concerns not only employers and work environments, but also ordinary individuals and households. We will go through the 4 main groups – pressure, lifting, electrical and gas. At the end of the article we will also look at the issues and responsibilities for gas and pressure equipment in domestic and domestic dwellings.
The requirements for the safety of technical equipment are determined by Act No. 124/2006 Coll. on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). According to this Act, the Technical Inspectorate is the authorised legal entity for verifying compliance with the safety requirements for technical equipment .
What exactly is involved in verifying compliance with the safety requirements for technical equipment? Briefly, it is as follows:
- Verification of the employer’s (or individual’s) competence to carry out inspections, tests and repairs
- Carrying out inspections and tests on reserved technical equipment
Assessing whether the designated technical equipment, material and relevant documentation comply with OSH requirements
The Technical Inspectorate is therefore the body that will provide you with any of the above services on request and for a fee (note: these services can also be provided by another legal entity that has the relevant certificate and authorisation from the Technical Inspectorate). The body that supervises whether you have fulfilled all your obligations under Act No. 124/2006 Coll. on Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) is the Labour Inspectorate – it carries out regular inspections of employers and OSH compliance.
Pressure equipment
A pressure device is a body which is designed and constructed to contain a fluid under pressure. A pressure device may also consist of more than one chamber. This includes, for example, boilers, vessels, piping and safety devices.
We distinguish between pressure equipment in groups A, B, and C. Their exact classification is provided in Annex 1 of Decree No. 508/2009 Coll.
Upon request, the Technical Inspectorate examines the so-called construction documentation of the equipment. The actual assessment of the documentation is carried out by an inspector from the Technical Inspectorate. The required scope of the design documentation is defined in Annex 2 of the same decree. The primary purpose of this documentation is to ensure the elimination of hazards throughout the entire service life of the equipment.
Lifting equipment
The most common types of lifting equipment include cranes, mobile work platforms, elevators, escalators, ski lifts, and similar devices. As with pressure equipment, lifting equipment is categorized into groups A, B, and C. This classification is also found in Annex 1 of Decree No. 508/2009 Coll.
The requirement to provide construction documentation for lifting equipment—and its specific scope—is outlined in Annex 2 of the decree.
Electrical equipment
Dedicated technical electrical equipment refers to systems used for the generation or conversion of electrical energy, electrical networks, and electrical installations. Their classification into groups A, B, and C is also set out in Annex 1 of Decree No. 508/2009 Coll.
For each type of electrical equipment, occupational health and safety requirements are governed by the technical documentation, referred to as construction documentation in Annex 2.
There is also a requirement to provide accompanying documentation for dedicated electrical equipment. Specific requirements are described in Annex 3 of the decree. In general, such documentation includes information on the use of the equipment, operating instructions, repair and maintenance procedures, installation guidelines, qualifications required for personnel, certificates, and more.
Gas equipment
Gas equipment includes systems that operate with hazardous gases (e.g., methane, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, ammonia, etc.). The most common types include equipment for gas production and adjustment of its composition, gas storage systems, gas cylinder filling stations, pressure and compression stations, gas distribution systems, and others.
As with other technical equipment, gas systems are classified into groups A, B, and C, as defined in Annex 1 of Decree No. 508/2009 Coll. Requirements for construction documentation are outlined in Annex 2, and the content of the accompanying documentation is specified in Annex 3.
Gas and pressure equipment in households and residential buildings
Many households have a gas boiler or stove. To minimize the risk of gas explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s advisable to have gas lines and appliances inspected regularly, whether in a family house or apartment.
What does a gas appliance inspection actually mean, how often does it need to be carried out and what does the engineer check?
A gas appliance inspection is actually an inspection of the gas pipework and gas appliances by a professionally qualified person, i.e. an inspection technician. The aim of the inspection is to ensure the trouble-free and safe operation of gas appliances without the risk of gas leaks and subsequent carbon dioxide poisoning. It is always necessary to carry out an inspection and pressure test of the gas pipeline before connecting a new gas consumer to the gas supply.
During the inspection , the inspection technician checks the entire gas installation – that is, the gas pipeline and gas appliances. He checks the gas pressure, the tightness of the gas pipeline, the joints, the fitting of the gas pipeline, the markings, the connection of the gas appliances, the gas meter, the flue gas extraction from the appliances (at the chimneys). The review engineer should also give you advice on gas, heating and energy conservation, and finally make an overall assessment of the situation and produce a review report. If agreed with the owner, the engineer can also repair any faulty equipment found, but the cost of the repair is charged separately, outside the cost of the inspection.
Inspection of gas appliances and appliances is recommended in houses and flats 1 x per year (it is not obligatory, it is only a recommendation). Regarding legal obligations – the Heat Energy Act only obliges the house owner to maintain gas pipes and equipment in good technical condition. What to beware of is the fact that often insurance companies require a certificate of inspection in case of compensation for damages caused by gas appliances.
If a person owns a pressure regulating station at their home, they are required to have it inspected every six months and pressure tested every year.
