Provisions for tanks and tank inspection activities

This page outlines the provisions for tanks in Ireland as follows:

  • Provisions for tanks in Ireland according to the date of manufacture of the tank

  • Tank inspection and tank inspection services in Ireland 
    • Tank inspection bodies appointed by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in Ireland
    • HSA requirements for inspection bodies appointed in Ireland
    • UK appointed inspection bodies operating in Ireland
    • HSA requirements for inspection bodies appointed in other EU Member States and in the UK

Provisions for tanks in Ireland according to the date of manufacture of the tank

Tanks manufactured before 1 July 2003

These tanks can continue to avail of the provisions of Regulation 54 and Schedule 4 of the European Communities (Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 349 of 2011), as amended (referred to as “the Regulations”), and can thus be inspected by a competent person as defined in the Regulations.  Such tanks are restricted to national use only.
 

    Tanks Manufactured after 1 July 2003 

    Tanks in this category must be in compliance with the requirements of ADR Part 6.

    These tanks are suitable for the international carriage of dangerous goods.

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    Tank inspection and tank inspection services in Ireland

    Tank inspection bodies appointed by the HSA in Ireland

    We currently have four inspection bodies appointed by the HSA for the inspection of road tanks in Ireland:

    Table 1

    Inspection bodyDetails of appointment

    Fitzgerald Commercials Limited

    Fitzgerald Commercials Inspection Division (FCID)

    Carrigshane, Midleton, Cork.

    This appointment is based on INAB accreditation to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type C Inspection Body

    Subject to the satisfactory maintenance of INAB accreditation, the appointment is valid until 30 June 2025

    TankSafe Solutions Limited

     KC Commercials

    1 Posey Row, Malahide, Dublin 1.

    This appointment is based on UKAS accreditation to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type C Inspection Body

    Subject to the satisfactory maintenance of UKAS accreditation, the appointment is valid until 30 June 2025

    Tank Testing Services (IRL) Limited

    Knockbrack, Kerrykeel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

    Clonee House, Bracetown Road, Clonee, Co. Meath.

    This appointment is based on UKAS accreditation to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type C Inspection Body

    Subject to the satisfactory maintenance of UKAS accreditation, the appointment is valid until 30 June 2025

    Hartford Steam Boiler Ireland Limited  

    28 Windsor Place
    Lower Pembroke Street
    Dublin 2

    This appointment is based on INAB accreditation to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type A Inspection Body

    Subject to the satisfactory maintenance of INAB accreditation, the appointment is valid until 30 June 2025

    EU and UK appointed inspection bodies operating in Ireland


    There are, in addition, some inspection bodies accredited in other EU Member States and in the UK for the inspection and certification of tanks.  Such operations are performed under the control of the accredited inspection facilities.

    To date, the HSA has been informed of the following inspection bodies that are operating in Ireland (this list may be updated from time to time - latest update 15 September 2022):

    Table 2

    Inspection BodyAppointment details

    APRAGAZ (Association des Propriétaires de Récipients à Gaz comprimés, liquéfiés ou dissous)

    Chaussee de Vilvorde 156

    1210 Bruxelles

    Apragaz ASBL is accredited by BELAC, the Belgian Accreditation Body, to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type A Inspection Body.

    Apragaz ASBL is also a notified body in Belgium for the purposes of the TPED, Directive 2010/35/EU (Notified body number 0029)

    Zurich Insurance PLC (Zurich Engineering)

    Zurich Engineering Technical Centre

    Unit 3, Steelpark

    Wednesfield

    Wolverhampton

    WV11 3BF

    The VCA appointment is based on UKAS accreditation to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type A Inspection Body

     

    British Engineering Services Limited

    5 New York Street

    Manchester

    M1 4JB

    The VCA appointment is based on UKAS accreditation to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type A Inspection Body.

    UK Road Tanker Inspection Limited

    Unit 2 , Springwell 27

    Dark Lane, Birstall

    West Yorkshire

    WF17 9LN

    The VCA appointment is based on UKAS accreditation to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type C Inspection Body

     

    Lloyd’s Register Verification Ltd

    1 Trinity Park

    Bickenhill Lane

    Solihull

    West Midlands

    Birmingham

    B37 7ES

    The VCA appointment is based on UKAS accreditation to EN ISO/IEC17020:2012 as a Type A Inspection Body

    HSA requirements for inspection bodies based in other EU Member States

    The HSA is prepared to recognise inspection activity of inspection bodies that are accredited in other EU Member States based on the schedules of accreditation issued by the relevant EU accreditation body. However, the HSA must be informed as to the nature of the inspection activity in Ireland, and in addition, of any changes in the schedule of accreditation that would affect the activities of the inspection bodies in Ireland.

    HSA requirements for inspection bodies based in the UK

    Annex C of the VCA document entitled ‘UK Arrangements for the Appointment of Bodies for the Inspection of Tanks for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods’, last paragraph, states that ‘Appointees must establish the requirements of the competent authority of each country in which they intend to operate before commencing work there for the first time’.

    The HSA’s requirements are as follows:

    UK appointed inspection bodies (AIBs) operating at fixed locations in Ireland:  

    If a UK AIB (type A or type C) is planning to extend its accreditation to operate at a fixed location in the Republic of Ireland (see TankSafe Solutions in Table 1 above), the HSA will formally appoint the inspection activity at this fixed location premises. Such appointment will be based on the UKAS accreditation of the inspection activity at that fixed location. 

    Mobile inspection activity by UK AIBs at various places of inspection:

    If a UK AIB (type A or type C) performs or witnesses inspection activity at various locations in Ireland (mobile inspection activity) and such activity is performed under the direct control of the UK AIB, then the HSA considers that such inspection activity does not require formal appointment in Ireland.

    The HSA is prepared to recognise the UK VCA appointment based on the activities described in the UKAS schedule of accreditation. However, the HSA must be informed as to the nature of the inspection activity in Ireland, and in addition, of any changes in the schedule of accreditation that would affect the activities of the UK AIB in Ireland.   

    Recognition of Certificates issued through the VCA database:
     

    The HSA has been recognising, and will continue to recognise certificates of inspection issued via the VCA certification database.  This includes certificates of periodic inspection, intermediate inspection and exceptional checks. 

    Certificates of refusal (refusal notice) issued through the VCA database will also be recognised.