Pressure vessels and tanks: regulatory references and integrity inspection after 10 years

The regulatory framework

The placing in service and use of pressure equipment in Italy are governed mainly by Ministerial Decree no. 329 of 1 December 2004 (regulation on the placing in service and use of pressure equipment), which applies to equipment and assemblies falling within the scope of the PED — Pressure Equipment Directive (currently 2014/68/EU, implemented in Italy by Legislative Decree no. 15 of 26 January 2010, formerly Decree 93/2000). Alongside this, Legislative Decree 81/2008 imposes on the employer the general obligation to keep work equipment in a compliant state and to submit it to periodic inspections.

Periodic re-qualification inspections

Art. 10 of Decree 329/2004 defines periodic re-qualification inspections, split into two distinct types, with intervals set out in the tables of Annexes A and B according to the equipment category (per the PED classification) and the fluid group it contains:

Inspection	Reference	Content	Typical interval
Integrity inspection	Art. 12, Decree 329/2004	External and, where possible, internal visual examination of the components; thickness checks; possible pressure test	10 years
Functional inspection	Art. 13, Decree 329/2004	Verification of the actual conditions of use and of the functionality of the safety accessories (valves, control devices)	Variable: typically 2 years for vessels, shorter for steam generators

The exact intervals depend on the equipment category and the fluid group (Annexes A and B of Decree 329/2004) and must be verified case by case based on the technical documentation and the equipment's classification.

The 10-year integrity inspection

Ten years after being placed in service (or after the last integrity inspection), the equipment must undergo a more thorough check than the functional inspection: visual examination of the accessible surfaces, thickness checks to confirm there is no significant wall-thickness reduction due to corrosion or wear, and additional non-destructive testing where signs of damage are found. For chambers that cannot be inspected internally, the decree provides for a pressure test as an alternative. The outcome of the inspection determines whether the equipment can continue in service, possibly subject to conditions or restrictions.

The employer's obligations

• Placing in service and notification — equipment subject to periodic re-qualification must be notified to INAIL via the CIVA portal before being placed in service;
• Scheduling of inspections — planning of the integrity and functional inspection deadlines according to the equipment category;
• Equipment record and documentation — keeping the technical documentation, inspection reports and any conditions imposed;
• Liaison with the inspection body — preparing the equipment and providing technical assistance during inspections carried out by INAIL, the local health authority or authorised bodies.

How we support companies

Stefano Luise Engineering S.r.l. supports manufacturers and users of pressure equipment with thickness verification and calculation of tanks and vessels, compliance with the PED directives and management of CIVA notification procedures, coordinating the obligations through to the scheduling of periodic inspections.

Regulatory references

Ministerial Decree no. 329 of 1 December 2004 (art. 10, 12, 13)  •  PED Directive 2014/68/EU  •  Legislative Decree no. 15/2010  •  Legislative Decree 81/2008

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