Factories Act 1937

30Steam receivers and steam containers.

(1)Every steam receiver, not so constructed and maintained as to withstand with safety the maximum permissible working pressure of the boiler or the maximum pressure which can be obtained in the pipe connecting the receiver with any other source of supply, shall be fitted with—

(a)a suitable reducing valve or other suitable automatic appliance to prevent the safe working pressure being exceeded; and

(b)a suitable safety valve so adjusted as to permit the steam to escape as soon as the safe working pressure is exceeded, or a suitable appliance for cutting off automatically the supply of steam as soon as the safe working pressure is exceeded; and

(c)a correct steam pressure gauge, which must indicate the pressure of steam in the receiver in pounds per square inch; and

(d)a suitable stop valve; and

(e)except where only one steam receiver is in use, a plate bearing a distinctive number which shall be easily visible.

The safety valve and pressure gauge shall be fitted either on the steam receiver or on the supply pipe between the receiver and the reducing valve or other appliance to prevent the safe working pressure being exceeded.

(2)For the purpose of the provisions of the foregoing subsection, except paragraph (e), any set of receivers supplied with steam through a single pipe and forming part of a single machine may be treated as one receiver, and for the purpose of the said provisions, except paragraphs (d) and (e), any other set of receivers supplied with steam through a single pipe may be treated as one receiver:

Provided that this subsection shall not apply to any such set of receivers unless the reducing valve or other appliance to prevent the safe working pressure being exceeded is fitted on the said single pipe.

(3)Every part of every steam receiver shall be of good construction, sound material, adequate strength, and free from patent defect.

(4)Every steam receiver and its fittings shall be properly maintained, and shall be thoroughly examined by a competent person, so far as the construction of the receiver permits, at least once in every period of twenty-six months.

(5)A report of the result of every such examination containing the prescribed particulars (including particulars of the safe working pressure) shall be entered in or attached to the general register.

(6)Every steam container shall be so maintained as to secure that the outlet is at all times kept open and free from obstruction.

(7)In this section the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say :—

• “safe working pressure ” means, in the case of a new steam receiver, that specified by the maker, and in the case of a steam receiver which has been examined in accordance with the provisions of this section, that specified in the report of the last examination;

• “steam receiver ” means any vessel or apparatus (other than a steam boiler, steam container, a steam pipe or coil, or a part of a prime mover) used for containing steam under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure ;

• “steam container ” means any vessel (other than a steam pipe or coil) constructed with a permanent outlet into the atmosphere or into a space where the pressure does not exceed atmospheric pressure, and through which steam is passed at atmospheric pressure or at approximately that pressure for the purpose of heating, boiling, drying, evaporating or other similar purpose.