When you make a promise to your customers, it’s vital to keep it. This means having the right systems, processes and procedures to ensure consistent delivery. Only then can you be confident that you’re complying with the relevant codes, requirements, regulations and standards. From health, safety and quality to business continuity, and environmental and social responsibility.
For greater confidence in your operations, you need an end-to-end approach to inspection. One that factors in accountability, consistency and compliance at every stage. AQSCERT inspection services do just that. Services that include infrastructure and construction inspection, installed equipment inspection, factory inspection, hygiene inspection as well as pre- and post-shipment inspection.
We have experience across a wide range of industries. So whatever your business, our experts ensure that all relevant codes, standards and requirements are followed precisely.
Trust us to bring our years of experience in inspection to serve your business better.
DIRECTIVE ” ASHENSORE” 95/16/EC;
VKM NO 1056 DT 23.12.2015, FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE TECHNICAL REGULATION “FOR THE SAFETY OF ELEVATORS IN USE”; VKM NO 1057DT 23.12.2015, FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE TECHNICAL REGULATION “FOR ELEVATORS”
According to Vkm no. 1056 dt 23.12.2015, for the approval of the technical rule “for the safety of elevators in use” Vkm no. 1057 dt 23.12.2015, for the approval of the technical rule “for elevators”, building owners or their legal representatives” are obliged to carry out regularly and periodically the maintenance of the elevators and submit these periodic checks. Also , the VKM No.91, dated 27.1.2009 “On the approval of the technical rule for the essential requirements and the evaluation of the conformity of elevators” has extended this requirement to platforms and escalators. Beyond the periodic checks defined in the law, older installations, which were built according to safety standards, which are no longer current, may present a higher risk. For these types of installations, voluntary controls are also necessary. Also for these installations it is possible to identify the critical aspects in order to adapt them to the latest European standards.
■ Periodic checks of elevators and cranes.
Periodic checks are aimed at ascertaining whether the parts on which operational safety depends are in efficient conditions, whether the safety devices work properly and whether they are in accordance with the requirements resulting from previous checks.
■ Outstanding controls of elevators and cranes
– extraordinary controls will be carried out due to: the negative result of the previous periodic controls and will be called negative cases, the following cases;
- Incidents of significant importance, although not resulting in human injury;
- Structural changes that are not included in ordinary and extraordinary maintenance, as described in Law No. 9779, dated 16.7.2007 “On general safety, essential requirements and conformity assessment of non-food products” and Law No. 10 489, dated 15.12.2011 “On trading and market supervision of non-food products”
For the future commissioning of the elevators, it is necessary that the exceptional checks have given a positive result.
■ Periodic and extraordinary checks on moving platforms for handicaps, platforms and escalators.
The main stages for conducting Controls are:
-Documentary analysis on: approved plant brochures, electrical and hydraulic diagrams, mechanical designs, elevator conformity documentation.
-Inspection controls: Control over the state of plant maintenance, functional security controls, Control over the implementation of Regulations and Standards in force.
THE MOST FREQUENT QUESTIONS
When should extraordinary checks be carried out?
Extraordinary controls are necessary when:
– we have negative results of previous periodic controls and we must continuously fix the causes that brought these results;
– we have incidents of considerable importance, although not resulting in injuries to people; – structural changes that are not included in periodic and extraordinary maintenance; – for the future commissioning of elevators, it is necessary that extraordinary checks have given a positive result
PERIODIC CHECKS OF ELECTRICAL PLANTS
It is the electrical plants that, with their presence and with a lot of discretion, guarantee the operation of complex industrial companies, commercial structures, exhibitions, hotels and any other work activity.
An abnormal operation of these systems can in fact represent a critical safety factor, not only in terms of failure to provide this service, but also for all the possible consequences that may occur: the presence of dangerous voltages in the system, source of fire and/or explosion.
■ Installations and equipment forlightning protection
Instrumental verification of the characteristics of the protection system will ensure proper and efficient operation in the face of a possible disturbance of a polluting nature. Additional visual controls for maintaining the state of external (LPS) and / or internal (SPD) components provide a more complete functionality of the protection system.
■ Plants located on the BT, MT, and AT systems.
The measurement of the earth resistance value is performed in full compliance with the CEI 64-8 and CEI 11-1 standards in function of the system voltage supply. During the operational years, AQSCERT has really grown thanks to the relations with its customers. Also, always based on the supply voltage level, the relative standards of “protection coordination” or the maximum voltage acceptable by the system are also controlled.
An instrumental outline of the above activity also includes continuous checks of the protective conductors and the operation of the circuit breakers.
■ Electric installations installed in places with risk ofrelapse.
The verification of systems and equipment installed in areas with explosion risk is mainly related to the construction characteristics and the harmony of their protection method with the classification of areas according to European standards.
PERFORMANCE OF CHECKS
The main stages that characterize the progress of the service are:
■ Document analysis
– The presence and adequacy of project documentation
– The presence of the declaration of conformity
■ Instrument controls
– Continuous control of the plant located on the ground.
– Functional testing of network switches.
– Measurement of the resistance of the BT, MT, AT toxin system
– Measuring tension in passing and contact.
Control of the protective plants against atmospheric discharges.
Control of installations installed in places at risk of explosion.
Along with the instrument testing, a visual surveillance is carried out to ensure the proper state of storage and management of systems.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN FREQUENCIES OF PERIODIC CONTROLS ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS?
The frequency of the controls is directly related to the type of activity performed:
2 years in environments with a greater risk of fire, in explosion-risk areas, fixed or mobile building sites and facilities used for medical purposes.
5 years for all other environments with common characteristics.
MACHINERY DIRECTIVE 2009/127/EC,
VKM NO. 1060, DATED 23.12.2015 “ON THE ADOPTION OF THE TECHNICAL RULE “FOR MACHINERY” AND THE DETERMINATION OF THE LIST OF HARMONIZED STANDARDS
Periodic verification in working equipment is an important part of the legal framework described by the occupational safety legislation These controls are aimed at determining conformities with respect to the installation methods provided by the manufacturer in instructions for use, maintenance and maintenance, maintenance of safety conditions and work specific working equipment, Efficiency of security and control equipment. The first periodic verification also includes the design of technical tabs for identification of work equipment.
COMPANY REQUIREMENTS
AQSCERT is an organization that performs:
- Periodic operational checks: The first and subsequent periodic checks to be performed on the frequency devices indicated by applicable laws, in order to assuing the continuity of the security conditions of the equipment and/or together.
- Periodic integrity checks (10 years): Mandatory inspections are carried out on devices with frequency indicated by applicable laws in order to asses the storage status of the device compared to the degradation mechanisms due to various phenomena.
WHAT EQUIPMENT IS IN THE APPLICATION FIELD?
- Aerial ladders of various slopes
- Mobility bridges in motorized-moving trucks
- Vertically-mounted, hand-mounted moving scaffolding
- The bridge in the limbo and parts of it.
- Centrifugal force dryer of the type interrupted with a diameter and number of revolutions >450 (r x laps/min)
- Centrifugal force dryer of continuous type with a diameter and number of revolutions >450 (r x laps/min)
- Centrifugal dryers that operate with flammable solvents or such that give rise to explosive or unstable mixtures, having an outer diameter of more than 500 mm
- Lifting equipment more than 200 kg of mobile or transferable type material, operating in specific areas such as: construction, steel, port, mining
- Lifting equipment more than 200 kg of type I movable or transferable material, in other sectors, with production year not older than 10 years
- Lifting equipment more than 200 kg of mobile or transferable type material, in other sectors, with the year of production is 10 years ago.
- Lifting equipment to reach more than 200 kg of material, of the type specified, operating in specific areas of application such as: construction, steel, port, mining and year of production 10 years ago.
- Lifting equipment to reach more than 200 kg of certain type material, operating in specific areas of application such as construction, steel, port, mining and year of production not earlier than 10 years.
- Lifting equipment with capacity greater than 200 kg of material of a particular type, operating in other sectors, with the year of production 10 years ago
- Lifting equipment with capacity greater than 200 kg of certain type of material, in other sectors, with the year of production not earlier than 10 years.
VKM NO. 1062, DATED 23.12.2015 ON THE ADOPTION OF THE TECHNICAL REGULATION “ON EQUIPMENT AND COMMUNITIES UNDER PRESSURE”
VKM NO. 1065, DATED 23.12.2015 ON THE ADOPTION OF THE TECHNICAL REGULATION “SIMPLE PRESSURED ENTITIES”
Regular periodic checks on work equipment is an important part of the legal framework outlined by the work safety legislation.
These checks are intended to verify the compliance of procedures for installation by the manufacturer in instructions for use, maintenance and storage status, maintenance of safety conditions and special equipment work, the efficiency of the safety and control device. The first periodic verification also includes the drafting of technical file of the work of the device and identification. Periodic performance is an important tool for managing risk in the workplace and due to disrespect the frequency can cause serious damage to plants and people, as well as fines for employers and suspension of the plant.
Among the equipment subject to verification, special attention should be paid to equipment and pressure containers, the lack of management of this risk can lead to serious safety damage.
In the pressure field, enters into the requirements of law all devices with a maximum pressure greater than 0.5 bar gas or steam equipment, such as heat containers for gases and liquids, steam generators, heat producer, autoclaves, pipes for gas and liquid and its pressure accessories, combustion equipment, Ovens for petrochemical and related industries).
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPANIES
The legislation provides and defines the criteria for eligibility of the subjects that carry out these checks.
The choice of the subject must be made by the employer.
AQSCERT OFFERS SERVICES:
■ OPERATIONAL VERIFICATION: First and subsequent – periodic inspection of equipment and/or pressure systems to certify the continuity of safety conditions
■ PERIODIC INTEGRITY CHECKING: mandatory inspections of equipment and/or pressure systems, in order to asses the storage status of equipment compared to degradation mechanisms due to various phenomena (corrosion, fatigue, drag, …)
The frequency of the controls is in the documents of the legislation and depends on the category of risk to which equipment belongs and fluid/gas content. AQSCERT also offers training courses which aim to illustrate the key aspects to be considered during the audits.