1. Any user of a boiler or pressure vessel shall cause, where reasonably practicable, such a boiler or pressure vessel, including the appurtenances and automatic controls and indicators, to be subjected to an internal and external inspection, and a hydraulic pressure test to 1.25 times the maximum permissible safe operating pressure as the case may be --
a. by an approved inspection authority before commissioning after installation, re-erection or repairs;
b. by a person appointed in writing by the user and who is competent to do such inspections and tests by virtue of their training, knowledge and experience in the operation, maintenance, inspection and testing of a boiler or pressure vessel within 36 months from the date of the previous internal and external inspection and hydraulic pressure test: Provided that where a pressure vessel is not subjected to corrosion, the user may dispense with the internal inspection and hydraulic pressure test subject to the written approval of an approved inspection authority: Provided further that an inspector may require a specific boiler or pressure vessel to be inspected or tested more frequently or permit a specific boiler or pressure vessel to be inspected or tested less frequently:
Provided that no person shall perform internal and external inspections and hydraulic pressure tests contemplated in subregulation (1)(b) unless he or she is a holder of a certificate of registration issued by an organisation approved by the chief inspector: Provided further that this proviso shall come into effect 12 months after the publication of this regulation.
2. Any user of a pressurised system shall, where practicable, cause such a pressurised system to be subjected to an inspection and hydraulic test, by an approved inspection authority before commissioning, after installation or re-erection.
3. Any user of a gas fuel system shall, where reasonably practicable, cause the system to be subjected to an inspection and hydraulic test by a registered person in terms of regulation 12(3), before commissioning, after installation or re-erection.
4. Where it is impracticable to use a liquid for the hydraulic pressure test contemplated in subregulation (1), (2) or (3), the test may, subject to the prior written approval of an approved inspection authority, be carried out with a non-flammable gas to a pressure of 1.1 times the maximum permissible operating pressure : Provided that, where reasonably practicable, the test must be preceded by an internal inspection and on such further conditions and precautionary measures as determined by the approved inspection authority.
5. Where an inspection or test carried out in terms of subregulation (1), (2), (3) or (4) reveals any weakness or defect whereby the safety of persons may be endangered, the weakness or defect shall be reported immediately to the user by the person carrying out the inspection or test and the user shall forthwith cease the use of the boiler, pressure vessel or pressurised system until such weakness or defect has been rectified to the satisfaction of the approved inspection authority concerned or the person who carried out the inspection, as the case may be.