Description

According to AwSV, installations handling substances hazardous to water must be inspected by AwSV experts at the following inspection times and intervals:

• Prior to commissioning or for the first time or after substantial modification and, in the case of filling and handling systems, additionally after one year of operation
• Recurring every 5 years, for underground installations for liquids or gases in protected areas every 30 months
• On decommissioning
• At the requestof the competent authority where there is concern about an adverse change in the characteristics of the water
• After eliminationof significant or dangerous defects

Depending on the hazard levels A, B, C and D in accordance with Section 39 AwSV, the requirement for an AwSV inspection generally applies to the following installations:

• Underground and above-ground installations containing liquid or gaseous substances hazardous to water (e.g. tank farms, barrel and container storage facilities, process plants, filling stations)
• Installations with solid substances hazardous to water (e.g. solid waste)
• Installations for handling substances hazardous to water in intermodal transport (e.g. container terminals)
• Plants with floating liquid materials
• Biogas plants
• Filling and handling systems
• installations for loading and unloading ships

The AwSV expert examines the proper condition of the plant with regard to the requirements of plant-related water protection. For in-service inspections, this is associated with a forecast of the safe operation of the plant in the period up to the next inspection (normally 5 years).

Typical test points

Verification that all required documents are available in full, e.g:

• Permits
• Approvals
• Certificates from specialist companies
• Plant documentation
• Operating Instructions
• Additional documents due to special site characteristics (e.g. water protection, flood or earthquake area)

The technical examination shall include, for example

• Examination of the compliance of the executed installation with the above mentioned specifications and the AwSV
• Inspection of the primary safety system components (e.g. containers, pipelines) including the retention devices for proper condition and leak tightness
• Inspection of the secondary safety system components (containment areas, discharge surfaces and low points) for proper condition
• Testing the functionality of safety devices, e.g. overfill prevention systems, leak detection systems

The decommissioning audit shall include in particular

• Check whether the system has been emptied and cleaned
• Check whether the system is secured against accidental re-use
• Checking whether there is evidence of soil or water contamination

Test report

Immediately after the test, the expert shall draw up a test report and send the original to the operator and a copy to the competent authority. If an inspection reveals that the plant is not in proper condition, the expert shall list the defects in the inspection report. These defects are differentiated according to their significance into minor defects, major defects or dangerous defects.

Preparation of the tests by the operator

In particular, in order to minimise the time spent on site, all documents required for the tests to be carried out in accordance with the above points should be made available no later than the day of the test. If necessary, these can be sent to the expert in advance of the inspection (e.g. by e-mail).

Also in order to minimise the time spent on site, the system should be prepared for the test date in such a way that unrestricted inspection and functional testing is possible.

Additional services

On-site appointments are difficult to implement in the current situation. Despite the possibility of video inspections, a plant inspection without an on-site appointment is always difficult and certainly only useful in individual cases. We will continue – under certain conditions – to visit your facility even in the current situation. Please refer to our internal guidelines as to which requirements must be met for such an inspection. Here you will find the corresponding concept.

Processing time: 4 weeks
(from receipt of all necessary documents)

Executive member of the weyer gruppe:
horst weyer und partner gmbh