What type of pressure equipment requires design registration?
The Australian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations state that pressure equipment, other than pressure piping, with hazard level A, B, C or D must not be installed or used unless a certificate of registration of registrable plant design is in force. The standard AS 4343 defines five hazard levels from Level A to Level E.

What type of pressure equipment requires plant registration?
Pressure equipment, other than pressure piping, and categorised as hazard level A, B or C according to the criteria in standard AS 4343.

What is the difference between plant design and plant registration?
The design registration can be done at any time prior to commissioning of the equipment, and can cover many vessels that are identical. Plant registration only occurs at the time the plant is delivered to site and before it is commissioned. Usually the design registration is undertaken by the fabricator or the importer and the plant registration is undertaken by the owner or operator of the equipment.

Where are the major hazard facilities in Australia?
Major hazard facilities are locations such as oil refineries, chemical plants and large fuel or chemical storage sites where large quantities of hazardous materials are stored, handled or processed. The WHS authorities provides a list of licensed and registered major hazard facilities includes the company name, facility address, term, expiry date and conditions.

Who can be the design verifier?
A person is eligible to verify a plant design if the person has skills, qualifications, competence and experience to design the plant or verify the design. The design verifier must be also independent of the designer, and must not have had any involvement in the design.

What is the duties of design verifier?
The design verifier must document the design verification process carried out and the results of that process.

What is a design verification statement?
It is a statement written and signed by a person who has verified the design of equipment in accordance with published technical standards and sound engineering practice. The design verifier must include her/his name, qualifications, and the name and business address of the organisation she/he works for. A person commits an offence if that person makes a design verification statement but is not eligible to do so, or has not carried out a verification of the design.

Can DVF Consulting also verify pressure equipment design in Western Australia?
Yes, DVF Consulting can perform independent design verification of pressure equipment (all hazard levels to AS 4343:2014) in Western Australia (WA) and all other states and territories. Our organization is competent with all necessary facilities, staff, qualifications, provisions, and quality system certification (ISO 9001:2015), as specified in both AS 3920:2015 and AS 3920.1:1993 standards.

Can the applicant be the design verifier?
No. The design verifier cannot act as the applicant to the design registration. It is common for either the owner or the importer to be the applicant. Is it possible for an applicant to apply for design registration in two (or more) jurisdictions? No. An application for plant design registration can only be applied for in one state (normally in the state in which you reside).

Is it possible for an applicant to apply for design registration in two (or more) jurisdictions?
No. An application for plant design registration can only be applied for in one state (normally in the state in which you reside).

Will an ASME U Stamp meet the necessary requirements for pressure vessel verification?
No. The U stamp is not a comprehensive design verification which is deemed satisfactory for meeting the requirements of the design verification (by a competent person) as required by the Australian Regulation.

How much does it cost to register the pressure equipment design and item of plant in Australia?
The following fees are current as of 1 July 2020. GST does not apply to these fees.

Name of regulator	Registration of plant design	Registration of an item plant
WorkCover NSW	$295.00	$74.00
WorkSafe Victoria	$300.60	$300.60
WHS Qld	$122.80	Nil to $2003.00
SafeWork SA	$135.00	$390.00
WorkSafe WA	$434.00	$119.00
WorkSafe ACT	$130.00	$130.00
Workplace Standards TAS	$87.45	$87.45

Disclaimer:

The information provided above is intended only to provide a general overview for the design verification and registration of pressure equipment. Please contact DVF Consulting or the relevant state authority for any specific questions.