Background
The Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 2016 were notified by the Government of India to regulate the manufacture, storage, import, transport, and use of pressure vessels containing compressed gases. These Rules replaced earlier regulations to align safety requirements with modern industrial practices and technological advancements. Their primary objective is to prevent accidents arising from improper design, fabrication, operation, or maintenance of pressure vessels. The Rules prescribe mandatory approvals, inspections, and licensing under the supervision of the Chief Controller of Explosives. Overall, they aim to ensure public safety, worker protection, and uniform enforcement of safety standards across industries handling compressed gases.
Applicability
The Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 2016 apply to all static and mobile pressure vessels intended for the storage, transport, or handling of compressed gases in India. These Rules are applicable to manufacturers, fabricators, importers, repairers, owners, and users of such pressure vessels and their fittings. They cover activities including design, manufacture, fabrication, import, installation, operation, testing, modification, and repair of unfired pressure vessels. The Rules apply to both industrial and commercial establishments where compressed gases are filled, stored, or transported. However, nothing in these rules shall apply to vessel(s) which form part of a processing plant.
Compliance Requirements under the Rules
Any person cannot fill compressed gas in any vessel or transport any vessel filled with any compressed gas unless such vessel is manufactured in accordance with standard or code specified under Rule13 and fitted with fittings approved by the Chief Controller.
Application for approval of Chief Controller shall be submitted as per prescribed form and procedure mentioned in Rules.
Prior approval of Chief Controller shall be taken to manufacture any vessel, its fittings and vaporiser thereof.
Application for approval of Chief Controller shall be submitted as per prescribed form and procedure mentioned in Rules.
Prior approval of Chief Controller shall be taken for fabrication shop for fabrication of pressure vessels, vaporisers or fittings, its fittings and vaporiser thereof. Such approval shall remain valid for 1 year which can be renewed based on the performance report up to 10 years.
For approval, applicant shall submit following documents to Chief Controller:
(i) Copy of ISO-Certification or equivalent certification
(ii) Scrutiny fee as specified in Schedule I of the Rules
(iii) Particulars specified in Appendix–I of the Rules
(iv) For approval of vessel design –
A. Two copies of design calculations as per fabrication code, accepted by the Chief Controller,
B. Two copies of fabrication drawings prepared as per fabrication code and design calculations.
4. Prior approval for Import of Vessel (Rule 4(4))
Prior approval of Chief Controller shall be taken to import any vessel. Application for approval of Chief Controller shall be submitted as per prescribed form and procedure mentioned in Rules.
Compressed gas filled in a vessel shall not be delivered/dispatched to any person other than the holder of a storage licence or to a port authority or a railway administration.
Gas delivered or dispatched, shall also not exceed the quantity which the which the person to whom it is delivered or dispatched is authorised to store under his licence person to whom it is delivered or dispatched is authorised to store under the licence held by him.
For repair or modification in an existing vessel (e.g., welding, adding attachments), prior approval for the proposed work (method, design) from a recognized inspector / Chief Controller shall be taken.
This rule shall not apply to the replacement of any of the fitments of the vessel which does not involve any heating.
Before using any new vessel or before refilling of any existing vessel which has been made gas-free, air contained therein shall be purged by an inert gas or by the gas for which the vessel is to be used.
If the vessel is purged by means of a flammable gas, the flammable mixture so formed shall be vented from the vessel only after taking adequate precautions to prevent its ignition.
Following persons shall not be employed for the loading, unloading or transport of any vessel containing compressed gas, or in any premises licensed under these rules:
Operation of Licensed Premises shall be under the supervision of persons having knowledge of the equipment’s being used in the premise and who are trained in handling the compressed gas.
Other operators shall be conversant with the hazards associated with the compressed gas and fire fighting operation.
Precautions against accidents must be followed such as:
Every person storing compressed gas in a vessel and every person in charge of, or engaged in the storage, handling and transport of such gas in vessels, shall at all times—
(i) comply with the provisions of these rules and the conditions of any licence issued there under;
(ii) observe all precautions for the prevention of accident by fire or explosion.
All documents and drawings required for any transaction or licence form specified under these Rules shall be submitted online through the designated portal of the licensing authority. This requirement applies to all applications for grant, renewal, transfer, or amendment of licences, as well as to the submission of drawings, specifications, and other supporting documents mandated under the Rules.
A compressed hydrogen gas (CHG) dispensing station shall be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with NFPA-2 and ISO 19880 (Parts 1, 3, 5, and 8, as amended from time to time) or any other standard accepted by the Chief Controller of Explosives. A dispenser for dispensing of Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) or compressed hydrogen gas (CHG) shall be designed, constructed, tested, and maintained as per the provisions of Schedule V of the SMPV Rules and ISO 19880 or NFPA-2 (as amended from time to time), and shall be of the type approved by the Chief Controller of Explosives.
The following safety measures shall be ensured while filling fuel tanks and during unloading of tank-trucks: (1) Auto-LPG, Auto LNG, Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2), and Compressed Hydrogen Gas (CHG) must not be filled into a vehicle’s fuel tank when the vehicle’s engine is running. (2) Auto-LPG, Auto LNG, LH2, and CHG must not be dispensed to vehicles during the unloading of Auto-LPG or other such gases from a tank-truck to storage vessels at the station. ‘CHG’ in these provisions refers to Compressed Hydrogen Gas.
The extent of hazardous area for an LPG dispenser shall be classified as under: Zone 1 — the interior of the dispenser cabinet, the area extending 46 cm horizontally around the dispenser cabinet, up to 122 cm above the base of the dispenser, and the pit or open space beneath it; Zone 2 — the area up to 46 cm above ground level, and from 46 cm to 6 metres horizontally around the dispenser. For the purpose of hazardous area and zone classification, IS/IEC 60079-10 or IEC 60079-10 or NFPA-2 or ISO 19880 shall be referred to. For other dispensers, the extent of hazardous area shall be determined as per ISO 16924 for an LNG dispenser, ISO 16923 for a CNG dispenser, and ISO 19880 for a liquefied hydrogen or compressed hydrogen gas dispenser.
For obtaining a licence for a Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) storage and dispensing station, the applicant shall submit all prescribed documents to the Chief Controller of Explosives or other authorised person. In addition to the general documents required under Rule 46(b)(ii), the following additional documents shall be submitted: (a) an overall layout of the surrounding area depicting all existing structures within 100 metres from the edge of the facilities; for major installations of LH2 or compressed gaseous hydrogen exceeding 50 metric tons or 100 m³ water capacity per vessel (whichever is less), the layout shall cover structures within 500 metres; (b) a Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) study and a comprehensive risk assessment report prepared by a reputed agency; (c) detailed layout drawings incorporating sectional elevation views of all proposed facilities, including the hydrogen generation system, storage system, and vessels; (d) an emergency response plan prepared by a reputed agency as per ISO 14001 or any other national or international standard; and (e) piping and instrumentation diagrams for the vessels, equipment, and systems proposed to be installed.
An applicant seeking to store compressed gas in a pressure vessel shall obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the District Authority before commencing such activity. The District Authority shall grant the NOC or communicate its refusal with reasons in writing to the applicant within a maximum period of two months from the date of receipt of the application. Exception: Where the location of storage and dispensing of flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas falls within the notified area of a Port or Airport under the control of the State, or within an establishment of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), Atomic Energy, Railways, or Mines covered under the Indian Mines Act, 1952, the NOC from the District Authority shall not be required.
An applicant seeking to use a pressure vessel at premises for the purpose of transferring Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) into vehicle fuel tanks shall obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the District Authority. The District Authority shall grant the NOC or communicate its refusal with reasons in writing to the applicant as expeditiously as possible, but not later than two months from the date of receipt of the application.
A licence in Form LS-1A is required for the storage of compressed gas in pressure vessels. The applicable licence fee depends on the total water capacity of the vessel(s) and the category of the applicant. For total water capacity up to 5,000 litres: fee of ₹2,500 for MSME enterprises; ₹1,000 for women entrepreneurs; and ₹5,000 for others. For total water capacity above 5,000 litres: MSME — ₹2,500 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹1,250 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹25,000); women entrepreneurs — ₹1,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹10,000); others — ₹5,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹2,500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹50,000).
A licence in Form LS-1B is required for the storage and dispensing of Auto LPG at a dispensing station. The applicable licence fee depends on the total water capacity of the vessel(s) and the category of the applicant. For total water capacity up to 5,000 litres: fee of ₹2,500 for MSME enterprises; ₹1,000 for women entrepreneurs; and ₹5,000 for others. For total water capacity above 5,000 litres: MSME — ₹2,500 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹1,250 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹25,000); women entrepreneurs — ₹1,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹10,000); others — ₹5,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹2,500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹50,000).
A licence in Form LS-1C is required for the storage and dispensing of Auto LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) at a dispensing station. The applicable licence fee depends on the total water capacity of the vessel(s) and the category of the applicant. For total water capacity up to 5,000 litres: fee of ₹2,500 for MSME enterprises; ₹1,000 for women entrepreneurs; and ₹5,000 for others. For total water capacity above 5,000 litres: MSME — ₹2,500 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹1,250 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹25,000); women entrepreneurs — ₹1,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹10,000); others — ₹5,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹2,500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹50,000).
A licence in Form LS-1D is required for the storage and dispensing of Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) at a storage and dispensing station. The applicable licence fee depends on the total water capacity of the vessel(s) and the category of the applicant. For total water capacity up to 5,000 litres: fee of ₹2,500 for MSME enterprises; ₹1,000 for women entrepreneurs; and ₹5,000 for others. For total water capacity above 5,000 litres: MSME — ₹2,500 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹1,250 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹25,000); women entrepreneurs — ₹1,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹10,000); others — ₹5,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹2,500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹50,000).
A licence in Form LS-2 is required for the transport of compressed gas or other prescribed substances by vehicle in a pressure vessel (mobile pressure vessel). The applicable licence fee depends on the total water capacity of the vessel(s) and the category of the applicant. For total water capacity up to 5,000 litres: fee of ₹2,500 for MSME enterprises; ₹1,000 for women entrepreneurs; and ₹5,000 for others. For total water capacity above 5,000 litres: MSME — ₹2,500 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹1,250 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹25,000); women entrepreneurs — ₹1,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹10,000); others — ₹5,000 for the first 5,000 litres plus ₹2,500 per additional 1,000 litres (maximum ₹50,000).
Penalty & Punishment
In case of Contravention, Vessel License may be suspended or cancelled by licensing authority. Further, authority can also impose civil and criminal penalty under section 9B of Explosives Act, 1884
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