Pressure Vessel Design, Certification and Verification: Why It Matters for Every Industry

When most people think about pressure vessels, they picture oil refineries or large-scale gas plants. But pressure vessels are everywhere—quietly doing their job in industries you might not expect. They’re used to extract botanicals for medicines, carbonating soft drinks, brewing beer, storing fuel and gases, and even running the compressed air systems that keep workshops moving.

Pressure vessels being manufacturing should be guided by the correct engineering certifications and verifications. We work with Stainless Tanks Australia regularly, and have built a great working rapport to achieve fast, effective results for clients.

That tank sitting in the corner of a workshop or plant might have been there for decades, but that doesn’t mean it’s exempt from regulation. In fact, under Work Health and Safety (WHS) law, many pressure vessels require design verification and in some cases design registration. Beyond compliance, insurers often require evidence of pressure vessel certification to ensure liability coverage. The stakes are high: even vessels filled with inert gases can fail catastrophically if poorly designed, inadequately maintained, or unverified. A pressure vessel failure is, quite literally, a bomb on site.

Why Pressure Vessel Design and Verification is Critical

The role of an RPEQ engineer (and equivalent registrations in other states) is to ensure that a pressure vessel’s design complies with relevant Australian and international standards (such as AS 1210 and ASME VIII) and that it meets the hazard level categorisation requirements of AS 4343.

• Pressure Vessel Design: Fit-for-purpose design that accounts for operating pressures, temperatures, materials, and fabrication techniques.

• Pressure Vessel Design Verification: Independent verification by a qualified engineer to confirm that the design complies with standards and safety regulations.

• Pressure Vessel Certification: Documentation and statements prepared for WHS plant design registration, providing confidence to operators, regulators, and insurers.

These processes aren’t just red tape—they’re essential safeguards protecting businesses, employees, and the public.

Supporting Innovation as Well as Industry

At Black Square Engineering, we provide pressure vessel design verification for major infrastructure projects across Australia, including AMPOL’s Lytton desulphurisation project and Woodside’s Pluto 2 Train in Western Australia. These large-scale projects rely on design verification to proceed with confidence, ensuring compliance and insurance obligations are fully met.

But our work doesn’t stop at mega-projects. Many of our clients are innovators in the R&D sector. Bespoke construction of pressure vessels is often prohibitively expensive, so businesses import equipment or repurpose existing vessels. Black Square works with these groups to adapt, verify, and certify imported designs—engineering practical solutions that enable research, development, and innovation to move forward safely and legally.

Do You Need Pressure Vessel Certification?

If you’re operating pressurised equipment—whether in food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, gas storage, fuel distribution, or heavy industry—it’s worth asking: is your equipment covered by current pressure vessel certification? Has its design been verified against today’s standards?

Many operators are surprised to learn their plant requires verification or registration. Even if equipment has “always just worked,” it may still fall within WHS requirements. Taking steps to ensure compliance not only protects your business but also unlocks insurance cover and avoids costly downtime.

How Black Square Can Help

With a high ratio of RPEQ engineers across our team, Black Square Engineering delivers efficient and practical support for:

• New pressure vessel design and drafting

• Independent pressure vessel design verification

• Preparation of documentation for pressure vessel certification and WHS plant design registration

• Adaptation and verification of imported or custom equipment

• Guidance through testing, inspection, and fabrication processes

  
  

From large-scale energy infrastructure to small-scale R&D projects, we help businesses across Australia meet their obligations while keeping their operations moving.

If you’re unsure whether your pressure vessel requires design verification or certification, get in touch with our team. We’ll help you assess your obligations and provide the engineering assurance you need.