Biogas plants − Operation, maintenance, modernisation and optimisation
Many of the intermediate and end products are explosive, flammable or toxic. To play it safe and also comply with legal and regulatory requirements, TÜV NORD provides periodic inspections.
This gives operators of biogas production installations legal certainty, reduces their risks, increases availability and ensures an environmentally sound process.
The experts at TÜV NORD know the relevant regulations, standards and technical rules as well as the requirements laid down by the regulatory authorities. This means we assist you quickly and efficiently with safety issues relating to the operation, maintenance, modernisation and optimisation of the plants. Important regulations are:
- § 16 BetrSichV
- VAwS tests
Periodic inspection in accordance with § 16 of the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health
A biogas plant is considered hazardous under the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health. This means that biogas plants count as potentially explosive areas together with pressure equipment.
The German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health is the legal basis for carrying out the periodic inspections of a plant that requires monitoring. This helps the operator provide a safe working environment for his employees and third parties, avoiding potential risks. Installations requiring regular inspection must be periodically inspected for compliance with safety standards. The periodic inspection of plants in potentially explosive areas (§ 16 BetrSichV) must take place at intervals of not more than three years.
TÜV NORD provides experienced experts to support the operator in carrying out his duties.
We inspect
- The explosion protection document and its framework conditions
- If the installation has been carried out according to the explosion protection document
- Whether the equipment is suitable for use in potentially explosive areas
- Proper installation, installation conditions and safe functioning
Periodic VAwS inspections
To guarantee the complete safety of the plant and the environment, biogas plants must be designed and operated such that water-polluting substances can not escape. This means that amongst other measures, leakage detection is required on tanks and pipes. In biogas plants, fuel oil, diesel, lubricating oil / waste oil, liquid manure, slurry, silage effluent and to some extrent substrates are designated as water-polluting substances. TÜV NORD guarantees the highest safety standards and, in accordance with the Ordinance, inspects the plant for the handling of water-polluting substances (VAwS), including the premises, substrate containers, piping, lubricating oil, waste oil and silage storage.
Depending on the following circumstances, very different framework conditions and obligations may arise for the operator, in particular with regard to the time limits of the periodic inspection requirement:
- German federal state
- Classification of the water reprotection area
- Additional conditions attached to the permit
- Selection, nature, design and capacity of the components
- Technical guidelines
- Approved equipment (reservoirs, pipes, building materials, equipment ...)
TÜV NORD assists operators, designers and manufacturers in these different aspects of a biogas plant that has an impact on its quality, construction and operation.
