--- title: "Pressure piping integrity: what WorkSafe inspectors are finding" description: WorkSafe inspections of Major Hazard Facilities found six common pressure piping gaps. What they are, where the PECPR duties come from and what to check first. image: https://deg.nz/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Industrial%20Inspector%20Using%20Ultrasonic%20Probe%20At%20New%20Zealand%20Plant.png --- [Skip to content](https://deg.nz/insights/pressure-piping-integrity-what-worksafe-inspectors-are-finding#main-content) [![DEG-primary logo-white-RGB - Copy](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/Website%20images/DEG-primary%20logo-white-RGB%20-%20Copy.png?width=125&height=55&name=DEG-primary%20logo-white-RGB%20-%20Copy.png "DEG-primary logo-white-RGB - Copy")](https://deg.nz) Services Consulting Engineering Survey & Inspection Calibration & Compliance Industries Energy & Utilities Manufacturing & Processing Fabrication & Construction Marine & Ports Civil Infrastructure Safety & Quality Approach (Scale) Accreditations & Quality Safety & Compliance Resources Insights Compliance Updates Technical Guidance Case Studies About About DEG Our History Leadership Team Careers Contact Us Services [Consulting Engineering](https://deg.nz/consulting-engineering) [Survey & Inspection](https://deg.nz/survey-inspection) [Calibration & Compliance](https://deg.nz/calibration-compliance) Industries [Energy & Utilities](https://deg.nz/energy-utilities) [Manufacturing & Processing](https://deg.nz/manufacturing-processing) [Fabrication & Construction](https://deg.nz/fabrication-construction) [Marine & Ports](https://deg.nz/marine-ports) [Civil Infrastructure](https://deg.nz/civil-infrastructure) Safety & Quality [Approach (Scale)](https://deg.nz/our-approach) [Accreditations & Quality](https://deg.nz/accreditations-quality) [Safety & Compliance](https://deg.nz/safety-compliance) Resources [Insights](https://deg.nz/insights) [Compliance Updates](https://deg.nz/compliance-updates) [Technical Guidance](https://deg.nz/technical-guidance) [Case Studies](https://deg.nz/case-studies) About [About DEG](https://deg.nz/about) [Our History](https://deg.nz/our-history) [Leadership Team](https://deg.nz/leadership-team) [Careers](https://deg.nz/careers) [Contact Us](https://deg.nz/contact-us) ![](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Industrial%20Inspector%20Using%20Ultrasonic%20Probe%20At%20New%20Zealand%20Plant.png?width=1672&height=941&name=Industrial%20Inspector%20Using%20Ultrasonic%20Probe%20At%20New%20Zealand%20Plant.png) #wedothingstogether #wedoallthingssafely #wedothingsright # Pressure piping integrity: what WorkSafe inspectors are finding ![DEG](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/Red%20D-1.png?width=48&height=48&name=Red%20D-1.png) DEG October 12, 2026 Walk around most plants and the pressure vessels are easy to spot. They have nameplates, register entries and an inspection date someone is tracking. The pipework running between them often has none of that. It’s been there for years, it hasn’t leaked, so it gets left alone. That is changing. WorkSafe’s high hazards newsletter for September 2026 reports that recent inspections of Major Hazard Facilities found common gaps in how pressure piping integrity is managed. Those findings have led to more enforcement action. The newsletter also notes that many New Zealand facilities are now running at or beyond their original design life. **The six gaps WorkSafe found** - **No certificate of inspection** for piping systems at high hazard levels under AS 4343. - **Incomplete hazard level categorisation**, which undermines both conformity assessment and in-service programmes. - **Damage mechanisms not identified**, so inspections happen away from where the risk actually is. - **No system to record operation outside design limits.** - **Limited inspection records**, making it hard to see how condition is changing over time. - **Low awareness of fitness for service** thresholds and requirements. **Where the duties come from** The obligations sit in the Health and Safety in Employment (Pressure Equipment, Cranes, and Passenger Ropeways) Regulations 1999, known as PECPR. Regulation 10 says no equipment can be operated unless it has a current certificate of inspection. Regulation 8 says current certificates and their reports must be kept readily accessible at the workplace. The Approved Code of Practice for Pressure Equipment (Excluding Boilers) covers pressure piping in Part 6. It uses AS 4343 for hazard levels and refers to AS/NZS 3788 for in-service inspection. **What this means for you** The findings came from Major Hazard Facilities, but PECPR applies wherever pressure piping is in scope. In practical terms, start with three questions. Does every piping system have a hazard level? Does it have a current certificate where one is required? Is the inspection plan aimed at its likely damage mechanisms? Then keep your inspection results in a form you can trend over time. That way, decisions on remaining life and fitness for service are based on data, not guesswork. If your plant is past its original design life, that’s the place to start. Our inspectors work to PECPR every day, and our NDT team provides the ultrasonic and phased array data that good in-service programmes depend on. We certify the equipment lives depend on. If you’d like a second set of eyes on your piping register, or need an inspection booked, [get in touch](https://deg.nz/contact-us) or email [admin@deg.nz](mailto:admin@deg.nz). 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