Pressure equipment—such as vessels, boilers, and tanks—operates under conditions where safety cannot be left to chance. In Australia, strict regulations require that this type of equipment undergo design registration and independent verification before it can be installed or commissioned.
💡 At GWE, our mission is to help clients navigate this process with confidence.
We provide independent third-party verification through Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) – Pressure Equipment Design Verifiers, ensuring compliance with:
AS 1210
AS 3920
AS 4343
WHS Regulations
International Codes (ASME, TEMA, PD5500, API)
The goal of registration is:
Safety – ensuring the design has been checked against recognized standards and meets Australia’s safety requirements.
Traceability – maintaining a record of the approved design for auditing and operational oversight.
⚠️ Without a valid certificate of design registration, it is unlawful to install or operate pressure equipment that falls into hazard levels A, B, C, or D under AS 4343.
Although they sound similar, these are two separate obligations:
✅ Design Registration → applies to the engineering design itself. Once approved, multiple identical units can be manufactured. (Usually handled by the fabricator/importer.)
✅ Plant Registration → applies to the physical equipment at installation. (Usually carried out by the owner/operator before commissioning.)
🔎 In short: Design registration covers the blueprint, while plant registration covers the actual vessel in service.
Design Registration → mandatory for all pressure equipment at hazard levels A–D under AS 4343.
Plant Registration → required for hazard levels A–C before commissioning.
📊 Hazard classification considers volume, fluid type, design pressure, stored energy, and potential consequences of failure.
Western Australia – accepts designs only to AS 1210, ASME Section VIII, BS-PD 5500.
Victoria & Other States – accept a broader range of international codes (if published in English).
Recognition Across States – designs registered in one jurisdiction are accepted in others, but plant registration rules may still vary (esp. WA).
A Design Verifier is more than a formality—they are a safeguard.
🔧 Their duties include:
Reviewing the design against nominated codes.
Confirming materials, stress levels, corrosion allowances, and safety factors.
Documenting verification & issuing Design Verification Statement or Compliance Letter (AS 3920).
👨🔧 At GWE, all verifications are performed by Chartered Professional Engineers accredited under AS 3920 (Conformity Assessment of Pressure Equipment).
As of July 2025, fees across Australia are:
| State / Territory | Design Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| NSW | A$351 per design |
| WA | A$719 (design) / A$609 (mine-site operator) |
| QLD | A$136.78 |
| Other States | Typically A$100 – A$400 |
