AS 4343 — “Pressure equipment: Hazard levels” — is the standard that classifies a piece of pressure equipment by how much harm it could do. That classification is the gateway to almost everything else: it determines whether the equipment needs statutory in-service inspection, whether it must be registered (in states that require it), and what records you have to keep.
What sets the hazard level
The hazard level is derived from a combination of factors — principally the equipment's pressure and volume, plus the nature of its contents (flammability and toxicity), its temperature, and where it's located. A large steam boiler and a small compressed-air receiver can sit at very different levels for exactly these reasons.
The levels, broadly
- Level A — highest hazard; the most rigorous requirements
- Levels B and C — significant hazard; trigger certified in-service inspection (and item registration in states that require it)
- Levels D and E — lower hazard; lighter-touch, typically owner-level surveillance, though AS/NZS 3788 still gives inspection guidance for level D
Why the level matters to you
If your equipment is level A, B or C, you're squarely in in-service-inspection territory: it needs periodic inspection by a competent person to AS/NZS 3788, and — in Victoria — the records have to be kept. If it's D or E, the obligations are lighter, but you still need to know that's where it sits.
You usually can't tell the level by eye. The reliable path is to read it off the nameplate data against the current standard. If you'd like that done for you, a free AS 4343 assessment gives you the answer with no obligation.
Not sure where your equipment stands?
Send a photo of the equipment and its nameplate and we'll tell you plainly under AS 4343 — free, no obligation.
Common questions
- Which hazard levels need inspection?
- Levels A, B and C generally require certified in-service inspection to AS/NZS 3788. Levels D and E are lower-touch — usually owner surveillance — though the standard still provides inspection guidance for level D.
- How do I find my equipment's hazard level?
- It's derived from the equipment's pressure, volume, contents, temperature and location, assessed against AS 4343. The nameplate data is the starting point; send us a photo for a free read.
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This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Inspection requirements depend on your specific equipment and jurisdiction; confirm against the current edition of the applicable standard. Speqo supplements but does not replace your own duty-holder obligations.