The Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) requires that all sprayers of greater than 3m boom width must be tested by 26 November 2016 to remain legally eligible to use after this date. Sprayers with faults identified in tests will need to be repaired and retested before subsequent use is legally permitted after 26 November. Sprayers can indeed be tested after this date but they will not be legal to use for pesticide application after that date unless they have been certified.
The Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) requires that all sprayers of greater than 3m boom width must be tested by 26 November 2016 to remain legally eligible to use after this date.
Sprayers with faults identified in tests will need to be repaired and retested before subsequent use is legally permitted after 26 November. Sprayers can indeed be tested after this date but they will not be legal to use for pesticide application after that date unless they have been certified.
Main faults identified by testing operators are leaks and drips or issues such as worn nozzles or those which are giving more than 10% above the manufacturer’s rated output.
Test criteria
The criteria set out under SUD for testing pesticide application equipment is as follows:
All pesticide application equipment must be tested by 26 November 2016 unless it is less than five years old on that date. Machines that are less than five years old will require a test on their fifth anniversary.Equipment with boom widths of more than 3m, air blast sprayers and trailed sprayers require testing at no more than five-year intervals until 2020. After 2020, they will have to be tested every three years.Booms of less than 3m, knapsack sprayers, hand-held and pedestrian controlled machines do not require a formal test for the moment but they must be inspected regularly by a competent person. The results of that inspection are to be recorded along with any repairs or rectifications made.New rules apply to all applying pesticides commercially, so as well as farmers it applies to golf courses, local authorities and utility companies.Who to book your sprayer test with
Take care that your tester has the necessary training and registration and can provide you with a valid certificate. You can check the Department’s website for confirmation if a tester is approved at www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/sud.What’s involved in testing sprayers?
Inspectors test your functioning sprayer parts against carefully calibrated testing equipment which they bring with them. Testing will be conducted on the control system(s), the pump, all nozzles, the pressure gauge(s), hose lines, pressures throughout the sprayer, filters, etc.Complete the pre-test checklist as published on the Department’s website. Testers will issue a certificate in conjunction with a sticker to be placed on your sprayer. The tester will register that your sprayer passed the test with the Department. In the event that a sprayer does not meet the required standards, recommendations will be provided informing the user of the necessary repairs. How to prepare sprayers for testing
A pre-test checklist must be completed with the relevant criteria complied with and signed off on for a test to proceed. These criteria include:
The PTO is fully guarded.The power unit and sprayer are connected up and ready for test.The sprayer is completely clean, both inside and out including filters and filter inserts.The sprayer has an adequate supply of clean water on arrival.The sprayer is in a safe general condition.There will also need to be an appropriate hard standing area on which to test the sprayer using clean water and an acceptance to dispose of the water on-site, ie only clean water will be exiting the machine. This may fall under the remit of the farmer or tester depending on where the test is carried out.
Key elements examined during test:
PTO – guards must be in place.Pump – no leakages evident.Agitation – visible agitation at maximum working pressure with largest nozzles mounted.Tank:No leakages; strainer; pressure compensation; level indicator; emptying mechanism.Measuring systems, controls.Pressure gauge (readability; marking; diameter; accuracy; steadiness of pointer).Pipes and hoses: no leakages; abrasions; kinks or bends.Filters – Ensure that all in-line filters and, where appropriate, nozzle filters are clean.Spray booms – stability; straightness;/ automatic resetting; nozzle spacing; section control.Nozzles – ensure that all nozzles are identical; no dripping five seconds after turning off.Pressure/flow rate – boom section pressures; nozzle flow rates. Read more
Watch: Compulsory sprayer testing from November
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