VDI 2776 Blatt 4:2025-05 - Draft

The series of standards VDI 2776 provides assistance for the successful design and operation of modular plants in the process industry. Part 4 describes the basic principles and requirements for the approval of the construction and operation of modular plants. The standard is thus aimed firstly at operators who are faced with the decision of whether to have new processes approved in the classic or modular form, without ignoring compliance issues that arise during the operation of modular plants. Second, manufacturers of elements of the modular concept are the addressees of this standard, who are faced with novel product liability issues when bringing their products to market in the new market of modular process plant technology. Thirdly, the standard serves as engineering support for the approval authorities in the formulation of legally secure notices for the erection and operation of modular plants. The standard describes concepts and measures in conformity with the regulations for compliance with the operator's obligations in the areas of occupational health and safety, plant safety and building law. It provides an outlook on the evaluation and verification of conformity with regulations for plants that are subject to the relevant environmental legislation. Immission control, water law, hazardous substances law, etc. are also discussed. The standard describes the basic requirements for the approvability of modular plants. It provides information on the legally secure transfer of risk from manufacturer to operator. Legal requirements and commercial law provisions are described and evaluated as examples. It provides structured recommendations for the design of immission control permit applications, taking into account the variable characteristics of modular plants. This also includes framework permit, preliminary decision, change management. The standard provides recommended actions for compliance review within the flexible operating configuration. It explains the structured procedure for evaluating regulatory compliance for varying selected operating modes within the operating parameters specified by the manufacturer and the framework provided by the legislature and the permit. It describes the legal corset for change management in the transition from plant design to the operating phase, especially in the variable lifecycle of the modular framework. The focus here is on variation within the approved framework. The standard specifies roles and responsibilities for approval requirements and compliance along the asset lifecycle. It considers the conceivable operator models and works out the advantages and disadvantages as well as the resulting obligations in terms of liability.