A pressure regulating system for stationary equipment employing a stacked set of packing elements , comprising a fluid source for supplying a source of fluid, a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the fluid to form a pressurized fluid, and a packing loading assembly for sealing a process fluid within the stationary equipment and for applying an axial loading force to the packing elements via the pressurized fluid from the pressure regulator , wherein the packing loading assembly comprises a follower element movable in an axial direction, and a gland for housing the follower element , wherein the gland comprises a main body having an upper surface , an opposed bottom surface and a side surface , a plurality of fastener-receiving apertures formed in the main body for seating a fastening element , characterised by a gland channel formed in the bottom surface of the main body forming a gland pressure chamber, and a fluid supply port formed in the side surface and fluidly communicating with the gland channel , wherein the follower element comprises a first end having a bucket-like structure and an opposed second end having a stem-like structure , wherein the bucket-like structure has a generally U-shaped body having opposed first and second side walls and a bottom wall forming a pressure chamber , the bucket-like structure of the follower element being sized and configured for seating at least partly within the gland channel of the gland and wherein the stem-like structure has a foot portion at a terminal end thereof for contacting an axially outermost one of the plurality of packing elements . a fluid source for supplying a source of fluid, a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the fluid to form a pressurized fluid, and a packing loading assembly for sealing a process fluid within the stationary equipment and for applying an axial loading force to the packing elements via the pressurized fluid from the pressure regulator , wherein the packing loading assembly comprises a follower element movable in an axial direction, and a gland for housing the follower element , wherein the gland comprises a main body having an upper surface , an opposed bottom surface and a side surface , a plurality of fastener-receiving apertures formed in the main body for seating a fastening element , a main body having an upper surface , an opposed bottom surface and a side surface , a plurality of fastener-receiving apertures formed in the main body for seating a fastening element , characterised by a gland channel formed in the bottom surface of the main body forming a gland pressure chamber, and a fluid supply port formed in the side surface and fluidly communicating with the gland channel , wherein the follower element comprises a first end having a bucket-like structure and an opposed second end having a stem-like structure , wherein the bucket-like structure has a generally U-shaped body having opposed first and second side walls and a bottom wall forming a pressure chamber , the bucket-like structure of the follower element being sized and configured for seating at least partly within the gland channel of the gland and wherein the stem-like structure has a foot portion at a terminal end thereof for contacting an axially outermost one of the plurality of packing elements . <EOS>