Directive 97/23/EC Pressure equipment
QB Certification, as a Notified Body accredited for the Pressure Equipment Directive, provides third party inspection and design validation services on pressure equipment.
QB Certification engineers and auditors have years of valuable international experience in all aspects of pressure equipment, from manufacturing, design, inspection, welding, to quality assurance for both fixed and transportable pressure equipment. Our services are independent and confidential. We deliver fast, competent compliance solutions. Whether you are a designer, manufacturer, importer or assembler of pressure equipment, we can help you deliver pressure equipment to market more efficiently and cost-effectively.
The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) is European Legislation aimed at removing the technical barriers to trade relating to the supply of pressure equipment throughout Europe. The PED is based on Essential Safety Requirements (ESRs) that govern design, manufacturing, inspection and testing. PED affects most equipment that will be placed on the market in the European Economic Area (EEA) designed for pressures above 0.5 bar g or 7.25 psi g.
PED covers all types of fixed equipment:
- Pressure Vessels
- Piping
- Steam Generators
- Pressure Accessories
- Safety Accessories
- Assemblies comprising two or more items listed above
PED does NOT cover the following types of equipment (with conditions):
- Conveyance pipelines
- Water supply networks
- Military Equipment
- Nuclear equipment
- Well control equipment
- Equipment not specifically designed for pressure such as IC engines and turbines
- Pressure equipment installed on ships, rockets, aircraft, and mobile offshore units
The justification for the above exemptions range from low risk to existing legislative regulations. ESR (Essential Safety Requirements)
Annex I of the PED defines specific requirements that must be satisfied relating to hazard analysis, design, welding approval, material approval, manufacturing, inspection, testing, product marking, operating instructions and more. This approach means that any suitable design code can be used, e.g. ASME VIII for pressure vessels, provided that justification can be made against all applicable ESRs.
TPED 99/36/EC (Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive)
The TPED applies to most transportable pressure equipment within the EU. Unlike the PED, the TPED is not a New Approach Directive. Compliance with one of the officially mandated standards is needed.
EEA (European Economic Area)
The EEA is a number of countries that have agreed to transpose all European Directives into their National Law for which pressure equipment must comply with the PED and TPED as necessary. EEA members are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
Other countries specify PED/TPED compliance in anticipation of their entry into the EEA.