Pressure Equipment Services for Machinery

The European Union Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC) applies to machinery if the product contains gas or liquid systems operating above 0.5 bar (approximately 7.25 psi). Although this directive is relatively new, not many machinery manufacturers are aware of its impact and requirements in selling their products in the EU.

It is likely that many of the components encompassed within your machinery equipment will not require any rigorous assessment, but there will be a few components that may require the involvement of a Notified Body.

Engineers from TÜV Product Service's Machinery Evaluation group can assist you in understanding the impact of these directives as part of the evaluation of your equipment to the Machinery Directive. If Notified Body involvement is required, we can guide you through the process.

About the Pressure Equipment Directive
The Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC was adopted on May 29, 1997, and incorporated into law May 29, 1999, at which time a three-year transition period began.

As of May 29, 2002 the Pressure Equipment Directive became mandatory, replacing all European national pressure equipment codes, ordinances etc. Pressure Equipment manufactures seeking to enter Germany must now comply with the European Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC. (Pressure equipment can be vessels, piping, safety accessories and pressure accessories. In some situations pressure equipment includes elements attached to pressurized parts, such as flanges, nozzles, couplings, supports, lifting lugs, etc.)

The PED applies to pressure equipment sold in the European Union with a maximum permissible pressure exceeding 0.5 bar. Equipment directly effected by the PED include:

• Vessels (Heat Exchangers)

• Fired Pressure Vessels

• Piping & Pipelines

• Safety & Pressure Accessories (safety, relief valves, regulators, rupture disks)

The PED covers essential requirements, but does not give specifics on design, material, manufacturing and testing, which remain under existing national codes, and must be based on "state-of-the-art-technology".

TÜV provides European Union Notified Body services for the PED and has the necessary experience and qualifications to assist manufacturers in gaining certification to the PED. Whether it is standards explanation & interpretation consulting services or initial product design consulting, TÜV has the industry experts to assist your organization in accessing the European market.

For more information, contact us.

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