Pressure Equipment Directive (PED)

PED 97/23/EC

The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 97/23/EC applies to the design, manufacturing and conformity evaluation process of Pressure Equipment, as well as Pressure Equipment Assemblies. The maximum allowable design pressure must be greater than 0.5 bar.

Covered under the general term "Pressure Equipment" are pressure vessels, steam boilers, exchangers, tubing (pipe) and pressure accessories, as well as devices under pressure. Also included are all parts and products that are attached to pressurized parts (i.e., flanges, nozzles, lifting parts, fast-connectors, etc).

According to Article 20, the PED became applicable on November 29, 1999. Since then, each European member state had the responsibility to implement and adopt the PED into national law by May 29, 2002. Manufacturers and/or final users of pressure equipment had to decide if their product meets the PED requirements or the national code of the country in which the product will be placed. However, if the member state adopts the PED into national law, no selection between PED and national code is possible; in this case, the PED will be mandated.