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Pressure Equipment
Directive 97/23/EC
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Subject
area |
The
directive covers pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum
allowable pressure PS greater than 0.5 bar. Pressure equipment
means vessels, piping, safety accessories and pressure accessories.
Assemblies means several pieces of pressure equipment assembled
to form an integrated, functional whole.
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Intention
of legislation |
To remove
technical barriers to trade by harmonising national laws of legislation
regarding the design, manufacture, marking and conformity assessment
of pressure equipment.
It does
not deal with in-use requirements which may be necessary to ensure
the continued safe use of pressure equipment.
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Coverage |
It covers
a wide range of equipment such as, reaction vessels, pressurised
storage containers, heat exchangers, shell and water tube boilers,
industrial pipework, safety devices and pressure accessories.
Such equipment is widely used in the chemical, petro- chemical,
biochemical, food processing, refrigeration and energy industries
and for power generation.
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Brief
history |
The Commission's
proposal was submitted to the Council of Ministers on 15 July
1993 and was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council
on 29 May 1997. It came into force on 29 November 1999 but compliance
with its requirements will be optional until 29 May 2002.
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Exclusions |
There are
some specific exclusions such as: equipment within the scope
of other directives (e.g. simple pressure vessels, aerosols,
parts for the functioning of vehicles); and equipment covered
by the international conventions for the transport of dangerous
goods and equipment for which the pressure hazards are low and
are adequately covered by other directives (such as the Machinery
Directive, Low Voltage Directive and Medical Devices Directive).
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Implementation |
The
Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999
(SI 1999/2001) were laid on 19 July 1999 and came into force
on 29 November 1999. Guidelines for the appointment of conformity
assessment bodies are available, quoting reference URN99/1051,
from publications@dti.gsi.gov.uk or downloadable
from this website in Adobe Acrobat
format.
A consultation
is presently underway (closes 22 March 2002) about some minor
changes to the PER. The consultation document can be obtained
from our downloadable documents
page.
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Guidance |
A comprehensive
DTI guidance booklet is available - see Publications
and Downloadable Documents.
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European
Guidelines & Further Information. |
Guidelines
on various aspects of the Directive have been agreed between
the Commission, Member States and European Trade Associations.
These guidelines help to ensure consistency of interpretation
across the Community but they do not have legal standing.
These
guidelines, along with details of harmonised product and material
standards, European Approval of Materials and all European Conformity
Assessment Bodies currently notified are available from the Commission
Pressure Equipment Directive website: ped.eurodyn.com
Further
guidelines are in the process of being developed through the
Commission's Working Group Pressure, and its sub-groups. Periodic
reports by the DTI on this process can be accessed from our downloadable documents page.
The
CEN website also provides details of all harmonised standards:
http://www.newapproach.org/Directives/Default.asp
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Related
Regulations |
The Pressure
Systems Safety Regulations will cover in-use requirements and
other aspects not covered by the Pressure Equipment Regulations
and the Health & Safety Executive
should be contacted for further information.
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Contact |
Mike Dodds,
STRD5, Department of Trade and Industry, Bay 328, 151 Buckingham
Palace Road, London SW1W 9SS
Tel : 020 7215 1436
Fax : 020 7215 1529.
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