|
Simple Pressure Vessels
Directive 87/404/EEC
|
Subject Area |
The Directive applies to series produced, unfired pressure vessels
of welded construction which are intended to contain air or nitrogen
at an internal gauge pressure greater than 0.5 Bar. There are
also limits to the maximum working pressure and the minimum working
temperature, and it has specific requirements covering the geometry
of the design and the materials that can be used.
|
Intention of
legislation |
To remove technical barriers to
trade by harmonising the laws of Member States covering the design,
manufacture and conformity assessment and to ensure that only
safe vessels are placed on the market.
|
|
Coverage |
The main application of vessels
covered by the directive is to provide a pressurised reservoir
to smooth the air supply from a compressor and minimise the change
in pressure with variations in the load or flow rate. The compressed
air from the vessel could used as part of a paint spraying system,
or to drive various pneumatic tools, fluid logic systems and
actuators in a factory.
The other major application
is in vehicle and rail wagon braking systems.
|
|
Brief history |
The SPV Directive (87/404/EEC)
was adopted on 25 June 1987 and came into force on 1 July 1990.
It was implemented in the United Kingdom by the Simple
Pressure Vessel (Safety) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2749).
The first amending directive
(90/488/EEC) was limited to the introduction of a transition
period up to 1 July 1992.
The directive was then amended
for a second time by the relevant parts of the CE Marking Directive
(93/68/EEC) which were implemented by the Simple
Pressure Vessels (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1991 (SI 1994/3098).
|
|
Specific exclusions |
Vessels specifically designed
for nuclear use, failure of which may cause the emission of radioactivity;
vessels specifically intended for installation in or the propulsion
of ships and aircraft; fire extinguishers.
|
|
Current issues |
The SPV Directive was the first
New Approach directive to be adopted but it has a narrowly defined
scope and prescriptive requirements which are more typical of
an 'old style' technical harmonisation directive. The narrow
scope means that many pressure vessels are outside the scope
and considerable discussion has been necessary in a Commission
services working group to provide guidance on borderline cases.
In addition the conformity assessment procedures are not based
on the Modules Decision 93/465/EEC and do not contain full quality
assurance options as routes to compliance.
For these reasons, the future
of the SPV Directive will be reviewed when the Pressure Equipment
Directive comes into force.
|
|
Guidance |
A comprehensive DTI Guidance booklet is available.
|
|
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.
|
