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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 |
Rick Holyomes / Joanne Carter, STRD5, Department of
Trade and Industry, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SS Tel :
020 7215 1427 / 1437, Fax : 020 7215 1529.
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