WHAT IS THE " PED" DIRECTIVE?
La Directiva de Equipos a Presión o PED (2014/68/EU) establece los requisitos que los fabricantes de equipos a presión deben cumplir si quieren vender sus productos en Europa. Se aplica al diseño, fabricación y evaluación de la conformidad de equipos a presión y conjuntos con una presión máxima permitida PS (la presión máxima a la que los componentes pueden trabajar según el diseño) superior a 0,5 bar. Los equipos y conjuntos a presión pueden comercializarse o ponerse en servicio solo si cumplen los requisitos de la Directiva sobre equipos a presión, es decir, si se fabrican de conformidad con la Directiva, si se instalan y mantienen correctamente y si se utilizados para los fines previstos.
With the PED Directive, the European Union has harmonized the requirements that ensure the safety of pressure equipment used within the European Economic Area (EEA). This ensures adequate safety for users, but it also means that manufacturers of pressure equipment that comply with the requirements of the PED Directive can offer their products in all EEA member states without needing additional permits for each individual country.
WHAT IS PRESSURE EQUIPMENT?
The term pressure equipment means pressure vessels, piping, safety and pressure accessories, including, where applicable, components attached to pressurized parts (flanges, nozzles, couplings, supports, lifting handles, etc.). Due to the internal pressures and the substances contained or stored inside, pressure equipment can pose a hazard to persons and objects in the vicinity, as well as to the environment. Depending on the hazard they present, pressure equipment can be classified into two groups:
- low-risk equipment
- high-risk equipment
DUTIES OF A PRESSURE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER
Each manufacturer of pressure equipment must prepare the required technical documentation, which will enable an assessment of the pressure equipment’s conformity with the requirements of the Directive PED. The documentation must, among other things, contain design calculations and ensure traceability of both the materials and the production process. If the pressure equipment and assemblies meet the requirements of the Directive, as confirmed by a notified body, the manufacturer may prepare a Declaration of Conformity and affix the “ CE ” marking, accompanied by the identification number of the notified body PED that registered the manufacturer’s finished product. The manufacturer must also create a product identification plate, which must be affixed to a visible part of the pressure equipment or assembly. The identification plate must contain all the information required by the Directive (name, serial number, pressure ratings, etc.) and the “ CE ” marking, as well as the modules or standards used during manufacturing.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
The EU Declaration of Conformity confirms that a product complies with the requirements of the Pressure Equipment Directive, i.e. the requirements of the European Union.
The Declaration of Conformity must contain:
- the name and full address of the manufacturer or its authorized representative
- identification of the pressure equipment (name, product type, production lot or serial number)
- the directive(s), regulation(s) and standards applied
- name of manufacturer's signatory or its authorized representative
- approval by a Notified Body for conformity assessment
- Place and date of issue
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE USER?
Choosing which pressure equipment to buy can be very difficult, as there are many different manufacturers. The price of the product can often be the deciding factor, although basing your choice on price alone often leads to lower quality, and the initially lower price may later increase significantly due to additional costs. When deciding to purchase pressure equipment, especially from outside Europe, you must ensure that the manufacturer also provides you with the required documentation to verify that the equipment complies with the requirements at PED, allows you to register the product with the competent authority, and ensures the safe use of the product. If the documentation is incomplete, the importer or the person placing the pressure equipment on the EU market must subsequently carry out all conformity assessment procedures (calculation, testing, etc.). The entire process can be costly and may even prove futile, as there is still a possibility that the pressure vessel will not be approved for further use. Every user of pressure equipment must take all necessary safety measures to ensure their own safety and that of their employees. Inspections and maintenance work depend on the category to which the product belongs:
Low risk equipment: The user is responsible for the safe use of the product. They must follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation, connection, use and maintenance of the equipment, as well as perform the inspections and tests specified by the manufacturer and document them accordingly.
High-risk equipment: the first inspection and all subsequent periodic inspections are carried out by an authorized inspection agency with which the user concludes a contract. The inspection body also keeps records of the pressure equipment.
Every user of pressure equipment should be aware that even a 500-liter tank with a pressure of 2.5 bar is considered high-risk. This means that most beer tanks fall into this category, and their users must:
- organize the first inspection of the pressure equipment
- organize subsequent periodic inspections
- notify the competent authority within eight days of the start and end of the use of the pressure equipment
- notify the competent authority within eight days of any change in the data contained in the protocol sheet
- in the event of a change of ownership, deliver the pressure equipment records and all associated documentation to the new owner.
During installation, use and inspection of pressure equipment it is necessary to take into account the regulations, standards and provisions applicable in the country where the equipment is installed, as they may differ. Be sure to consult the applicable standards in your country before installation of the equipment.
