PED certification for pressure vessels, boilers and piping

What the pressure equipment package covers

The Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU, known as PED, applies to the design, manufacture and conformity assessment of pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum allowable pressure greater than 0.5 bar. It covers vessels, steam generators and boilers, piping, safety accessories such as safety valves, and pressure accessories such as valves and regulators.

Simple pressure vessels, meaning welded vessels of simple design for air or nitrogen, are covered by a separate directive, the Simple Pressure Vessels Directive 2014/29/EU. Transportable pressure equipment such as gas cylinders for transport follows yet another set of rules. Placing your product under the right directive is the first step.

Under PED, equipment is classified into a category from I to IV, based on the type of equipment, the fluid group, the maximum allowable pressure and the volume or nominal size. The higher the category, the stricter the conformity assessment. Equipment below category I that falls under sound engineering practice is designed and made to good practice but does not carry the CE mark.

• Category assessment using the PED conformity assessment tables
• Selection of conformity assessment modules for your category
• Design review support and calculations to harmonised standards
• Material and welding documentation: material certificates, welding procedures and welder qualifications
• Coordination of non-destructive testing and the final pressure test
• Technical file, EU Declaration of Conformity and nameplate review

If you are unsure which category applies, send us the design data and we will assess it before you commit.

Choosing the module for your category

Category I equipment can be assessed by the manufacturer under internal production control. From category II onward a notified body must take part, and the manufacturer chooses among the modules the directive allows for that category. Some modules focus on the design and a type, others on product verification or on the manufacturer's quality system.

For a one-off vessel or small batch, unit verification by the notified body is often the practical choice. For a manufacturer producing series, a quality system module may be more efficient over time, because the notified body audits the system and makes periodic visits rather than examining every unit in detail.

Permanent joining and non-destructive testing personnel also need approval for higher categories, either by a notified body or a recognised third-party organization. We check that your welding procedures and welder qualifications meet this before production starts, because finding the gap at final inspection is expensive.

What decides the price

Pressure equipment packages start at $800. The notified body fees are included in your package price where your category requires a notified body.

• PED category and the module chosen
• Type of equipment: vessel, boiler, piping, assembly or accessory
• Series or one-off production
• Design calculations and drawings already available
• Welding and NDT documentation in place
• Assemblies that combine several items into one unit

We confirm the price after reviewing your design data, fluid, pressure and volume, and list every fee in a written quote.

Getting the category right early is what controls cost. A small change in volume, pressure or fluid can move equipment into a higher category with a stricter module, so we check the category against your design options before the design is frozen.