If your company designs or manufacture equipment like steam boilers, pressure vessels and safety valves and you want to ensure they are safe to distribute in Europe, you can benefit from Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) certification.

The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU aims to ensure the safety of pressure equipment in Europe. It covers pressure equipment through design, manufacture and conformity assessment, for stationary units with a maximum allowable pressure of higher than 0.5 bar. Certification lets you show your customers that your products are safe for use, and that you value quality.

When applying for ISO 9001 for pressure equipment manufacturing operations, PED certification is required. Together, ISO 9001 and PED certification help you improve your processes and performance, so your organization can better meet the needs of your customers and fulfil its requirements as a supplier. This opens up new business opportunities and strengthens competitiveness, ultimately leading to increased profit.

Focus

PED certification is for designers, producers, assemblers, installers, sellers and users of pressure equipment who have or want to obtain an ISO 9001 certificate.

What you need to know

PED guarantees the safety of pressure equipment while allowing the free movement of products in the EU. It is suitable for any organization that designs and manufactures pressure equipment, such as steam boilers, pressure vessels, piping, safety valves and other components and assemblies subject to pressure loading.

The PED is split into two sections with decrees:

I. Design/ New Pressure Equipment

  • Pressure Equipment Decree 311 – Manufacturer: Risk analysis and Conformity assessment
  • Pressure Equipment Decree 339 – User: Risk analysis and Conformity assessment
  • Pressure Equipment Decree 387 – User: Approval for Commissioning

II. Operational stage

  • Pressure Equipment Decree 387 – User: Periodic inspections

The decrees set out the requirements for each stage, including who is responsible for the various processes. 

Getting certified with Kiwa

To thrive as a manufacturer today, attention to quality is vital – especially when working with pressure equipment. Customers are looking for proof of the quality of the products they buy, and suppliers must show they meet safety and quality management requirements; certification can demonstrate this.

By partnering with Kiwa, you can ensure your PED certificate reflects the quality and safety of your products and gets you ready for ISO 9001 certification; this in turn will help you improve your quality management systems, so you can perform better, meet your customers’ needs and boost your business.

Exclusions

PED has a number of exclusions: distribution networks, aerosols, machines covered by the Machine Directive, equipment for nuclear use, wellhead for controlling equipment, blast furnace(s), bottles or cans for carbonated liquids, turbines / compressors / pumps / turbos etc., transformer enclosures / switchgear and control equipment, inflatable pressure equipment, vessels for the transport and distribution of liquids with a pressure ≤ 7 bar and Design Pressure x Volume (PS x V) ≤ 500 bar.liter, radiators and pipes used in district heating systems, nuclear energy.

USPs/benefits

  • Boost your profits – by helping you prove safety and conformity and meet customers’ needs, PED certification can help boost your business – and the bottom line
  • Improve processes – with PED and ISO 9001, you can identify areas for improvement in your management processes, ensuring they are internationally accepted
  • Increase efficiency – by highlighting where your processes can be improved, PED certification helps identify ways to cut costs and improve efficiency
  • Prove your products’ safety – PED certification shows the pressure equipment you design and manufacture is safe for use in Europe, according to the legal standard
  • Demonstrate your commitment to quality – certification shows customers, partners and employees that you are committed to quality and continuous improvement
  • Improve competitiveness – PED certification helps you enter the European market and forge new partnerships