Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC

Brief history

The Directive was adopted on 29 May 1997 and came into force on 29 November 1999

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.

Intention of legislation

To enable the free trading of products within the EEA by removing the need for separate documentation and testing for each individual European market. Manufacturers may use a single CE mark on their products to show compliance with this (and any other relevant) Directive.

The Directive does not deal with in-use requirements which may be necessary to ensure the continued safe use of pressure equipment.

Coverage

The Directive 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, petrochemical, biochemical, food processing, refrigeration and energy industries and for power generation.

Implementing Legislation

The Directive has been implemented in the UK by the Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2001) which came into force on 29 November 1999. The Regulations were amended by SI 2002 No. 1267 which came into force on 30 May 2002.

The Regulations and amendment are available to download from The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).

Enforcement

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the enforcement of the UK Regulations.

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.

Guidance and further information

A guide to the UK Regulations, and a list of UK Conformity Assessment Bodies appointed by the Secretary of State, are available from the list below.

European guidelines, along with the text of the Directive are available from the European Commission's Pressure Equipment website through the link below.

• Product standards - Pressure Equipment - Guidance notes on the UK Regulations (PDF, 578KB)
  
• Product standards - Simple Pressure Vessels - Guidance on the UK regulations (PDF, 106KB)
  
• Pressure equipment: UK conformity assessment bodies. February 2008 (PDF, 200KB)
  
• Simple pressure vessels: UK approved bodies. September 2007 (PDF, 110KB)
  
• The Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999: guidelines for the appointment of conformity assessment bodies (PDF, 36KB)
  
• PED stakeholder report - November 2009, including notes of the meeting of Working Group Pressure, 26 October 2009, Brussels (PDF, 54KB)
  
• UK report to British industry of the Pressure Equipment Directive Working Group held on 13 March 2009, Brussels (DOC, 78KB)
  
• Pressure Equipment Directive stakeholder report - December 2007 (PDF, 201KB)
  
• Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) stakeholder report: TPED supplementary report, June 2007 (PDF, 161KB)

Contact

Andrew Lunnon,
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Bay 1103, 1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET

Tel 020 7215 0158,
Fax 020 7215 2635
Email: andrew.lunnon@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Please note that we can generally only offer advice on policy interpretation; if you require complex technical advice, please contact one of the Conformity Assessment Bodies. A list is available above.

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