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Simple Pressure Vessels Directive 87/404/EEC

Subject Area

The Directive applies to series produced, unfired pressure vessels of welded construction which are intended to contain air or nitrogen at an internal gauge pressure greater than 0.5 Bar. There are also limits to the maximum working pressure and the minimum working temperature, and it has specific requirements covering the geometry of the design and the materials that can be used.
 
Intention of legislation

To remove technical barriers to trade by harmonising the laws of Member States covering the design, manufacture and conformity assessment and to ensure that only safe vessels are placed on the market.
 
Coverage

The main application of vessels covered by the directive is to provide a pressurised reservoir to smooth the air supply from a compressor and minimise the change in pressure with variations in the load or flow rate. The compressed air from the vessel could used as part of a paint spraying system, or to drive various pneumatic tools, fluid logic systems and actuators in a factory.

The other major application is in vehicle and rail wagon braking systems.

Brief history

The SPV Directive (87/404/EEC) was adopted on 25 June 1987 and came into force on 1 July 1990. It was implemented in the United Kingdom by the Simple Pressure Vessel (Safety) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2749).

The first amending directive (90/488/EEC) was limited to the introduction of a transition period up to 1 July 1992.

The directive was then amended for a second time by the relevant parts of the CE Marking Directive (93/68/EEC) which were implemented by the Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1991 (SI 1994/3098).

Specific exclusions

Vessels specifically designed for nuclear use, failure of which may cause the emission of radioactivity; vessels specifically intended for installation in or the propulsion of ships and aircraft; fire extinguishers.
 
Current issues

The SPV Directive was the first New Approach directive to be adopted but it has a narrowly defined scope and prescriptive requirements which are more typical of an 'old style' technical harmonisation directive. The narrow scope means that many pressure vessels are outside the scope and considerable discussion has been necessary in a Commission services working group to provide guidance on borderline cases. In addition the conformity assessment procedures are not based on the Modules Decision 93/465/EEC and do not contain full quality assurance options as routes to compliance.

Guidance

A comprehensive Guidance booklet is available from the right, and you can order a hard copy online via BERR Publications.
 
Contact

Denis Clarke
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
Bay 384, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET

Tel 020 7215 1437, Fax 020 7215 2635
mailto:denis.clarke@berr.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 Simple Pressure Vessels Conformity Assessment Bodies (experienced companies who carry out conformity assessment procedures). A list is available from the right.