Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU

Manufacturers of pressure equipment selling into most European countries (the European Economic Area) must make sure they comply with the requirements of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 2014/68/EU).

The PED sets out essential requirements for pressure equipment and assemblies. They vary according to how much pressure, liquid, or gas the equipment is designed to contain. The PED does not tell manufacturers how to meet these requirements, allowing them the flexibility to meet the requirements with various manufacturing standards.

All equipment covered by the PED falls into one or more risk categories. After determining which category applies to your equipment, it has to comply with one or more conformity assessment modules which define the level of quality assurance and third-party involvement, including:

• Product inspection, testing and certification
• Material approval
• Design examination
• Type examination
• Quality system approval
• Approval of joining personnel and procedures
• Approval of NDT personnel qualifications

The current version of the PED is 2014/68/EU, which took effect July 19, 2016. For more information about these changes, click here. Prior to that, the version of the PED was 97/23/EC.

The PED provides three routes to conformity, depending both on the equipment and the choice of the manufacturer:

• Self-certification
• Third-party examination
• Third-party inspection and quality management certification

Third-parties must be registered Notified Bodies (NoBos), which are approved by an accreditation body. Lloyd's Register was the first NoBo to be accredited for the PED.

Globally recognised and accredited

By choosing Lloyd's Register, you'll be working with an organisation that has the pedigree and proven capabilities to inspect your equipment against the PED's requirements.

Technical expertise

LR's technical experts can provide first-hand insights into the requirements of the PED and the logic behind them. Our surveyors are chosen for their sector-specific knowledge and expertise, which means you can be confident that they'll understand the manufacturing challenges you face.

Our expert assessment teams take a collaborative approach that understands the importance of a fast, efficient appraisal with minimal disruption to your business. Using an industry-leading methodology, our design appraisal engineers, inspection personnel and quality system auditors can help you prepare for certification, perform equipment reviews, and provide training for your staff and stakeholders on the PED.

Your business helps LR to help others

The profits we generate fund the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a charity which supports science and engineering-related research, education and public engagement around everything we do. All of this helps us stand by the purpose that drives us every single day: Working together for a safer world.