Pressure Equipment

GL expertise for EC Directive (PED/ TPED) conformity

GL carries out certification of all kind of pressure vessels for ships, off- and onshore facilities. But did you know GL also certifies pressure vessels for land use?

For the design and manufacture of pressure equipment the Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC (PED) sets out the standards and since 29. May 2002 it is obligatory throughout the European Union. GL is accredited as a Notified Body for the conformity assessment and certification of pressure equipment. The GL global network of engineers, surveyors and office staff examines and certifies pressure equipment. No matter where it is manufactured - GL can expedite its CE certification (CE 0098). GL offers simultaneous certification for several EC Directives - on request in combination with Germanischer Lloyd Rules and ISO 9001.

What the PED demands
The "pressure equipment" referred to in the PED covers vessels, steam generators, piping, safety and pressure accessories with a maximum allowable pressure PS in excess of 0.5 bar. It also relates to assemblies of several pieces of pressure equipment such as complex chemical process and power boiler plants. All pressure equipment covered by the PED has to go through a Conformity Assessment Procedure based on a modular classification determined by the level of hazard coming from the equipment.

The modules outline the procedures a manufacturer, and if required together with a Notified Body e.g. Germanischer Lloyd AG, has to follow to assess conformity of the pressure equipment. The selection of a particular module or module combination is not only a technical, but also a commercial decision. GL provides all the advice you need to select the right module for your equipment.

Conformity Assessment
All pressure equipment has to satisfy the Directive's Essential Safety Requirements, which cover among others the following areas:

Design for
. Adequate strength
. Safe handling and operation
. Corrosion
. According to current Standards e.g. AD 2000, ASME, DIN 13445 and others

Manufacturing with
. Permanent joining
. Non-destructive tests
. Final inspection
. Hydrostatic pressure test

Materials with
. Material specifications
. Material certificates
. Particular Material Appraisal

On the basis of the Conformity Assessment Tables contained in the Directive, manufacturers have to determine a category depending on the level of hazard corresponding to the pressure, medium and volume or nominal diameter respectively the equipment is intended for. GL supports each module. Depending on the category of hazard, manufacturers may choose one of the following modules for design and manufacture:

What else GL can offer
If PED in combination with ATEX (94/9/EC) compliance is required, GL works together with a reliable partner.

For gas cylinders (bottles, receptacles) and tank containers, GL is accredited (p 0098) to the "Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive 1999/36/EC (TPED)". Furthermore certification of air locks and components of tunnelling machines according to applicable standards can be performed. For further information on the PED and GL services in this field, please

Contact: Pressure Equipment