The Pressure Equipment and Material Technology Division of TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. is responsible for the review, approval and certification of pressure equipment and materials according to European Directives, as well as international codes and requirements. Our customers are steel mills, foundries, filler material manufacturers, as well as manufacturers of gas cylinders (e.g. airbags), pressure vessels, heat exchangers, steam boilers, valve, cyclones, accumulators, cryogenic equipment and more. We are able to reduce communication barriers between internationally active corporations and their clients, by bringing in our overall knowledge and technical expertise.
Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC
The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 97/23/EC applies to the design, manufacturing and conformity evaluation process of Pressure Equipment, as well as Pressure Equipment Assemblies. The maximum allowable design pressure must be greater than 0.5 bar.
Covered under the general term "Pressure Equipment" are pressure vessels, steam boilers, exchangers, tubing (pipe) and pressure accessories, as well as devices under pressure. Also included are all parts and products that are attached to pressurized parts (i.e., flanges, nozzles, lifting parts, fast-connectors, etc).
According to Article 20, the PED became applicable on November 29, 1999. Since then, each European member state has had the responsibility to implement and adopt the PED into national law. This transition must be completed by May 29, 2002. Until May 29, 2002, manufacturers and/or final users of pressure equipment can decide if the product shall meet the PED requirements or the national code of the country in which the product will be placed. However, if the member state adopts the PED into national law, no selection between PED and national code is possible; in this case, the PED will be mandated.
When pressure equipment meets the requirements imposed in the Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC), the CE Mark shall be href="http://www.tuv.com/en/affiliates_en.tuv.com.php"xed to such equipment. The "way" to the CE Marking is outlined in Article 10 and Annex III of the directive. This is called the Conformity Assessment.