Objective
The aim of the Directive is to ensure the free movement of pressure equipment and assemblies within the Community market by harmonising the national safety and health protection requirements to which they are subject. It shall be ensured that pressure equipment will not be dangerous for safety and health of persons, animals or property while being installed, used or maintained.
The Directive repealed its antecessor Dir 97/23/EC.
The Directive provides, together with the Directives related to simple pressure vessels (2014/29/EU), transportable pressure equipment (2010/35/EU) and Aerosol Dispensers (75/324/EEC), for an adequate legislative framework on European level for equipment subject to a pressure hazard.
Contents
This Directive applies to equipment and assemblies subject to a maximum allowable pressure PS exceeding 0,5 bar. Pressure equipment according to the Directive are vessels, piping, safety accessories and pressure accessories.
The Directive determines the objectives or "essential requirements" which the above mentioned equipment must satisfy at the time of manufacture and before it is placed on the market. The Directive concerns manufacturers of items such as vessels pressurised storage containers, heat exchangers, steam generators, boilers, industrial piping, safety devices and pressure. The manufacturer must ensure that his products are assessed with regard to conformity to the provisions of the Directive before they are being placed at the market. Manufacturers, importers and distributors are responsible for the compliance of their products with this law. Manufacturer information must be provided with the product.
Member States have supervision rights and shall ensure that unsafe products are withdrawn from or not placed on the market. Under the Directive, pressure equipment must be safe, meet essential safety requirements covering design, manufacture and testing, satisfy appropriate conformity assessment procedures and carry the CE marking and other required information.
Annexes
Annex I: Essential safety requirements / Specific pressure equipment requirements
Annex II: Conformity assessment tables
Annex III: Conformity assessment procedures
Annex IV: EU declaration of conformity
Annex V: Part A - Repealed Directive with list of the successive amendments thereto / Part B - Time-limit for transposition into national law and date of application
Annex VI: Correlation table (with Dir 97/23/EC)
Read the full text of the consolidated version of the Directive (including later amendments)
Read the full text of the original version of the Directive (without amendments)
National measures implementating this Directive
Further information on this topic
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1616 of 27 September 2019 on the harmonised standards for pressure equipment drafted in support of Directive 2014/68/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
Information on pressure equipments and gas appliances at the European Commission's website - DG Growth
Information on harmonised standards with regard to pressure equipment - DG Growth