The Pressure Equipment Directive, (97/23/EC) was adopted in May 1997. Since 29 May 2002, the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) is compulsory throughout the EU. The Directive provides for an adequate legislative framework on European level for equipment subject to a pressure hazard (vessels, pressurized storage containers, heat exchangers, steam generators.)

 

 

 

 

To facilitate industry's understanding of certain areas of interpretation of this very complex Directive, Orgalime is actively participating in the two working groups of the Commission that, together with Member States, are adopting guidelines relating to the implementation of the requirements of the PED. Orgalime will also follow the foreseen revision of the Directive that should begin in 2011.

Orgalime is also managing its internal "PED working group" which convenes regularly to discuss specific industry positions on PED.

PED guidelines

In order to ensure a coherent application of the Directive, guidelines are established and agreed in the framework of the Commission’s Working Group Pressure. Although the guidelines are not a legally binding interpretation of the Directive, they represent the unanimous opinion of the Commission and Member States experts.

As the European Commission’s activities continue to be mainly focused on the alignment of the Pressure Equipment Directive to the requirements of the New Legislative Framework, Orgalime has provided comments to the first draft and will continue to provide comments on the second draft which was available in the autumn of 2010.

Orgalime has also actively participated in the preparation of a survey on the use of standards in the pressure equipment sector. It prepared a draft, under the form of a questionnaire that was discussed during the European Commission Working Group Pressure meeting (24 November 2010).

The Commissions official website

Picture Courtesy of Alfa Laval