Pressure equipment directive 2014/68/EU

The pressure equipment directive PED (German abbreviation DGRL) is a harmonisation guideline for aligning pressure equipment to the regulations of the EU member states specified by the European Parliament and Council in May 1997 according to article 95 of the EG treaty for the free movement of goods. It regulates the requirements for bringing pressure equipment onto the market within the European economic area and must be put by each and every member state into national legislation. The pressure equipment directive has been binding in the entire European Union since 2002. According to the directive, pressure equipment are to be classified in terms of pressure and volume (for piping in terms of nominal size DN) as well as fluid group and state of aggregation. On June 27th, 2014 the Official Journal of the EU L 189 published a new pressure equipment directive (German abbreviation DGRL). The directive 2014/68/EU replaces the old DGRL 97/23/EG. To a large extent, the fundamentals of the DGRL remain preserved. With regard to the scope and the conformity assessment diagrams there are just a few small changes. Existing certifications retain their validity. With respect to the updates two pieces of information are decisive: Parts of the new DGRL 2014/68/EU have already been effective since June 1st, 2015. Other points have been binding since July 19th, 2016. Since this reference date the use of the old directive is no longer permissible. Updates since June 1st, 2015: a) Alongside manufacturers, importers and distributors, the DGRL now also affects “representatives for manufacturers from third party countries”. b) The danger classification of the operating media takes place in accordance with the new DGRL and therefore the GHS/CLP regulation 1272/2008 and no longer in accordance with directive 67/548/EWG. c) The declaration of conformity must also be carried out in accordance with GHS/CLP regulation 1272/2008. Article 13 (classification of pressure equipment) is decisive. Updates since July 19th, 2016: a) The new directive has been adjusted to the legislative framework (New Legislative Framework – NLF). In front of this backdrop, manufacturers of pressure equipment must check their CE marking procedures and the documentation again after 2015 and adjust them to the new structure of the directive. b) Everyone bringing pressure equipment into circulation in Europe must be able to prove to the market supervisory authorities over a period of ten years from which company he/she has procured which pressure equipment or to whom he/she has supplied it. c) Manufacturers must conduct a risk assessment instead of a hazard analysis. d) New definition of several terms, module descriptions and contents. The detailed updates to the DGRL 2014/68/EU for manufacturers, distributors, representatives and importers as well as new participants, as well as updates to the obligatory documentation requirement can be found at netinform.de in the guide for the new DGRL 2014/68/EU.