trycksäkerhetsdirektivet

The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED), known in Swedish as trycksäkerhetsdirektivet, is a European Union directive that sets out the essential safety requirements for pressure equipment manufactured and placed on the EU market. Its primary objective is to ensure a high level of safety for people, domestic animals, and property by establishing harmonized rules for the design, manufacturing, and conformity assessment of pressure equipment.

The directive applies to stationary pressure equipment with a maximum allowable pressure exceeding 0.5 bar. This includes various items such as boilers, pressure vessels, piping, and safety accessories. However, certain types of equipment, like pipelines for public supply networks or equipment for medical use, are excluded from its scope as they are covered by other specific directives.

Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that their pressure equipment complies with the PED before it can be placed on the market. This involves a conformity assessment procedure, which may include third-party inspection by a notified body, depending on the hazard category of the equipment. Once conformity is established, the equipment must be CE marked, indicating its compliance with all relevant EU directives.

The PED aims to facilitate the free movement of pressure equipment within the European Economic Area (EEA) by creating a single market. By harmonizing safety standards, it removes technical barriers to trade and ensures that all pressure equipment sold within the EEA meets the same stringent safety requirements. National authorities are responsible for enforcing the directive and ensuring that non-compliant products are not placed on the market.