- ABB, UK
- Pfizer, Eire
- Tyco Valves, Mexico
- British Energy, UK
- LG Electronics, China
- BAE Systems, UK
- TK Corporation, South Korea
- General Motors, UK
- Cambi, Norway
- GlaxoSmithKline, UK
- National Oilwell Varco (NOV), USA
- Shanghai KSR-Kuebler, China-Germany
- Site Engineering Services, UK
- Reviss Services, UK
- McBurney, USA
- Tenergy Inc., Canada
- Hy-Grade Valve Inc., USA
- KE Bergmann, USA
- Fuji Filter, South Korea
- Accentus Zircotec, UK
- Wahlco Inc, USA
- UK Health Protection Agency, UK
- Oxford Instruments, UK
- Element Six, South Africa
- Ningbo Fuhaihua Pressure Vessel, China
- + many, many more…..
Official Reference
SI 2016 No. 1105
Date of Enforcement
31 January 2019 (UK’s Exit Day from EU)
Previously, EU Directives 2014/68/EU & 97/23 were in force.
Scope
The Regulations apply to the design and manufacture (but NOT operation) of both individual items and assemblies of pressure equipment with a maximum allowable pressure greater than 0.5 bar (gauge).
Any product that contains such a pressure falls within the scope.
In addition, Safety Accessories that may not contain the pressure fall within the scope. An example of a safety accessory is a pressure or temperature switch if it is being used as a safety control in pressure equipment.
Exclusions
There are a large number of exclusions which mostly refer to equipment already regulated in other regulations/directives such as pressured containers used to transport fluids.
EXCLUDED PRESSURE EQUIPMENT AND ASSEMBLIES
- Pipelines comprising piping or a system of piping designed for the conveyance of any fluid or substance to or from an installation (onshore or offshore) starting from and including the last isolation device located within the confines of the installation, including all the annexed equipment designed specifically for pipelines. This exclusion does not apply to standard pressure equipment such as may be found in pressure reduction stations or compression stations;
- Networks for the supply, distribution and discharge of water and associated equipment and headraces such as penstocks, pressure tunnels, pressure shafts for hydroelectric installations and their related specific accessories;
- Equipment covered by Directive 87/404/EEC(21) on simple pressure vessels;
- Equipment covered by Council Directive 75/324/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to aerosol dispensers(22);
- Equipment intended for the functioning of vehicles defined by the following Directives and their Annexes:
- Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers;
- Council Directive 74/150/EEC of 4 March 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to the type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors;
- Council Directive 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles;
- Equipment classified as no higher than category I under Article 9 of this Directive and covered by one of the following Directives:
- Council Directive 89/392/EEC of 14 June 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to machinery;
- European Parliament and Council Directive 95/16/EC of 29 June 1995 on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to lifts;
- Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonisation of the laws of the member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits;
- Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning medical devices;
- Council Directive 90/396/EEC of 29 June 1990 on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to appliances burning gaseous fuels;
- Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres;
- Equipment covered by Article 296(1)(b) of the Treaty;
- Items specifically designed for nuclear use, failure of which may cause an emission of radioactivity;
- Well-control equipment used in the petroleum, gas or geothermal exploration and extraction industry and in underground storage which is intended to contain and/or control well pressure, that is to say the well head (Christmas tree), the blow out preventers (BOP), the piping manifolds and all their equipment upstream;
- Equipment comprising casings or machinery where the dimensioning, choice of material and manufacturing rules are based primarily on requirements for sufficient strength, rigidity and stabilityto meet the static and dynamic operational effects or other operational characteristics and for which pressure is not a significant design factor, such equipment may include:
- engines including turbines and internal combustion engines,
- steam engines, gas/steam turbines, turbo-generators, compressors, pumps and actuating devices;
- Blast furnaces including the furnace cooling system, hot-blast recuperators, dust extractors and blast-furnace exhaust-gas scrubbers and direct reducing cupolas, including the furnace cooling,gas converters and pans for melting, re-melting, de-gassing and casting of steel and non-ferrous metals;
- Enclosures for high-voltage electrical equipment such as switchgear, control gear,transformers, and rotating machines;
- Pressurised pipes for the containment of transmission systems, including for example electrical power and telephone cables;
- Ships, rockets, aircraft and mobile off-shore units, as well as equipment specifically intended for installation on board or the propulsion thereof;
- Pressure equipment consisting of a flexible casing, including for example tyres, air cushions,balls used for play, inflatable craft, and other similar pressure equipment;
- Exhaust and inlet silencers;
- Bottles or cans for carbonated drinks for final consumption;
- Vessels designed for the transport and distribution of drinks having a PS.V of not more than 500 bar-L and a maximum allowable pressure not exceeding 7 bar;
- Equipment covered by the ADR, the RID, the IMDG and the ICAO Convention;
- Radiators and pipes in warm water heating systems;
- Vessels designed to contain liquids with a gas pressure above the liquid of not more than 0.5 bar.
As there is no legal means whereby an excluded product can be UKCA marked, you can be assured that HPi-CEproof will confirm, on application, if your product is excluded.
Standards
The detailed technical characteristics of the design, materials, production and testing are not laid down in the Regulations but in designated standards.
Conformity with designated standards “guarantees” conformity with the Regulations. Their application, however, is not mandatory. If designated standards are not suited to a specific product, any alternative standard or solution may be applied if it ensures equivalent safety. It can be difficult to demonstrate equivalent safety and designated standards should be applied wherever possible. HPi-CEproof can advise on alternative methods.
Click here to visit the UK Government’s website for an up-to-date list of designatd standards for PER.
Conformity Assessment Procedures
The Regulations have a wide range of Conformity Assessment Modules that define what documentation needs to be compiled and to what extent a Approved Body should be involved. The choice of modules is limited depending upon the risk of the product. For PER, the risk of the product is based upon three factors:
- the state of the contained fluid;
- the stored energy;
- the hazards associated with the fluid.
HPi-CEproof will advise on the conformity assessment options upon application.
You can also try our Pressure Vessel Category Calculator.
HPi-CEproof offers training in 3 formats:
1. Online Training & Examination
We have provided an advanced PER training course for PER personnel. Originally written to check the knowledge of our own inspectors before going into the field, the course not only covers the general provisions of the Directive but looks deeply into each Essential Requirement. The course has 18 modules and requires approximately 10-12 hours to complete. It has mini-quizzes on each section and a final exam for which successful candidates will receive a certificate from HPi-CEproof. Click here to access the training portal.
2. One-day Overview Seminars
From time-to-time, HPi-CEproof runs a generic “introduction to PER” training seminar. Please contact HPi-CEproof to find out when the next course will run.
3. Customised training
Many clients have asked HPi-CEproof to tailor a training package specifically for their own personnel and equipment. This can take any form and be performed wherever the client requires. Please contact HPi-CEproof to discuss your requirements.
