A pressure vessel is a closed container in which a gas or liquid is held at a pressure different from the surroundings. All pressure equipment placed on the EU market must bear the CE mark under Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU (PED).
Scope of the Directive
- Pressure equipment where maximum allowable pressure (PS) > 0.5 bar
- Pipelines, boilers, tanks, heat exchangers, pressure safety accessories
- Equipment containing liquids, gases, steam or heated fluids
Fluid Classification
| Group | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Dangerous fluids (flammable, toxic, oxidising) | Natural gas, propane, chlorine, oxygen |
| Group 2 | All other fluids | Air, nitrogen, water, hydraulic oil |
Category Determination
| Category | Condition (Group 2 gas) | Module Options |
|---|---|---|
| SEP | PS·V ≤ 200 bar·L | Sound Engineering Practice — no module, no CE |
| I | 200 < PS·V ≤ 1000 | A |
| II | 1000 < PS·V ≤ 3000 | A2, D1, E1 |
| III | 3000 < PS·V ≤ 10000 | B+C2, B+D, B+E, B+F, H |
| IV | PS·V > 10000 | B+D, B+F, G, H1 |
Design Standard: EN 13445
- EN 13445-1: General
- EN 13445-2: Materials
- EN 13445-3: Design calculation
- EN 13445-4: Manufacture (welding, hardening, grinding)
- EN 13445-5: Inspection and testing
Welding Requirements
- Approved WPS (EN ISO 15614-1) — verified by a notified body
- Certified welder (EN ISO 9606)
- Welding quality management (EN ISO 3834-2)
- NDT: 100% VT, 10–100% UT/RT (by category)
- Hydrostatic test: 1.43 × design pressure
Manufacturing Steps
- Design calculation (EN 13445-3)
- Material approval: 3.1/3.2 certified steel plate
- Cutting and forming
- Welding: approved WPS, preheat, NDT
- PWHT heat treatment
- NDT inspection
- Hydrostatic test: 1.43 × PS
- CE marking + nameplate
ArmaWeld Scope: With ISO 3834-2 certification, ArmaWeld manufactures PED Category I, II and III pressure vessels. For Category IV, support is provided through a partnered Notified Body.
Common Mistakes
- Manufacturing without EN ISO 3834-2 even in SEP category
- Using steel without 3.1 inspection certificate
- Welding with unqualified WPS
- Air not purged before hydrostatic test (explosion risk)
- Incomplete weld traceability records
PED-Compliant Pressure Vessel Manufacturing
Contact us for design and manufacturing support under EN 13445 and PED 2014/68/EU.
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