Simple pressure vessels

The complete harmonisation of safety requirements applicable to simple pressure vessels should ensure the free movement of these products within the Community market.

ACT

Council Directive 87/404/EEC of 25 June 1987 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to simple pressure vessels [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

These Directives apply to simple pressure vessels manufactured in series, i.e. any simple welded vessel:

• of non-alloy quality steel, non-alloy aluminium or non-age hardening aluminium alloys;
• subjected to an internal gauge pressure greater than 0.5 bar;
• which is intended to contain air or nitrogen;
• and which is not intended to be fired.
• vessels specifically designed for nuclear use;
• vessels for installation in or the propulsion of ships and aircraft;
• fire extinguishers.
• either by bodies designated by the Member States in accordance with common assessment criteria and communicated to the Commission and the other Member States;
• or by the manufacturers themselves.
• indicates their conformity with the provisions of these Directives;
• consists of the distinctive "CE" initials;
• is affixed by the manufacturer or his authorized representative in the Community.

Excluded from the scope of the Directives are:

The Directives determine the objectives or "essential requirements" which simple pressure vessels must satisfy at the time of manufacture and before they are placed on the market.

Harmonised European standards are drawn up on the basis of essential requirements by European standardisation bodies. These standards, which are not compulsory, are published in the Official Journal of the European Union and transposed in the form of national standards with identical contents.

Any vessel manufactured in conformity with the harmonised standards is deemed to satisfy the essential requirements.

Procedures for the testing of vessels for conformity with the essential requirements are based on the modular approach set out in Council Decision 93/465/EEC concerning conformity assessment procedures and the affixing of the CE conformity marking. Conformity assessment is carried out:

Before being placed on the market, vessels must bear the "CE" conformity marking which:

The vessel or data plate must bear, in addition to the "CE" marking, at least one of the seven additional inscriptions described in the Directive.

Where a vessel is the subject of other Directives which require the "CE" marking, affixation of the marking also indicates that the vessel complies with the requirements of these Directives.

Any other mark may be affixed on vessels, unless it risks being confused with the conformity marking.

Penalties may be adopted by the Member States in cases where the latter establish that the "CE" marking has been affixed unduly.

Directive 90/488/EEC

This Directive introduces a transitional period until 1 July 1992.

Directive 93/68/EEC

This Directive sets a transitional period from 1 January 1995 (date from which the Directive 93/68/EEC enters into force) to 1 January 1997, during which the Member States shall authorize the placing on the market and/or putting into service of vessels which comply with the regulations in force on their territory before 1 January 1995.

RELATED ACTS

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2008 relating to simple pressure vessels (codified version) [COM(2008) 202 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

The aim of this proposal is the codification of Directive 87/404/EEC. The new Directive will incorporate the various amendments made to the original act and will supersede it without altering its substance.

Codecision procedure (COD/2008/0076)

Commission Communication to the Council and the European Parliament of 10 March 2006 - Review of the application of the simple pressure vessels directive (87/404/EEC) in relation to the pressure equipment directive (97/23/EC) [COM(2006) 106 final – Not published in the Official Journal]

List of titles and references of harmonised standards

See also

For further information, please consult thesite of the Directorate-General ENTERPRISE on the "pressure equipment" Directive.

Last updated: 03.11.2008