The inspection requirements in the directive are contained in a  series of modules. The modules that can be used for a particular application are  dependant upon:-

• Risk category
• Mode of manufacture (single or serially produced)
  (Serial  means the continuous production of similar vessels,
  serially produced  vessels can be treated as single vessels if preferred)
• QA System covering design and / or manufacture

Risk Category
The risk category is dependant  upon:-

• State Of Contents
   
1. Gas all gases including Steam
2. Liquid a fluid with a possible vapour pressure  less than 0.5 barg and no potential for becoming a gas with a Pressure >  0.5 barg even if the fluid containment is breached.
    
• Fluid Group (if in doubt assume group  1)
1. Dangerous Substances that are explosive, flammable, toxic or  chemically unstable,
2. All other substances including Steam
   
    
• Type of Equipment
1. Pressure Vessels
2. Steam Generators, Boilers for generating steam or hot water  > 110°C, vessels that hold steam but don't generate it are classed as  pressure vessels.
3. Pipework, except land or offshore pipework that connects  installations together over long distances.
4. Accessories such as safety valves, regulators  etc.
   
    
• Design Pressure and Capacity of The Equipment (Capacity = Volume for vessels and nominal pipe size for  pipework). 
  Note:- design pressure must not include any static head.

The category is found by entering  Design Pressure and Capacity into one of nine charts detailed in the table  below: 

VESSELS STEAM GENER ATORS PIPING Contents Gas Liquid - Gas Liquid Fluid Group 1 2 1 2 - 1 2 1 2 Chart 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

The Category can be found from the appropriate chart, example of chart 1  shown below, by entering the design pressure in (bar) on the vertical axis and  the capacity on the horizontal axis. The area of the graph were the two points  coincide is the category. It is possible to move up a category, eg treat a  category one as four.

Note if Sound Engineering Practice is upgraded to a higher category it still  can not be CE Marked. To CE mark such a vessel the design pressure must be  increased to move into the next category.

 Note this graph is drawn on a log / log scale

The Table below briefly describes the Inspection Requirements for each  Category:-

Category Description SEP Sound Engineering Practice Equipment in this category Can NOTbe CE Marked Does not have to satisfy essential safety requirements No outside Inspection Body Required I Equipment must be CE Marked Must satisfy all Relevant ESR's No outside Inspection Body Required II Equipment must be CE Marked Must satisfy all Relevant ESR's Notified Body Required to monitor final inspection and  test Notified Body To Approve Welding Procedures and Welders III Equipment must be CE Marked Must satisfy all Relevant ESR's Notified Body Required to check design Notified Body Required to monitor final inspection and test Notified Body To Approve Welding Procedures and Welders Notified Body To Approve NDT Personnel Notified Body To Approve Materials IV Highest Risk Equipment must be CE Marked Must satisfy all Relevant ESR's Notified Body Required to check design Notified Body Required to perform stage inspection during  manufacture and monitor final inspection and test Notified Body To Approve Welding Procedures and Welders Notified Body To Approve NDT Personnel Notified Body To Approve Materials

Welding Qualifications  (Categories 2, 3 and 4) The notified body involved with the pressure  equipment has the discretion to accept welding qualifications carried out by any  organisation. However qualifications approved by other notified bodies or third  party organisations approved under the directive must be accepted unless they  are technically incorrect on not appropriate to the application.  NDT Qualifications (Categories 3 and 4) A notified body must verify that all NDT personnel engaged by a manufacturer are suitably qualified. This approval can be carried out at anytime by any suitably accreditted notified body, it does not have to be the notified body involved in conformity assesment. An approved NDT operator can’t work for another manufacturer under the PED without re-approval.

Next Page > Inspection Modules