Pressure equipment: harmonisation of essential safety requirements

1) OBJECTIVE To ensure the free movement of pressure equipment within the Community market by harmonizing the national safety and health protection requirements to which they are subject. 2) CONTENTS 1. This proposal for a Directive concerns pressure equipment subject to a pressure greater than 0.5 bar (or less than 0.5 bar). Pressure equipment intended for the transport of dangerous goods is not covered by the proposal. 2. The proposal determines the objectives or "essential requirements" which the abovementioned equipment must satisfy at the time of manufacture and before they are placed on the market; these requirements replace the corresponding national provisions. 3. Council Directive 76/767/EEC (Official Journal L 262, 27.09.1976) shall be repealed as from 1 July 1996, except as regards the application of Directives 84/525/EEC, 84/526/EEC and 84/527/EEC. 4. Harmonized European standards are drawn up on the basis of essential requirements by European standardization bodies. These standards, which are not compulsory, are published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 5. Procedures for the testing of pressure equipment for conformity with the essential requirements are based on the modular approach set out in Council Decision 93/465/EEC. Conformity assessment is carried out by bodies designated by the Member States in accordance with minimum assessment criteria and communicated to the Commission and the other Member States. 6. The assessment procedures depend on the risk inherent in the pressure equipment. Each category of pressure eqiuipment is covered by an appropriate procedure or offers the choice between various equally stringent procedures. 7. The manufacturer shall be solely responsible for establishing the conformity of equipment presenting minor risks. 8. Member States may authorize users to perform certain defined tasks in the assessment of conformity under this proposal for a Directive. 9. Before being placed on the market, pressure equipment must bear the EC conformity marking which: * shall consist of: * the distinctive "EC" initials; * the identification number of the body involved in the production control phase; * indicates its conformity with the provisions of this proposal and of the other relevant Directives concerning affixation of the EC marking; * shall not be affixed on equipment presenting a minor pressure risk. 10. Any other mark may be affixed on this equipment unless it risks being confused with the EC marking. 11. Penalties adopted by the Member States in cases where the latter or notified bodies establish that the EC marking has been affixed unduly. 12. Transitional period until 1 July 1999 during which the Member States shall authorize the placing on the market and/or putting into service of pressure equipment which complies with the regulations in force on their territory at the date of adoption of this Directive. Source : European Commission - Info92 - 02/96