Chapter 47 has been updated with Anne Chaudouet as the lead for this revision with other authors Peter Hanmore and Guido Karcher from the previous editions continuing to be co-authors for this edition, as well. The authors, Francis Osweiller, Peter Hanmore and Guido Karcher all have considerable experience of the US pressure equipment market as well as that in Europe. They have provided a background to the methodology and objectives of the pressure equipment directive and CE marking in general before attempting to portray the detail. The directive is a document of only 55 pages, yet it is applicable to all equipment that can operate at a pressure greater than 0.5 bar and is a mandatory requirement for all pressure equipment to be put into service in the European Union. In common with other European directives the pressure equipment directive specifies general safety objectives which the manufacturer must meet and this leaves considerable scope for interpretation.

Having accumulated considerable experience in the implementation of the directive since its application in November 1999, the authors have provided details of how to design and build pressure equipment to meet the European requirements and thus permit its CE marking and its free movement throughout Europe. After describing the system used to categorize pressure equipment and the conformity assessment requirements that are linked to them the authors go on to explain the routes that can be followed to meet the directive including an explanation of “harmonized standards” and “Notified Bodies”. Each of the essential safety requirements relating to design, manufacture and testing is discussed and guidance provided to assist manufacturers to comply, thus providing the potential exporter to Europe with a wealth of valuable information.

A special attention has been given in this revision to material aspects and to the use of ASME Codes with PED. The areas of compliance of the new Section VIII Division 2 with PED are also highlighted. The authors close with a brief look into a crystal ball and consider the possibility of these “performance based” requirements becoming the basis of global trade.