PED/Pressure-Equipment Compliance Pages on Changzhou Manufacturer Websites: How Should They Be Accepted?

Direct answer: PED (Pressure Equipment Directive, 2014/68/EU) is not "do a hydrostatic test and stick on a CE mark". It governs the design, manufacture and conformity assessment of stationary pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum allowable pressure above 0.5 bar: first determine the category I–IV from the fluid group/volume/pressure, then choose the conformity-assessment module by category (category I can self-declare; II–IV usually require a notified body), prepare the technical file/materials/welding/NDT/pressure test/instructions, and finally apply CE marking + nameplate. A manufacturer's PED page should state which products are in scope, category/fluid group, modules/notified body, materials and welding, testing, CE/nameplate, instructions and customer data. Otherwise, when an EU customer asks "what category, who is the notified body, where are the material certificates/welding qualifications, can ASME replace PED," the answer becomes an ad-hoc explanation.

This guide is for pressure vessel, heat exchanger, valve, pump, piping, safety accessory and chemical/pharma/food/energy equipment manufacturers in Changzhou and nearby areas. It explains how to write and accept a PED/pressure equipment page. Information is current to 2026-11-03. It is a review of public rules and project practice, not EU legal, pressure-equipment design, notified-body or inspection advice; the specific scope, category, module, materials and tests depend on the directive, notified body, recognised standards and competent authority.

How does the PED page relate to ATEX, machinery, simple pressure vessels and ASME?

The ATEX page answers "can it be used in an explosive atmosphere"; the machinery page answers "machinery CE/technical file"; the PED page answers "pressure equipment category/module/materials/welding/testing/CE". The Simple Pressure Vessels Directive 2014/29/EU (SPVD) covers certain mass-produced simple pressure vessels, a separate regime; ASME is a US code, not EU law—it can be a design/manufacturing basis but cannot replace PED conformity assessment. One product may be subject to PED, ATEX, machinery, RoHS, etc. at the same time.

Common breakpoints: treating an ASME certificate as PED/CE; treating a hydrostatic test as everything; not knowing the fluid group/category; self-declaring when a notified body is required; missing material certificates/welding qualifications; NDT personnel/method non-conforming; nameplate missing category/pressure/volume; instructions missing installation/use/inspection requirements; confusing SPVD with PED. A page that states scope, category, module, materials, testing, marking and red lines gives design, quality and export one playbook.

This page map is editorial; PED duties follow Directive 2014/68/EU and the European Commission PED page.

Which products are in PED scope?

PED applies to stationary pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum allowable pressure above 0.5 bar: pressure vessels, heat exchangers, boilers/steam equipment, pressure piping, valves/accessories, safety accessories, pressure accessories and assemblies. Fluids are group 1 (hazardous: flammable/toxic/oxidising etc.) or group 2 (other); the category is determined from Annex II using fluid group, volume/pressure, medium state, etc. Transport equipment, nuclear facilities and other exclusions have separate rules; simple pressure vessels may fall under SPVD rather than PED. Confirm per product/medium/pressure/volume.

Common misjudgements: judging only "vessels" and missing piping/valves/safety accessories/assemblies; treating group 2 as group 1; treating below 0.5 bar as PED; selling ASME equipment directly into the EU; applying PED to SPVD products; ignoring component/assembly responsibility. The page can explain how the company assesses/supports, but must not classify the customer's whole unit.

This scope split is editorial; definitions, exclusions and the SPVD/PED boundary follow Articles 1/2, Annex II and the competent authority.

How are categories I–IV and fluid groups determined?

First determine the fluid group: group 1 hazardous (flammable, toxic, oxidising etc.), group 2 other; then use maximum allowable pressure PS, volume V, medium state (gas/liquid/steam) etc. in the Annex II chart to obtain category I–IV (IV highest). The higher the category, the deeper the conformity assessment/notified-body involvement. Do not guess "high pressure = IV" or "small volume = I"; the same equipment with different media/pressure/volume can cross categories. The category must be consistent across the technical file/nameplate/certificate.

Common gaps: wrong fluid group; using design pressure instead of maximum allowable pressure; inconsistent volume/pressure units; wrong gas/liquid state; multi-chamber/multi-medium equipment calculated as a single chamber; category not matching the module/certificate; nameplate missing category/PS/V. The page can explain "category per Annex II/fluid group/PS/V", but should not reduce complex equipment to a single "pressure table".

Category determination follows Annex II, fluid group/PS/V/medium state; confirm with design/notified body for specific equipment.

How should the conformity-assessment module be chosen?

PED selects modules by category: category I can generally use internal production control (Module A, self-declaration); categories II–IV usually require a notified body, with common modules such as A2, D1, E1, B+C1, B+D, B+E, B+F, G, H, H1 etc. (see Annex II/III and the product). Modules involve type-examination, production quality assurance, product verification and final assessment; the wrong choice can invalidate CE/certificates. The body must be notified for PED (NANDO), and the certificate must cover the actual model/configuration.

Acceptance checks: category/module; body number/scope; certificate type/number/validity; quality system/production audit; technical file; CE/DoC; whether changes trigger re-assessment. Common gaps: category II self-declared; module/product mismatch; non-PED notified body; certificate covering only a prototype; expired quality-system certificate; design/material/process changes not assessed.

Modules follow Annex II/III, notified-body scope and NANDO; the table is a common-example list, not exhaustive.

What should the technical file and Annex I essential requirements contain?

The technical file must demonstrate compliance with Annex I essential safety requirements: design/drawings/calculations (strength, wall thickness, opening reinforcement, fatigue etc.), materials/medium/PS/V, category/module, applicable standards (EN 13445/EN 13480 etc.), welding/NDT/heat treatment, pressure test, safety accessories, instructions and quality records. The DoC states manufacturer/product/directive/module/notified body/standards/signature; keep and provide the file with the product/customer as required (the exact retention period follows the directive/national rules).

Common gaps: drawings without strength calculations; missing/wrong material certificates; expired welding procedure/qualification; NDT method/ratio/personnel non-conforming; wrong pressure-test pressure/medium/temperature; safety accessories not calibrated; instructions missing installation/use/inspection; DoC missing module/notified body. The website can say "DoC/technical-file summary available on request", but must not publish a customer's/model's full file.

Technical file/Annex I requirements follow the directive annexes, applicable standards and notified-body opinion.

How should materials, welding, NDT and pressure testing be accepted?

Materials need grade/specification/heat/batch/certificate (e.g. EN 10204 3.1/3.2) matching design/medium/temperature; welding needs WPS/PQR, welder qualification, consumables/preheat/post-heat/heat-treatment records; NDT needs the method/ratio/acceptance level per standard/category/module and qualified personnel; pressure testing needs pressure/medium/temperature/hold time per design/standard, with records. Safety accessories (safety valves/bursting discs) need setting/calibration. Missing any item can undermine CE/certification.

Common gaps: material substitution not assessed; certificate heat/batch not matching the item; welding qualification not covering thickness/material; expired welder certificate; NDT ratio below requirement; wrong water quality/temperature; safety valve not calibrated; repair not re-tested/re-NDT. The website can say "material/welding/NDT/test records available on request", but must not say "all passed" without evidence.

Material/welding/NDT/test requirements follow Annex I, applicable standards and notified-body opinion.

How should CE marking, nameplate and instructions be accepted?

Apply CE marking under the applicable directives; the nameplate usually includes manufacturer/model/serial, maximum allowable pressure PS, volume/nominal size, fluid group, category, year of manufacture, CE marking, notified-body number (where applicable) and safety-accessory parameters. Instructions cover installation, use, maintenance, inspection, safety warnings and medium/temperature/pressure limits; languages must cover the sales countries. CE/nameplate/DoC/certificate must be consistent; CE alone without category/PS/V is not enough.

Acceptance checks: nameplate content/legibility/durability; PS/V/category matching the file; notified-body number; CE size/proportion; instruction language/warnings/maintenance; multilingual versions; special conditions. Common gaps: nameplate missing PS/V/category; CE and NB number confused; instructions missing inspection/maintenance; incomplete languages; market versions mixed; nameplate painted over.

CE/nameplate/instructions follow the directive, applicable standards and notified-body certificate.

How should the notified-body certificate and quality system be accepted?

Check whether the body is notified for PED (NANDO), the certificate/module type (type-examination/quality assurance/product verification), number/version/validity, covered products/materials/processes/standards and quality-system audit scope; whether design/material/process/factory changes were notified/re-assessed; whether suspension/withdrawal affects shipments. PED also involves user inspectorates/recognised third-party organisations depending on the module. A certificate is not "permanently valid"; standards revisions/design changes may require re-assessment.

Common gaps: body not notified for PED; certificate covering only a prototype; expired quality-system certificate; factory transfer not notified; material/process changes not assessed; standards revision not assessed; shipping during suspension; treating an ASME audit as PED. The website can say "assessed by body X (number) under module Y", but must state scope/number/validity.

Certificate/system acceptance follows the notified-body certificate, NANDO and directive annexes; this is not certification advice.

Which PED data will customers ask suppliers for?

EU customers/users typically ask for: model/tag number; category/fluid group; PS/V/design temperature; module/notified body/certificate; DoC; technical-file summary; material certificates; welding qualification/welder; NDT reports; pressure-test report; safety-accessory calibration; nameplate/CE photo; instructions (language); change notification. The data must map to a specific equipment item/tag/certificate, not a company-wide "pressure vessel statement".

Deliver a "PED data pack": cover (manufacturer/date/version/contact) + equipment list/tag + category/PS/V/medium + certificate/DoC + technical-file index + materials/welding/NDT/test + safety accessories + nameplate photo + instructions + change log. What customers fear most is "category/PS/V mismatch, material certificate missing heat number, welding qualification not covering, NDT ratio insufficient." Define versioning and update triggers (design/material/process/factory changes).

This data list is editorial; specific fields/formats follow the customer contract, certificate and competent-authority requirements.

How should the website PED page be written?

A public page should include: applicable products/scope; category/fluid-group logic; module/notified body; technical file/DoC; materials/welding/NDT/testing; CE/nameplate/instructions; customer data request; change/version; contact. Write verifiably: state product/category/PS/V/module/certificate number; do not just show a CE logo or "PED certified".

Separate "public information" from "customer documents": certificates/technical files/DoCs are provided per customer/contract, while the public page explains coverage and process; do not publish customer process/tag information. If supplying a machine builder, state that the company supports with component/certificate data and do not claim the whole unit is CE-marked. Multilingual pages should match sales countries; do not present ASME as "EU certification".

This page structure is editorial; external claims must be truthful and verifiable, per the directive, certificate, customer contract and competent authority.

What must not be written?

High-risk claims: "PED certificate" (PED is conformity assessment; certificates are issued by notified bodies under a module); "ASME = PED/CE" (US code, not EU law); "all pressure vessels are the same" (category/fluid group/module differ); "category I needs a notified body" (generally self-declaration); "hydro test = everything" (materials/welding/NDT/documents also apply); "certificate valid forever" (standards/design/factory changes require re-assessment); "the supplier determines the category for the customer" (design/notified body confirmation); "CE = PED" (also category/PS/V/certificate/nameplate). These are inaccurate or misstate responsibility.

Safer wording: "compliant with 2014/68/EU, category II, module A2, notified body XX (number)"; "PS/V/medium/temperature..."; "material/welding/NDT/test records available on request". External promotion must also comply with advertising/fair-competition law; customer names/cases need authorisation.

Go-live acceptance checklist

Ten checks: scope/PS/V, category/fluid group, module/notified body, technical file/Annex I, materials/welding/NDT/testing, CE/nameplate/instructions, customer data pack, page wording, version/changes, and evidence archive. Each needs an owner, evidence and review date. The pass condition is not "the page has a CE logo", but that a customer can see the category, module, notified body, and whether materials/tests are complete.

Before go-live, run one real equipment item through: scope → category → module → technical file → materials/welding/NDT/test → CE/nameplate → customer data pack → page wording. Any step that fails is a gap in the page or the process.

This checklist is editorial; specific compliance requirements follow the directive, notified body, standards and competent authority.

Who should read this, who should not, and what decisions does it support?

It suits manufacturers in Changzhou and nearby areas that export pressure vessels, heat exchangers, valves, pumps, piping, safety accessories and chemical/pharma/food/energy equipment to the EU. It also suits design, quality, export, legal and website teams assessing a PED page. It does not suit businesses that do not sell to the EU, whose pressure/volume is outside PED, or want one page to replace design/notified-body/inspection advice.

Read it if an EU customer is pressing for category/module/material/welding/test evidence; you are launching new equipment/markets; you are building or revising a website PED page; or you need to separate ATEX, machinery, SPVD, ASME and PED. Skip it if you treat ASME as CE, a hydro test as everything, or determine the customer's category. It supports self-review of scope, category, module, documents, materials/welding/NDT, marking, data pack and page wording.

This role split is editorial; specific duties follow the design/quality/compliance/export policy.

FAQ

How do PED and ASME/EN standards relate?

PED is EU Directive 2014/68/EU for pressure equipment/assembly market access and CE; ASME is a US code, and EN 13445/EN 13480 etc. are EU harmonised standards. ASME/EN can be a design/manufacturing basis but cannot replace PED conformity assessment, CE, DoC and notified-body requirements (where applicable).

How are categories I–IV determined?

First determine the fluid group (group 1 hazardous/group 2 other), then use maximum allowable pressure PS, volume V, medium state etc. in Annex II to obtain category I–IV. Do not guess from pressure/volume; multi-chamber/multi-medium/assemblies follow specific rules, confirmed by design/notified body.

Which categories require a notified body?

Category I can generally use internal production control/self-declaration; categories II–IV usually require a notified body under modules such as A2, D1, E1, B+C1, B+D, B+E, B+F, G, H, H1 etc. Follow Annex II/III and the product; the body must be notified for PED (NANDO).

Are pressure vessels, piping, valves and safety accessories covered?

PED covers pressure vessels, heat exchangers, boilers/steam equipment, pressure piping, valves/accessories, safety accessories, pressure accessories and assemblies; check maximum allowable pressure >0.5 bar, fluid group/volume/use and exclusions. Simple pressure vessels may fall under SPVD (2014/29/EU), not PED.

What is needed for the technical file/materials/welding?

The technical file needs design/calculations, category/PS/V, standards, material certificates (e.g. EN 10204 3.1/3.2), WPS/PQR/welder qualification, heat treatment, NDT reports, pressure test, safety-accessory calibration, instructions and DoC. Material/process changes must be assessed for re-approval; keep the file as required by the directive/national rules.

How should CE marking/nameplate/instructions be accepted?

Apply CE under the applicable directives; the nameplate should include manufacturer/model/serial, PS, V/size, fluid group, category, year, CE, notified-body number (where applicable) and safety-accessory parameters; instructions cover installation/use/maintenance/inspection/warnings and languages. CE/nameplate/DoC/certificate must be consistent; CE without category/PS/V is not enough.

One-sentence takeaway

A Changzhou manufacturer's PED/pressure-equipment page should not be "a CE logo and a hydro test". It should turn scope/PS/V, category/fluid group, module/notified body, technical file, materials/welding/NDT/testing, CE/nameplate/instructions and the customer data pack into a verifiable checklist—so a customer can see the category, module and whether the evidence is complete.

Method and limitations

This is a review of public rules and project practice, not an audit or legal opinion on any company's pressure equipment, design, materials, welding, NDT, testing or notified body. No undisclosed customer drawings, calculations, certificates or process data were used. Scope, category, module, documents and acceptance items are editorial suggestions, not design/certification/legal conclusions. Specific scope, category, module, materials and tests depend on the directive, notified body, applicable standards and the competent authority.

Sources and scope

Information is current to 2026-11-03. The following are EU official/legal pages; their articles, annexes and standards control.

1. Directive 2014/68/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of pressure equipment (PED), adopted 15 May 2014, OJ L 189, published 27 June 2014: EUR-Lex. Scope, categories, Annex I essential requirements, conformity-assessment modules, CE/DoC.
2. European Commission, Pressure Equipment Directive: European Commission. Stationary pressure equipment above 0.5 bar, application from 2016-07-20, notified bodies/NANDO, guidance and the 2024–2026 evaluation.
3. European Commission, Harmonised standards — pressure equipment: European Commission. EN 13445/EN 13480 and other harmonised standards.
4. Directive 2014/29/EU on simple pressure vessels (SPVD), adopted 26 February 2014: EUR-Lex. The boundary between simple pressure vessels and PED.