PED Directive 2014/68/EU: Pressure Equipment for Industry
The Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU covers boilers, pressure vessels, pipework and safety accessories. IgeraIndustria answers every PED compliance question: risk category classification, PS×V thresholds, Notified Body requirements and conformity modules. Your technical team gets the exact article in seconds.
PED 2014/68/EU: risk classification and Notified Body requirements for pressure equipment
Pressure equipment manufacturers must classify their product in one of four risk categories based on PS×V or PS×DN thresholds. The category determines whether a Notified Body is required and which conformity module the manufacturer must follow.
4 risk categories
Category I (self-declaration) to Category IV (strictest Notified Body controls). Classification drives the entire conformity assessment path under PED 2014/68/EU.
Notified Body Cat. II–IV
Categories II, III and IV require involvement of a Notified Body. Category I allows module A (manufacturer self-declaration) with no third-party involvement.
PS×V as key criterion
For pressure vessels, the product of maximum allowable pressure (PS in bar) and volume (V in litres) determines the PED risk category. Above 50 bar·litre, PED applies.
Regulatory teams spend hours working out the correct PS×V or PS×DN for their product, which category applies, and whether a Notified Body must issue an EU type-examination certificate. IgeraIndustria answers those questions in seconds, citing the exact PED annex and table, so the engineering team can focus on design rather than classification research.
Instant PED compliance query by requirement
IgeraIndustria locates the exact PED 2014/68/EU requirement for each question and responds with the applicable category, conformity module, and Notified Body obligation.
PS×V classification for pressure vessels
IgeraIndustria calculates the applicable PED risk category for your vessel based on PS×V, fluid group (Group 1 or Group 2) and product type. It cites the exact row from PED Annex II tables so the engineering team can verify the classification.
PS×DN classification for pipework
Pipework classification under PED uses PS×DN (pressure × nominal diameter). IgeraIndustria identifies the correct table in Annex II, the fluid group, and the resulting category, and explains which conformity module the manufacturer must apply.
Conformity module selection
PED Annex III defines 8 conformity modules (A, A2, B, C2, D, D1, E, E1, F, G, H, H1). IgeraIndustria identifies which modules are available for each category and helps select the most appropriate one based on production volume and quality system status.
Notified Body scope and involvement
For Categories II, III and IV, a Notified Body must be involved. IgeraIndustria explains what the NB must do for each module: EU type-examination (module B), production quality assurance (module D), unit verification (module G) or full quality assurance (module H).
Essential safety requirements (ESR)
PED Annex I defines 7 groups of essential safety requirements: design, manufacturing, inspection, materials, accessories, fired and unfired pressure equipment, and assemblies. IgeraIndustria identifies which ESRs apply to each product type.
Assemblies and combined equipment
A PED assembly is a combination of pressure equipment assembled by one manufacturer to form an integrated functional whole. IgeraIndustria clarifies when an assembly requires separate CE marking and DoC beyond the individual components’ own conformity.
Complete PED 2014/68/EU compliance support
From initial classification through Notified Body audit and technical file preparation, IgeraIndustria supports the engineering and regulatory team at every stage of PED conformity assessment.
Material qualification under PED
PED Annex I Section 4 requires materials to be fit for the intended purpose and have adequate mechanical properties at design temperature and pressure. IgeraIndustria identifies which PED-specific material requirements apply, including European approval of materials (EAM) and material traceability.
Permanent joining and NDT requirements
PED requires that permanent joints (welds) and their heat-affected zones are produced by qualified personnel and qualified procedures. NDT of welds is mandatory for Category III and IV. IgeraIndustria clarifies the qualification and testing requirements for each category.
Safety accessories and pressure-limiting devices
PED Annex I Section 2 requires that pressure equipment is protected by safety accessories (safety valves, rupture discs, pressure switches). IgeraIndustria explains the sizing, selection and testing requirements for safety accessories under PED.
Technical documentation and DoC
The PED technical file must include design drawings, calculations, test reports, material certificates, weld procedure qualifications, and welder qualifications. IgeraIndustria details the mandatory content of the technical file and the DoC for each conformity module.
In-service inspection obligations
PED places obligations on manufacturers regarding in-service inspection intervals and criteria. IgeraIndustria clarifies the manufacturer’s role in providing inspection intervals in the instructions, and the owner/operator’s responsibilities for periodic re-inspection.
Sound engineering practice (SEP) equipment
Equipment below Category I thresholds may be manufactured to sound engineering practice (SEP) without CE marking. IgeraIndustria identifies which products fall below the PED threshold and can be placed on market under SEP rather than full PED conformity assessment.
The 4 key requirements of PED 2014/68/EU
These requirements define what manufacturers must demonstrate before affixing CE marking to pressure equipment placed on the EU market.
Essential safety requirement 1 — Design
Pressure equipment must be designed for adequate strength at all foreseeable operating conditions, including thermal and mechanical loads, corrosion, erosion, fatigue and overpressure scenarios. Design calculations must follow recognised technical standards (RTS) or, if not available, the designer’s own calculations demonstrating equivalent safety.
Essential safety requirement 2 — Manufacturing
Manufacturing must be carried out by qualified procedures and qualified personnel. For welded pressure equipment in Categories II and above, welders must be qualified to recognised standards (EN ISO 9606 series for manual welding, EN ISO 14732 for mechanised). Weld procedures must be qualified per EN ISO 15614 series.
Conformity assessment — category and module
The PED risk category determines the mandatory conformity module. Category I allows module A (manufacturer internal production control only). Category II requires a Notified Body for production surveillance or type-examination. Categories III and IV require stricter NB involvement including EU type-examination certificate plus production quality assurance or unit verification.
Instructions and marking requirements
Pressure equipment must bear CE marking followed by the Notified Body identification number (for Categories II–IV), and a data plate with: manufacturer’s name, designation, year of manufacture, PS, TS (allowable temperature range), PS×V (for vessels), DN (for pipework), and fluid group. The instructions must include commissioning, operation, maintenance, re-inspection intervals, and residual risks.
How IgeraIndustria works for PED 2014/68/EU
Five steps from loading your pressure equipment documentation to receiving an answer with the exact PED article, risk category, and Notified Body requirement.
Index your pressure equipment technical documentation
Upload your design calculations, weld procedure qualifications, material certificates, inspection reports and existing DoCs. IgeraIndustria processes them together with the full PED 2014/68/EU text and Annex tables in under 24 hours.
Connect the assistant to your engineering team
Embed it in your compliance portal, Teams, Slack or as a standalone tool for the R&D and regulatory affairs team. One line of code. Compatible with any document management system.
Ask in plain language
«What category is our steam boiler with PS=15 bar and V=200 litres?», «Do we need a Notified Body for a Category II vessel?», «What weld qualifications does PED require for Category III?»
IgeraIndustria searches across 2 knowledge layers
First in your internal pressure equipment technical files and calculations, then in the indexed PED 2014/68/EU directive text including Annex I (ESRs) and Annex II (classification tables).
Answer with directive reference and applicable module
The response cites the applicable PED article or annex table, states which risk category and conformity module apply, identifies whether a Notified Body is required, and flags the most common non-conformities that PED inspectors detect.
IgeraIndustria in action — PED 2014/68/EU vessel classification
PED risk category and Notified Body requirement resolved in under 3 seconds with the applicable Annex II table reference.
Pressure Equipment Engineer
We have a Group 1 gas pressure vessel with PS=25 bar and V=50 litres. What PED category is it and do we need a Notified Body?
IgeraIndustria
PED 2014/68/EU — Vessel Classification Result
PS×V = 25 × 50 = 1,250 bar·litre | Group 1 gas
- • Annex II, Table 1 (vessels for Group 1 gases): PS×V > 200 bar·litre → Category III
- • Notified Body required: EU type-examination (module B) + production quality assurance (module D or E) or unit verification (module G)
- • NB identification number must appear on CE marking
⚠️ Weld procedure and welder qualifications (EN ISO 15614 + EN ISO 9606) are mandatory for Category III — verify before NB audit
✓ PED 2014/68/EU Annex II Table 1 · Confidence: 99.1%
80
employees, pressure vessels manufacturer
-70%
classification research time
0
PED NCs at Notified Body audit
We manufacture custom pressure vessels for the chemical industry and were spending days classifying each order under PED Annex II tables. IgeraIndustria resolved every classification in under a minute with the exact table reference and Notified Body requirement. Our NB audits are now clean and our technical files are complete before the auditor arrives.
*Representative testimonial based on results from real customers
Frequently asked questions — PED 2014/68/EU
Which pressure equipment is excluded from PED 2014/68/EU?
PED excludes: pipelines for gas, oil and water mains transmission (covered by national regulations), equipment in nuclear power plants, steam-generating boilers for locomotives, aircraft and ships, fire extinguishers, equipment for handling explosive substances, equipment for subsea installation, and equipment with PS×V not exceeding 50 bar·litre (simple vessels may fall under SPVD 2014/29/EU instead).
What are the four risk categories of PED?
Category I (lowest risk): conformity module A (manufacturer self-declaration). Category II: module A2, D1 or E1 (requires Notified Body). Category III: modules B+D, B+F, B+E, B+C2, H or G (Notified Body mandatory). Category IV (highest risk): modules B+D, B+F, G or H1 (Notified Body and stricter controls). Classification depends on the product group (vessels, steam boilers, pipework, safety accessories) and the PS×V or DN×PS threshold.
What is the maximum allowable pressure PS and how does it determine PED scope?
PS is the maximum allowable pressure for which the equipment is designed, expressed in bar. PED scope is determined by the product PS×V (pressure × volume in litres) for vessels, or PS×DN (pressure × nominal diameter) for pipework. For example, a vessel with PS=10 bar and V=6 litres (PS×V=60) falls within PED. If PS×V ≤ 50 bar·litre the vessel is below the PED threshold. Steam boilers above 110°C always fall in PED regardless of PS×V.
IgeraIndustria PED 2014/68/EU Plans
No lock-in. Cancel whenever you want.
Starter
For pressure equipment manufacturers that need to classify products under PED 2014/68/EU and prepare compliant technical files without months of regulatory research.
- PED 2014/68/EU pre-indexed
- PS×V and PS×DN classification tool
- Conformity module guidance
- 1,000 queries/month
- Widget for the engineering team
- Email support
Professional
For companies with regular product releases that need ongoing PED compliance support for engineering and regulatory teams.
- PED + internal technical files indexed
- Notified Body requirement checker
- Technical file gap analysis
- 5,000 queries/month
- Standard update alerts
- Priority support
Enterprise
For industrial groups with multiple pressure equipment product lines requiring integrated PED, SPVD and ATEX compliance management.
- Multi-directive (PED + SPVD + ATEX)
- Multi-product line management
- Market surveillance response kit
- Unlimited queries
- 99.9% uptime SLA
- Dedicated customer success
Comply with PED 2014/68/EU. No more classification delays before your NB audit.
- Free 14-day trial — no credit card required
- Full PED 2014/68/EU text and Annex II tables pre-indexed from day 1
- Upload your design calculations, weld qualifications and technical files
- PS×V and PS×DN classification tool with Notified Body requirement checker