CE Marking of Pressure Equipment (added 25/10/05)

This article outlines Engineering Safety policy regarding the status of CE marked pressure equipment of overseas manufacture. The article is based on, and replaces, an article of the same title, which appeared in Safety Lines No 67 (September 2005).

In general, the suppliers' duties under regulation 20(2) of the Health and Safety in Employment (Pressure Equipment, Cranes, and Passenger Ropeways) Regulations 1999 are deemed to be met, and CE marked pressure equipment of overseas manufacture may be certified for service in New Zealand, provided the equipment:

1. Complies with European Commission document Simple Pressure Vessel Directive (87/404/EEC) or, Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC);
2. Falls below the range of equipment requiring, in accordance with the appropriate approved code of practice, design verification to include seismic loadings; and
3. Is CE marked and accompanied by manufacturing documentation (in English), as follows:

Under Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC, the CE marking and EC declaration of conformity are to meet the requirements of Article 5.

Under Simple Pressure Vessel Directive (87/404/EEC), CE marking is to meet the requirements of Article 12, and the documentation is to comprise a copy each of the 'EC verification certificate' and the 'EC declaration of conformity'.

CE marked pressure equipment, which requires design verification because of seismic considerations, must be design verified by a recognised inspection body and be accompanied by a certificate of design verification.

In summary, CE marking, supported by relevant manufacturing documentation, may be accepted as indicating that equipment has undergone acceptable fabrication inspection during manufacture. Equipment which is not accompanied by the appropriate documentation is not acceptable.