What Is PED 2014/68/EU? The Pressure Equipment Directive and CE Marking
If you manufacture or sell pressure vessels, boilers or piping to the EU, PED is probably on your path. What the directive covers, how categories are set, what CE marking means, and when a Notified Body steps in.
PED (Pressure Equipment Directive) 2014/68/EU governs the safe placing on the European Union market of equipment that operates above a certain pressure. In Türkiye it is transposed through the Pressure Equipment Regulation (Basınçlı Ekipmanlar Yönetmeliği). Products within its scope must carry the CE marking to be placed on the EU market.
What does PED cover?
Equipment with a maximum allowable pressure (PS) above 0.5 bar:
- Pressure vessels (boiler, tank, reactor, heat exchanger)
- Piping and pipework
- Safety accessories (safety valve, bursting disc)
- Pressure accessories (valves, pressure gauges, parts with a pressure-bearing function)
Some products are excluded (e.g. simple pressure vessels under a separate regulation, certain very low-risk products). Whether your equipment is in scope is determined by PS, volume and fluid group.
Categories: I, II, III, IV
PED sorts a product into four categories by risk. The category is determined by pressure × volume (or diameter for piping) together with the fluid group (Group 1 dangerous fluids, Group 2 others).
| Category | Risk | Conformity assessment |
|---|---|---|
| I | Lowest | Manufacturer's own declaration (Module A) may suffice |
| II – IV | Increasing | A Notified Body becomes involved |
As the category rises, independent third-party (Notified Body) review of the design and/or production becomes mandatory.
Conformity assessment modules
PED proves conformity through modules chosen by category — for example:
- Module A: internal production control (manufacturer's declaration)
- Module B: EU type-examination (design/type examined by a Notified Body)
- Module D / F: surveillance of the production stage
- Module H / H1: full quality assurance
High categories typically use combinations such as B + (D or F).
What does the CE marking mean?
The CE marking shows the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets the essential safety requirements of the relevant EU directives. When a Notified Body is involved, its four-digit identification number appears next to the CE marking. CE is not a "quality medal" — it is the legal passport for placing the product on the market.
Who is responsible?
Primary responsibility lies with the manufacturer: the technical file, risk analysis, material certificates (3.1/3.2), welding procedures (WPS/WPQR) and welder qualifications, non-destructive testing (NDT) records and pressure test — all are filed as evidence of conformity.
With ASİS UK
The PED process needs a solid inspection and testing capability: material verification, weld inspection, non-destructive testing (NDT), and periodic inspection of pressure equipment. ASİS UK supports manufacturers with these third-party inspection and testing needs.
The Notified Body and PED conformity assessment services required for CE marking are delivered together with our international partner Notified Body — letting you manage the process from design/type examination through to CE certification from a single point.
Let's discuss where in your project you need support through the Request a Quote form; our expert will respond within 24 hours.
— ASİS UK Certification Team