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PD TR — Metallic Industrial Piping Guidance on the Use of Conformity Assessment Procedures (PD TR 13480-7:2002)
PD TR 13480-7:2002 — Metallic Industrial Piping — Part 7: Guidance on the Use of Conformity Assessment Procedures（CEN/TR 13480-7:2002）
🔧 PD TR 13480-7:2002 is a British Standards Institution (BSI) Published Document (PD), the official English language version of the European Technical Report CEN/TR 13480-7:2002 “Metallic industrial piping – Part 7: Guidance on the use of conformity assessment procedures”. Prepared by CEN/TC 267 (Industrial piping), it is the companion technical report to the EN 13480 “Metallic industrial piping” series, providing guidance for the conformity assessment of metallic industrial piping under the EU Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 97/23/EC), covering hazard category classification, conformity assessment procedures and module selection.
💡 Metallic industrial piping falls within the scope of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). Selecting the correct conformity assessment procedure is a statutory requirement for placing piping products on the EU market; this report provides systematic methodological guidance for manufacturers, designers and conformity assessment bodies.
1. Report Overview and Series Positioning 📌
This article is the summary review for the “PD TR” prefix of the BSB223 batch. The report in this batch is PD TR 13480-7:2002 (identical to CEN/TR 13480-7:2002). CEN approved the Technical Report on 22 May 2002; it was drawn up by CEN/TC 267. BSI published the UK Published Document on 24 July 2002 (ISBN 0 580 40081 6), with UK participation entrusted to Technical Committee PVE/10 (Industrial piping). ICS classification is 23.040.01 (pipeline components and pipelines in general).
| Batch Prefix | Standard | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PD TR | PD TR 13480-7:2002 | Metallic industrial piping – Part 7: Guidance on the use of conformity assessment procedures | Official English version of CEN/TR 13480-7:2002 |
The EN 13480 series is the core European standard for metallic industrial piping design (Part 1 general, Part 2 materials, Part 3 design and calculation, Part 4 fabrication and installation, Part 5 inspection and testing, Part 6 supplementary requirements, etc.). This report (Part 7) focuses on conformity assessment, interfacing with PED 97/23/EC and its successor 2014/68/EU.
⚠️ This report is a Technical Report (TR) providing guidance for the use of conformity assessment procedures rather than specific requirements; its content is based on the PED 97/23/EC framework of 2002. The current legislation is 2014/68/EU; the directive version and the latest harmonised standards should be considered when using it.
2. Application of the Pressure Equipment Directive 🔧
2.1 Scope of the Directive
The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 97/23/EC) applies to pressure equipment with a maximum allowable pressure greater than 0.5 bar (gauge) and containing fluids (gases, liquids or vapours), including vessels, piping, safety accessories and pressure accessories. Metallic industrial piping above the applicable thresholds must undergo conformity assessment and CE marking in accordance with the directive.
2.2 Hazard Category Classification
The choice of conformity procedure depends on the hazard category (Category) of the equipment. Classification is based principally on the nominal size (DN) and the pressure-diameter product, the maximum allowable pressure, the fluid state (gas/liquid) and its hazardousness (Group 1: flammable, explosive, toxic, oxidising fluids; Group 2: other fluids). The classification result determines which tier of conformity assessment module applies (from Category I self-assessment to full quality assurance systems for the highest categories).
| Category | Typical Assessment Route | Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| I | Manufacturer self-assessment (internal design/manufacturing control) | Lower risk, smaller parameters |
| II | Notified body involvement (design review/production surveillance) | Medium risk equipment |
| III | Deeper notified body involvement | Higher risk equipment |
| IV | Full quality assurance/type examination, etc. | Highest risk equipment (e.g. large Group 1 piping) |
3. Key Points of the Conformity Assessment Procedures 🔥
3.1 Selection of Assessment Modules
Manufacturers should select the corresponding conformity assessment modules (Modules A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H, etc.) of the directive annexes according to the equipment category, and agree the most suitable assessment route with the Notified Body in accordance with the “conformity assessment procedure usage guidelines” (guidance documents). The report provides module-by-module guidance and selection flowcharts.
3.2 Material and Design Evaluation
In the conformity assessment, pressure materials should comply with the relevant European material standards (e.g. materials referenced by EN 13480-2), and the design should satisfy the design and calculation requirements of the EN 13480 series; the Notified Body will examine the conformity of the design documentation, inspection plans and related documents.
3.3 Final Assessment and CE Marking
After the assessment, the manufacturer issues an EU Declaration of Conformity and affixes the CE marking, ensuring the piping product may be legally placed on the EU market; the technical file should be properly retained for verification by regulatory authorities.
🚨 A common misconception is that “designing to EN 13480” automatically satisfies the PED. In reality, PED conformity is a statutory requirement at the directive level: beyond the design standard, the specified conformity assessment procedure (including Notified Body involvement, depending on the category) must be completed and the CE marking affixed.
4. Engineering Application Points 🛠️
- 📋 Compliance planning: determine the pressure equipment category and applicable assessment modules at the early stage of product development to avoid late compliance rework.
- 🔍 Notified Body cooperation: communicate early with the Notified Body to determine the scope and depth of design review, inspection and quality system assessment.
- 🛡️ Technical file management: build a technical file compliant with the directive (design, materials, inspection, assessment records) supporting CE marking and market surveillance.
- 📊 Standards system linkage: integrate the EN 13480 design/fabrication/inspection requirements with the PED conformity assessment requirements into the quality system.
- 🌐 Regulatory tracking: track updates to PED 2014/68/EU and the harmonised standards (such as revisions of the EN 13480 parts) to maintain compliance.
✅ The current PED (2014/68/EU) revised and clarified aspects of 97/23/EC concerning pressure accessories, safety accessories and assessment modules. The “classify first, assess, then mark” methodology described in this report remains applicable under the current framework and is a classic reference for understanding CE compliance of metallic industrial piping.
5. Frequently Asked Questions ❓
❓ Q: What is the PED?
A: The PED is the EU Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC, currently 2014/68/EU), setting out the safety and compliance requirements for placing pressure equipment (including industrial piping) on the EU market.
A: The PED is the EU Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC, currently 2014/68/EU), setting out the safety and compliance requirements for placing pressure equipment (including industrial piping) on the EU market.
❓ Q: How is the hazard category of piping determined?
A: Based on the pipe nominal size and pressure-diameter product, the maximum allowable pressure, the fluid state (gas/liquid) and its hazardousness (Group 1/Group 2 fluids) per the classification tables of the directive.
A: Based on the pipe nominal size and pressure-diameter product, the maximum allowable pressure, the fluid state (gas/liquid) and its hazardousness (Group 1/Group 2 fluids) per the classification tables of the directive.
❓ Q: Must all piping involve a Notified Body?
A: Not necessarily. Category I equipment can be self-assessed by the manufacturer; Categories II and above require Notified Body involvement under the corresponding modules.
A: Not necessarily. Category I equipment can be self-assessed by the manufacturer; Categories II and above require Notified Body involvement under the corresponding modules.
🔍 Q: Does design to EN 13480 satisfy the PED?
A: Not yet. The design standard addresses engineering requirements; PED compliance additionally requires completing the specified conformity assessment procedure, issuing a Declaration of Conformity and affixing the CE marking.
A: Not yet. The design standard addresses engineering requirements; PED compliance additionally requires completing the specified conformity assessment procedure, issuing a Declaration of Conformity and affixing the CE marking.
❓ Q: Does this report still apply with the current 2014/68/EU?
A: The report was written under 97/23/EC, but its “classify – assess – mark” methodology and most module structures remain applicable under the current directive; execution should follow the current legislation and the latest harmonised standards.
A: The report was written under 97/23/EC, but its “classify – assess – mark” methodology and most module structures remain applicable under the current directive; execution should follow the current legislation and the latest harmonised standards.