Search by company

ASME code and the PED

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 22, 2003

Pedcat has acted as consultant to a number of companies who have successfully applied ASME codes to demonstrate PED compliance.

Products falling within the scope of the PED are required to satisfy all applicable essential safety requirements (ESRs) and apply a conformity assessment module appropriate to the product category.

The directive does not prescribe how the ESRs need to be met only that they must be satisfied and evidence recorded within technical documentation.

This means that any appropriate code/standard or technical solution may be applied for design, manufacture, final inspection and test.

The application of specific EN harmonised standards for pressure equipment carries a presumption of conformity with the PED ESRs listed in an annex Z of the standard concerned.

This simplifies the task of evidencing how the specific ESRs are met.

Unfortunately, there is no such presumption of conformity for non-EU harmonised standards such as those produced by the ASME for pressure equipment.

Although it is recognised that ASME pressure equipment codes are among the most commonly used, particularly in the power generation, petrochemical and oil and gas industries worldwide, these codes do not cover a number of the ESRs set out in the directive.

The ASME codes may be used as a basis for satisfying the ESRs but a careful check and comparison must be made between the code and the PED requirements to identify differences.

For each of the applicable ESRs evidence of compliance must be provided in the technical documentation, in some cases this may simply be a reference to the particular section of the ASME code concerned in others far more detailed proof of compliance and technical solutions will be required.

Particular problems can occur when using ASME/ASTM materials when their properties do not fall into line with PED requirements, or impact properties are not specified.

It is possible (although far from straightforward) that these problems can be overcome by demonstrating that an equivalent overall level of safety has been achieved.

Pedcat has acted as consultant to a number of companies who have successfully applied ASME codes to demonstrate PED compliance using its in-depth knowledge, technical documentation and checklists.