The welding materials used to manufacture the welds on or of the vessel shall be appropriate to and compatible with the materials to be welded.

These accessories (for example bolts and nuts) shall be made of a material specified in point 1.1 or of other kinds of steel, aluminium or an appropriate aluminium alloy compatible with materials used for the manufacture of pressurised parts.

The latter materials shall at minimum working temperature have an appropriate elongation after fracture and bending rupture energy.

All unpressurised parts of welded vessels shall be of materials which are compatible with that of the components to which they are welded.

Preparation of the component parts (for example forming and chamfering) shall not give rise to surface defects or cracks or changes in the mechanical characteristics likely to be detrimental to the safety of the vessels.

The characteristics of welds and adjacent zones shall be similar to those of the welded materials and shall be free of any surface or internal defects detrimental to the safety of the vessels.

Welds shall be performed by qualified welders or operators possessing the appropriate level of competence, in accordance with approved welding processes. Such approval and qualification tests shall be carried out by notified bodies.

The manufacturer shall also, during manufacture, ensure consistent weld quality by conducting appropriate tests using adequate procedures. These tests shall be the subject of a report.

EU-type examination is the part of a conformity assessment procedure in which a notified body examines the technical design of a vessel and verifies and attests that the technical design of the vessel meets the requirements of this Directive that apply to it.

• assessment of the adequacy of the technical design of the vessel through examination of the technical documentation and supporting evidence referred to in point 1.3, plus examination of a prototype, representative of the production envisaged, of the complete vessel (production type),

• assessment of the adequacy of the technical design of the vessel through examination of the technical documentation and supporting evidence referred to in point 1.3, without examination of a prototype vessel (design type).

The application shall include:

1. (a)

   the name and address of the manufacturer and, if the application is lodged by the authorised representative, his name and address as well;

2. (b)

   a written declaration that the same application has not been lodged with any other notified body;

3. (c)

   the technical documentation. The technical documentation shall make it possible to assess the vessel’s conformity with the applicable requirements of this Directive and shall include an adequate analysis and assessment of the risk(s).

   The technical documentation shall specify the applicable requirements and cover, as far as relevant for the assessment, the design, manufacture and operation of the vessel. The technical documentation shall contain, wherever applicable, at least the following elements:

   1. (i)

      a general description of the vessel;

   2. (ii)

      conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and schemes of components, etc.;

   3. (iii)

      descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of those drawings and schemes and the operation of the vessel;

   4. (iv)

      a list of the harmonised standards applied in full or in part, the references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and, where those harmonised standards have not been applied, descriptions of the solutions adopted to meet the essential safety requirements of this Directive, including a list of other relevant technical specifications applied. In the event of partly applied harmonised standards, the technical documentation shall specify the parts which have been applied;

   5. (v)

      results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, etc.;

   6. (vi)

      test reports;

   7. (vii)

      the instructions and safety information referred to in point 2 of Annex III;

   8. (viii)

      a document describing:

      • the materials selected,

      • the welding processes selected,

      • the checks selected,

      • any pertinent details as to the vessel design;

4. (d)

   where applicable, the prototype vessels representative of the production envisaged. The notified body may request further prototype vessels if needed for carrying out the test programme;

5. (e)

   the supporting evidence for the adequacy of the technical design solution. This supporting evidence shall mention any documents that have been used, in particular where the relevant harmonised standards have not been applied in full. The supporting evidence shall include, where necessary, the results of tests carried out in accordance with other relevant technical specifications by the appropriate laboratory of the manufacturer, or by another testing laboratory on his behalf and under his responsibility.

   When a prototype vessel is examined, the technical documentation shall also include:

   • the certificates relating to the suitable qualification of the welding operations and of the welders or welding operators,

   • the inspection slip for the materials used in the manufacture of parts and components contributing to the strength of the vessel,

   • a report on the examinations and tests performed or a description of the proposed checks.

For the vessel:

1. 1.4.1.

   examine the technical documentation and supporting evidence to assess the adequacy of the technical design of the vessel.

   For the prototype vessel(s):

2. 1.4.2.

   verify that the prototype vessel(s) has/have been manufactured in conformity with the technical documentation, that it may safely be used under its intended working conditions and identify the elements which have been designed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the relevant harmonised standards, as well as the elements which have been designed in accordance with other relevant technical specifications;

3. 1.4.3.

   carry out appropriate examinations and tests, or have them carried out, to check whether, where the manufacturer has chosen to apply the solutions in the relevant harmonised standards, these have been applied correctly;

4. 1.4.4.

   carry out appropriate examinations and tests, or have them carried out, to check whether, where the solutions in the relevant harmonised standards have not been applied, the solutions adopted by the manufacturer applying other relevant technical specifications meet the corresponding essential safety requirements of this Directive;

5. 1.4.5.

   agree with the manufacturer on a location where the examinations and tests will be carried out.

The notified body shall draw up an evaluation report that records the activities undertaken in accordance with point 1.4 and their outcomes. Without prejudice to its obligations vis-à-vis the notifying authorities, the notified body shall release the content of that report, in full or in part, only with the agreement of the manufacturer.

The EU-type examination certificate and its annexes shall contain all relevant information to allow the conformity of manufactured vessels with the examined type to be evaluated and to allow for in-service control. It shall also indicate any conditions to which its issue may be subject and be accompanied by the descriptions and drawings necessary for identification of the approved type.

Where the type does not satisfy the applicable requirements of this Directive, the notified body shall refuse to issue an EU-type examination certificate and shall inform the applicant accordingly, giving detailed reasons for its refusal.

The manufacturer shall inform the notified body that holds the technical documentation relating to the EU-type examination certificate of all modifications to the approved type that may affect the conformity of the vessel with the essential safety requirements of this Directive or the conditions for validity of that certificate. Such modifications shall require additional approval in the form of an addition to the original EU-type examination certificate.

Each notified body shall inform the other notified bodies concerning the EU-type examination certificates and/or any additions thereto which it has refused, withdrawn, suspended or otherwise restricted, and, upon request, concerning such certificates and/or additions thereto which it has issued.

The Commission, the Member States and the other notified bodies may, on request, obtain a copy of the EU-type examination certificates and/or additions thereto. On request, the Commission and the Member States may obtain a copy of the technical documentation and the results of the examinations carried out by the notified body. The notified body shall keep a copy of the EU-type examination certificate, its annexes and additions, as well as the technical file including the documentation submitted by the manufacturer, until the expiry of the validity of that certificate.

The manufacturer shall keep a copy of the EU-type examination certificate, its annexes and additions together with the technical documentation at the disposal of the national authorities for 10 years after the vessel has been placed on the market.

The manufacturer’s authorised representative may lodge the application referred to in point 1.3 and fulfil the obligations set out in points 1.7 and 1.9, provided that they are specified in the mandate.

Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised vessel testing is the part of a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in points 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4, and ensures and declares on his sole responsibility that the vessels concerned are in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and satisfy the requirements of this Directive that apply to them.

The manufacturer shall take all measures necessary so that the manufacturing process and its monitoring ensure conformity of the manufactured vessels with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and with the requirements of this Directive that apply to them.

Before commencing manufacture, the manufacturer shall provide a notified body of his choice with all necessary information, and in particular:

1. (a)

   the technical documentation, which shall also include:

   • the certificates relating to the suitable qualification of the welding operations and of the welders or welding operators,

   • the inspection slip for the materials used in the manufacture of parts and components contributing to the strength of the vessel,

   • a report on the examinations and tests performed;

2. (b)

   the inspection document, describing the appropriate examinations and tests to be carried out during manufacture, together with the procedures in respect thereof and the frequency with which they are to be performed;

3. (c)

   the EU-type examination certificate.

The manufacturer’s obligations set out in point 2.4 may be fulfilled by his authorised representative, on his behalf and under his responsibility, provided that they are specified in the mandate.

Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised vessel checks at random intervals is the part of a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in points 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4, and ensures and declares on his sole responsibility that the vessels concerned are in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and satisfy the requirements of this Directive that apply to them.

The notified body shall carry out vessel checks or have them carried out on random samples at random intervals determined by the body, in order to verify the quality of the internal checks on the vessel, taking into account, inter alia, the technological complexity of the vessels and the quantity of production. An adequate sample of the final vessels, taken on site by the notified body before the placing on the market, shall be examined and appropriate tests as identified by the relevant parts of the harmonised standards and/or equivalent tests set out in other relevant technical specifications, shall be carried out to check the conformity of the vessel with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and with the relevant requirements of this Directive.

The notified body shall also ensure that the manufacturer actually checks series-produced vessels in accordance with point (c) of point 3.2.3.

Where a sample does not conform to the acceptable quality level, the notified body shall take appropriate measures.

The acceptance sampling procedure to be applied is intended to determine whether the manufacturing process of the vessel performs within acceptable limits, with a view to ensuring conformity of the vessel.

The notified body shall supply the Member State which notified it and, on request, the other notified bodies, the other Member States and the Commission, with a copy of the inspection report issued by it.

The manufacturer shall, under the responsibility of the notified body, affix the notified body’s identification number during the manufacturing process.

The manufacturer’s obligations set out in point 3.4 may be fulfilled by his authorised representative, on his behalf and under his responsibility, provided that they are specified in the mandate.

Conformity to type based on internal production control is the part of a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in points 4.2 and 4.3, and ensures and declares that the vessels concerned are in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and satisfy the requirements of this Directive that apply to them.

The manufacturer shall take all measures necessary so that the manufacturing process and its monitoring ensure conformity of the manufactured vessels with the approved type described in the EU-type examination certificate and with the requirements of this Directive that apply to them.

Before commencing manufacture, the manufacturer shall provide the notified body which issued the EU-type examination certificate with all necessary information, and in particular:

1. (a)

   the certificates relating to the suitable qualification of the welding operations and of the welders or welding operators;

2. (b)

   the inspection slip for the materials used in the manufacture of parts and components contributing to the strength of the vessel;

3. (c)

   a report on the examinations and tests performed;

4. (d)

   a document describing the manufacturing processes and all of the predetermined systematic measures taken to ensure conformity of the vessels with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate.

   That document shall include:

   1. (i)

      a description of the means of manufacture and checking appropriate to the construction of the vessels;

   2. (ii)

      an inspection document describing the appropriate examinations and tests to be carried out during manufacture, together with the procedures in respect thereof and the frequency with which they are to be performed;

   3. (iii)

      an undertaking to carry out the examinations and tests in accordance with the inspection document and to have a hydrostatic test or, subject to the agreement of the Member State, a pneumatic test carried out on each vessel manufactured at a test pressure equal to 1,5 times the design pressure; those examinations and tests shall be carried out under the responsibility of qualified staff who are independent from production personnel, and shall be the subject of a report;

   4. (iv)

      the addresses of the places of manufacture and storage and the date on which manufacture is to commence.

The notified body shall, before the date on which any manufacture begins, examine those documents in order to certify their conformity with the EU-type examination certificate.

The manufacturer’s obligations set out in point 4.3 may be fulfilled by his authorised representative, on his behalf and under his responsibility, provided that they are specified in the mandate.

Vessels of which the product of PS × V exceeds 50 bar.L must bear the CE marking provided for in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 and the last two digits of the year in which the CE marking was affixed.

1. (a)

   the maximum working pressure (PS in bar);

2. (b)

   the maximum working temperature (T_max in °C);

3. (c)

   the minimum working temperature (T_min in °C);

4. (d)

   the capacity of the vessel (V in L);

5. (e)

   the name, registered trade name or registered trade mark and the address of the manufacturer;

6. (f)

   the type and serial or batch identification of the vessel.

Where the data plate is used, it shall be so designed that it cannot be reused and shall include a vacant space to enable other information to be provided.

1. (a)

   The design pressure ‘P’ is the gauge pressure chosen by the manufacturer and used to determine the thickness of the vessel’s pressurised parts.

2. (b)

   The maximum working pressure ‘PS’ is the maximum gauge pressure which may be exerted under normal conditions of use of the vessel.

3. (c)

   The minimum working temperature T_min is the lowest stabilised temperature which the wall of the vessel may attain under normal conditions of use.

4. (d)

   The maximum working temperature T_max is the highest stabilised temperature which the wall of the vessel may attain under normal conditions of use.

5. (e)

   The yield strength ‘R_eT’ is the value at the maximum working temperature T_max of any of the following:

   1. (i)

      the upper yield point R_eH, for a material with both a lower and an upper yield point;

   2. (ii)

      the 0,2 % proof strength R_p0,2;

   3. (iii)

      the 1,0 % proof strength R_p1,0 in the case of non-alloy aluminium.

6. (f)

   Families of vessels:

   Vessels form part of the same family if they differ from the prototype only in diameter, provided that the permissible requirements referred to in points 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 of Annex I are complied with, and/or in the length of their cylindrical portion within the following limits:

   1. (i)

      where a prototype has one or more shell rings in addition to the ends, variants shall have at least one shell ring;

   2. (ii)

      where a prototype has just two dished ends, variants shall have no shell rings.

      Variations in length causing the apertures and/or penetrations to be modified shall be shown in the drawing for each variant.

7. (g)

   A batch of vessels consists at the most of 3 000 vessels of the model of the same type.

8. (h)

   There is series manufacture within the meaning of this Directive if more than one vessel of the same type is manufactured during a given period by a continuous manufacturing process, in accordance with a common design and using the same manufacturing processes.

9. (i)

   Inspection slip: document by which the producer of the materials certifies that the products delivered meet the requirements of the order and in which he sets out the results of the routine in-plant inspection test, in particular chemical composition and mechanical characteristics, performed on products made by the same production process as the supply, but not necessarily on the products delivered.