Are you a manufacturer/supplier of pressure systems?

Subject to certain exclusions (see below), the Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 (PER) make it an offence for a 'responsible person' (see below) to place on the market, put into service or otherwise supply pressure equipment and assemblies above 0.5 bar unless they:

• are safe
• meet essential safety requirements covering design, manufacture and testing
• satisfy appropriate conformity assessment procedures and are accompanied by a declaration of conformity
• carry the CE marking and other required information in English

Pressure equipment and assemblies within the scope of PER yet below specified pressure x volume thresholds must:

• be safe
• be designed and manufactured according to 'sound engineering practice'
• be accompanied by adequate instructions for use
• bear specified markings (but not the CE marking)

Common requirements apply throughout the European Economic Area (EEA) so that pressure equipment complying with PER may be placed on the market or put into service anywhere in the EEA.

The 'responsible person' is defined in PER as the manufacturer or their authorised representative established within the European Community (EC). Where neither the manufacturer nor their authorised representative is established within the EC, the 'responsible person' is the person who places the pressure equipment on the market or puts it into service.

Exclusions

The Regulations do not apply to equipment and assemblies:

• listed in Annex A to the PER guidance notes as provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
• manufactured for use and placed on the market outside the EEA
• exhibited at trade fairs, subject to certain conditions
• placed on the market before 29 May 2002 and which complied with the requirements legally applicable for placing on the market before 28 November 1999
• assembled on site and under the control, and for the use, of the user

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