Manufacture or supply of pressure systems

Manufacturers

Subject to certain exclusions, the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (PE(S)R) make it an offence for a manufacturer or their authorised representative 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 United Kingdom Conformity Assessment (UKCA) marking or, until 31 December 2022, the CE marking and other required information in English
• label their product with their (manufacturers) name, registered trade name or trademark and address, and the type, batch or serial number
• provide adequate instructions and safety information

Pressure equipment and assemblies within the scope of PE(S)R 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 the appropriate markings

Importers and distributors

An importer is a person or business based in the UK who places pressure equipment and assemblies on the GB market from a country outside the UK. The obligations on importers include:

• checking that the manufacturer has carried out the relevant conformity assessment; the manufacturer has drawn up technical documentation; the pressure equipment or assembly has the UKCA marking
• not placing the pressure equipment or assembly on the GB market if they have reason to believe is it not in conformity
• providing their (importers) name, registered trade name and postal address on the equipment or assembly or its packaging
• ensuring the assembly or equipment is accompanied by adequate instructions

A distributor is any other person in the supply chain, other than the manufacturer or the importer, who makes pressure equipment and assemblies available on the GB market. The obligations on distributors include:

• taking due care to ensure that pressure equipment and assemblies are in conformity and that the manufacturer and importer have met their obligations
• verifying that the pressure equipment or assembly bears the UKCA mark, and is accompanied by the required documents, instructions and safety information, and that the manufacturer and importer have complied with their labelling and identification requirements.
• not placing the pressure equipment or assembly on the GB market if they have reason to believe is it not in conformity

Further guidance on the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and distributors under PE(S)R, including changes now that the UK has left the EU, have been published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

Exclusions

The regulations do not apply to equipment and assemblies:

• set out in schedule 1 to the regulations 
• 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