PED 97/23/EC welding requirements

[alperez]

Since till now I have get involved in projects under the scope of ASME VIII and thus the weldings performed as per ASME IX, I have no knowledge of procedure and welder qualification requirements for pressure vessel under the scope of PED 97/23/EC. Could you kindly advise me and give me some guidelines for such qualifications?

[wgadmin]

According to ANNEX I, Par. 3.1.2 of PED 97/23/EC, the properties of permanent joints must meet the minimum properties specified for the materials to be joined unless other relevant property values are specifically taken into account in the design calculations. For pressure equipment, permanent joining of components which contribute to the pressure resistance of equipment and components which are directly attached to them must be carried out by suitably qualified personnel according to suitable operating procedures. For pressure equipment in categories II, III and IV, operating procedures and personnel must be approved by a competent third party which, at the manufacturer's discretion, may be:
— a notified body,
— a third-party organization recognized by a Member State as provided for in Article 13 (of PED 97/23/EC ).
To carry out these approvals the third party must perform examinations and tests as set out in the appropriate harmonized standards or equivalent examinations and tests or must have them performed.

In addition, you could have a look at the attached PED guideline 6/12 that related to the above paragraph.
Please note that the EN 288 series that is mentioned to this guideline has been replaced as described below:

EN 288-1 replaced by EN ISO 15607
EN 288-2 replaced by EN ISO 15609-1
EN 288-3 replaced by EN ISO 15614-1
EN 288-4 replaced by EN ISO 15614-2
EN 288-5 replaced by EN ISO 15610
EN 288-6 replaced by EN ISO 15611
EN 288-7 replaced by EN ISO 15612
EN 288-8 replaced by EN ISO 15613