CSI : European Directives Division

European Directives Division: Directive 99/36/CE, Transportable Pressure equipments (T-PED)

This Directive, become operative in 2004, comprises with a particular marking , π”, products having three features: Pressure, Dangerousness and Transportability. It concerns, thus, containers having various nature and shape intended to transport gases under pressure or liquified or in solution, as, for instance, steel bottles for liquified petroleum gas (LPG), oxygen or acetylene.

Directive 1999/36/CE includes either the new manufactured products (having the T-PED requirements) or the also existing equipments to be “re-evaluated” with regard to T-PED, or the periodic inspections to verify the maintaining of the safety requirements necessary to re-use the products under pressure.

The products intended to transport various gases can be:

Steel bottles,
Cylinders or pipes,
Drums
Cryogenic containers,
Frames for steel bottles,
Tanks

In Italy all these products have been controlled and watched by a national law (D.M. 1925) under the responsibility of ISPESL with the co-operation of Civil Traffic Control Authority. After the endorsement notice of T-PED Directive, Bodies already notified for 97/23/CE (PED) Directive are present on the italian market , as the certification procedures are the same.

On the contrary, the technical regulations of T-PED for the initial type tests and for the periodic inspections make reference to the international requirements provided for by ONU and named ADR/RID.This international regulation is effectively the homologation system for “Packagings for dangerous goods transportation” which includes also the pressurized gas containers (see also the devoted chapter).

Thus, in the case of a new manufactured steel bottle, cylinder or tap intended to transport a pressurized gas, we must refer both to the verifications provided for by the ADR/RID arrangements and to the pressure equipment requirements using one of the suitable forms: A, B, C1, D, D1, E, E1, F, G, H e H1.
These certifications provide for, as for PED, a production surveillance by the notified Body in function of the manufacturer’s structure through both factory periodic control tests and Company’s Quality system evaluation (ISO 9000).

A particular case is represented by the “re-evaluation” of steel bottles already existing on the market and homologated under national laws. In order to allow their re-use, a documentary evaluation by the notified Body is needed, if necessary, integrated with comparison technical tests, to demonstrate that the product possesses safety characteristics at least equivalent to those provided for by T-PED. In the case of products homologated according to the requirements of the old italian law (D.M. 1925 and following updatings)with ISPESL markings, such equivalence is satisfactorily demonstrated by the relevant batch conformity certificates.
In general, all the transportable gas containers are re-used many times and the transport impacts , the filling maneuverings, the tap use and the environment can cause remarkable wear and tear. Hence, in order to continue the re-use of the steel bottles, they have to undergo a periodic control, that, according to transported products, can be carried out every 5 or 10 years.
With T-PED the periodic surveillance can be carried out under the direct responsibility of the notified Body (presence of the inspector during the tests) or through the use of the manufacturer’s Quality system and under the notified Body surveillance (indirect presence of the inspector), through inspection visits scheduled according to the number of tests.
CSI is accredited by the italian Ministry of Transport to operate as Certification and Inspection Body and as Test Laboratory for all products and all certification procedures.

INFO AND ESTIMATES:
Please contact Ing. Renato Lunelli