3. MODULE B: EU-TYPE EXAMINATION

3.1. EU-Type examination - production type

  1. EU-type examination - production type is the part of a conformity assessment procedure in which a notified body examines the technical design of the pressure equipment and verifies and attests that the technical design of the pressure equipment meets the requirements of this Directive.

  2. EU-type examination - production type shall consist of an assessment of the adequacy of the technical design of the pressure equipment through examination of the technical documentation and supporting evidence referred to in point 3, plus examination of a specimen, representative of the production envisaged, of the complete pressure equipment.

  3. The manufacturer shall lodge an application for EU-type examination with a single notified body of his choice.
    The application shall include:

    • the name and address of the manufacturer and, if the application is lodged by the authorised representative, his name and address as well,
    • a written declaration that the same application has not been lodged with any other notified body,
    • the technical documentation. The technical documentation shall make it possible to assess the conformity of the pressure equipment 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 pressure equipment. The technical documentation shall contain, wherever applicable, at least the following elements:
    • a general description of the pressure equipment,
    • conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and diagrams of components, sub-assemblies, circuits, etc.,
    • descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of those drawings and diagrams and the operation of the pressure equipment,
    • a list of the harmonised standards the references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, applied in full or in part, and descriptions of the solutions adopted to meet the essential safety requirements of this Directive where those harmonised standards have not been applied. In the event of partly applied harmonised standards, the technical documentation shall specify the parts which have been applied,
    • results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, etc.,
    • test reports,
    • information concerning the tests provided for in manufacture,
    • information concerning the qualifications or approvals required under points 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of Annex I,
    • the specimens representative of the production envisaged. The specimen may cover several versions of the pressure equipment provided that the differences between the versions do not affect the level of safety. The notified body may request further specimens if needed for carrying out the test programme;
    • 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 by the appropriate laboratory of the manufacturer applying other relevant technical specifications, or by another testing laboratory on his behalf and under his responsibility.


  4. The notified body shall:

    4.1. examine the technical documentation and supporting evidence to assess the adequacy of the technical design of the pressure equipment and the manufacturing procedures. In particular, the notified body shall:
    • assess the materials where these are not in conformity with the relevant harmonised standards or with a European approval for pressure equipment materials, and check the certificate issued by the material manufacturer in accordance with point 4.3 of Annex I,
    • approve the procedures for the permanent joining of pressure equipment parts, or check that they have been previously approved in accordance with point 3.1.2 of Annex I,
    • verify that the personnel undertaking the permanent joining of pressure equipment parts and the non-destructive tests are qualified or approved in accordance with points 3.1.2 or 3.1.3 of Annex I.

    4.2. verify that the specimen(s) have been manufactured in conformity with the technical documentation 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 using other relevant technical specifications without applying the relevant provisions of those standards.

    4.3. carry out appropriate examinations and necessary tests to check whether when the manufacturer has chosen to apply the solutions in the relevant harmonised standards, these have been applied correctly.

    4.4. carry out appropriate examinations and necessary tests 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. 4.5. agree with the manufacturer on a location where the examinations and tests will be carried out.

  5. The notified body shall draw up an evaluation report that records the activities undertaken in accordance with point 4 and their outcomes. Without prejudice to its obligations vis-à-vis the notifying authority, the notified body shall release the content of that report, in full or in part, only with the agreement of the manufacturer.

  6. Where the type meets the requirements of this Directive, the notified body shall issue an EU-type examination certificate - production type to the manufacturer. Without prejudice to point 7, the certificate shall be valid for 10 years and be renewable and shall contain the name and address of the manufacturer, the conclusions of the examination, the conditions (if any) for its validity and the necessary data for identification of the approved type. A list of the relevant parts of the technical documentation shall be annexed to the certificate and a copy kept by the notified body. The certificate and its annexes shall contain all relevant information to allow the conformity of manufactured pressure equipment with the examined type to be evaluated and to allow for in-service control. Where the type does not satisfy the applicable requirements of this Directive, the notified body shall refuse to issue an EU-type examination certificate – production type and shall inform the applicant accordingly, giving detailed reasons for its refusal. Provision shall be made for an appeals procedure.

  7. The notified body shall keep itself apprised of any changes in the generally acknowledged state of the art which indicate that the approved type may no longer comply with the applicable requirements of this Directive, and shall determine whether such changes require further investigation. If so, the notified body shall inform the manufacturer accordingly. The manufacturer shall inform the notified body that holds the technical documentation relating to the EU-type examination certificate – production type of all modifications to the approved type that may affect the conformity of the pressure equipment with the essential safety requirements of this Directive or the conditions for validity of the certificate. Such modifications shall require additional approval in the form of an addition to the original EU- type examination certificate – production type.

  8. Each notified body shall inform its notifying authority concerning the EU-type examination certificates – production type and/or any additions thereto which it has issued or withdrawn, and shall, periodically or upon request, make available to its notifying authorities the list of certificates and/or any additions thereto refused, suspended or otherwise restricted. Each notified body shall inform the other notified bodies concerning the EU-type examination certificates – production type and/or any additions thereto which it has refused, withdrawn, suspended or otherwise restricted, and, upon request, concerning the 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 – production type 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 – production type, its annexes and additions, as well as the technical file including the documentation submitted by the manufacturer, until the expiry of the validity of the certificate.

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

  10. The manufacturer's authorised representative may lodge the application referred to in point 3 and fulfil the obligations set out in points 7 and 9, provided that they are specified in the mandate.

3.2. EU-Type examination - design type

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

  2. The EU-type examination - design type shall consist of an assessment of the adequacy of the technical design of the pressure equipment through examination of the technical documentation and supporting evidence referred to in point 3, without examination of a specimen. The experimental design method provided for in point 2.2.4 of Annex I shall not be used in the context of this module.

  3. The manufacturer shall lodge an application for EU-type examination — design type with a single notified body of his choice. The application shall include:
    • the name and address of the manufacturer and, if the application is lodged by the authorised representative, his name and address as well,
    • a written declaration that the same application has not been lodged with any other notified body,
    • the technical documentation. The technical documentation shall make it possible to assess the conformity of the pressure equipment with the applicable requirements of the 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 pressure equipment. The technical documentation shall contain, wherever applicable, at least the following elements:
    • a general description of the pressure equipment,
    • conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and diagrams of components, sub-assemblies, circuits, etc.,
    • descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of those drawings and diagrams and the operation of the pressure equipment,
    • a list of the harmonised standards the references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, applied in full or in part, and descriptions of the solutions adopted to meet the essential safety requirements of this Directive where those harmonised standards have not been applied. In the event of partly applied harmonised standards, the technical documentation shall specify the parts which have been applied,
    • results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, etc.,
    • information regarding the qualifications or approvals required under points 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of Annex I,
    • 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. This supporting evidence shall include, where necessary, the results of tests carried out by the appropriate laboratory of the manufacturer or by another testing laboratory on his behalf and under his responsibility. The application may cover several versions of the pressure equipment provided that the differences between the versions do not affect the level of safety.


  4. The notified body shall:

    4.1. examine the technical documentation and supporting evidence to assess the adequacy of the technical design of the product.
    In particular, the notified body shall:
    • assess the materials where these are not in conformity with the relevant harmonised standards or with a European approval for pressure equipment materials,
    • approve the procedures for the permanent joining of pressure equipment parts, or check that they have been previously approved in accordance with point 3.1.2 of Annex I.

    4.2. carry out appropriate examinations to check whether where the manufacturer has chosen to apply the solutions in the relevant harmonised standards these have been applied correctly.

    4.3. carry out appropriate examinations to check whether, where the solutions in the relevant harmonised standards have not been applied, the solutions adopted by the manufacturer meet the corresponding essential safety requirements of this Directive.

  5. The notified body shall draw up an evaluation report that records the activities undertaken in accordance with point 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.

  6. Where the design meets the requirements of this Directive, the notified body shall issue an EU-type examination certificate - design type to the manufacturer. Without prejudice to point 7, the certificate shall be valid for 10 years and be renewable and shall contain the name and address of the manufacturer, the conclusions of the examination, the conditions (if any) for its validity and the necessary data for identification of the approved design. A list of the relevant parts of the technical documentation shall be annexed to the certificate and a copy kept by the notified body. The certificate and its annexes shall contain all relevant information to allow the conformity of manufactured pressure equipment with the examined design to be evaluated and to allow for in-service control. Where the design does not satisfy the applicable requirements of this Directive, the notified body shall refuse to issue an EU-type examination certificate - design type and shall inform the applicant accordingly, giving detailed reasons for its refusal.

  7. The notified body shall keep itself apprised of any changes in the generally acknowledged state of the art which indicate that the approved design may no longer comply with the applicable requirements of this Directive, and shall determine whether such changes require further investigation. If so, the notified body shall inform the manufacturer accordingly. The manufacturer shall inform the notified body that holds the technical documentation relating to the EU-type examination certificate - design type of all modifications to the approved design that may affect the conformity of the pressure equipment with the essential safety requirements of this Directive or the conditions for validity of the certificate. Such modifications shall require additional approval in the form of an addition to the original EU-type examination certificate - design type.

  8. Each notified body shall inform its notifying authorities concerning the EU-type examination certificates - design type and/or any additions thereto which it has issued or withdrawn, and shall, periodically or upon request, make available to its notifying authorities the list of certificates and/or any additions thereto refused, suspended or otherwise restricted. Each notified body shall inform the other notified bodies concerning the EU-type examination certificates - design type and/or any additions thereto which it has refused, withdrawn, suspended or otherwise restricted, and, upon request, concerning the 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 - design type 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 - design type, its annexes and additions, as well as the technical file including the documentation submitted by the manufacturer, until the expiry of the validity of the certificate.

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

  10. The manufacturer's authorised representative may lodge the application referred to in point 3 and fulfil the obligations set out in points 7 and 9, provided that they are specified in the mandate.