5. MODULE D: CONFORMITY TO TYPE BASED ON QUALITY ASSURANCE OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

  1. Conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process is that part of a conformity assessment procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfils the obligations laid down in points 2 and 5, and ensures and declares on his sole responsibility that the pressure equipment or assembly concerned is in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and satisfies the requirements of this Directive that apply to it.

  2. Manufacturing

    The manufacturer shall operate an approved quality system for production, final product inspection and testing of the pressure equipment concerned as specified in point 3 and shall be subject to surveillance as specified in point 4.

  3. Quality system

    3.1. The manufacturer shall lodge an application for assessment of his quality system with the notified body of his choice for the pressure equipment concerned. 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,
    • all relevant information on the pressure equipment type envisaged,
    • the documentation concerning the quality system,
    • the technical documentation of the approved type and a copy of the EU-type examination certificate.

    3.2. The quality system shall ensure that the pressure equipment is in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and comply with the requirements of this Directive that apply to it.
    All the elements, requirements and provisions adopted by the manufacturer shall be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policies, procedures and instructions. This quality system documentation shall permit a consistent interpretation of the quality programmes, plans, manuals and records.
    It shall, in particular, contain an adequate description of:
    • the quality objectives and the organisational structure, responsibilities and powers of the management with regard to the quality of the pressure equipment,
    • the corresponding manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance techniques, processes and systematic actions that will be used, particularly the procedures used for the permanent joining of parts as approved in accordance with point 3.1.2 of Annex I,
    • the examinations and tests that will be carried out before, during and after manufacture, and the frequency with which they will be carried out,
    • the quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, reports concerning the qualifications or approvals of the personnel concerned, particularly those of the personnel undertaking the permanent joining of parts and the non-destructive tests in accordance with points 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of Annex I, etc., and
    • the means of monitoring the achievement of the required quality and the effective operation of the quality system.

    3.3. The notified body shall assess the quality system to determine whether it satisfies the requirements referred to in point 3.2.
    It shall presume conformity with those requirements in respect of the elements of the quality system that comply with the corresponding specifications of the relevant harmonised standard. In addition to experience in quality management systems, the auditing team shall have at least one member with experience of evaluation in the relevant pressure equipment field and pressure equipment technology concerned, and knowledge of the applicable requirements of this Directive. The audit shall include an inspection visit to the manufacturer's premises.
    The auditing team shall review the technical documentation referred to in point 3.1, fifth indent, to verify the manufacturer's ability to identify the relevant requirements of this Directive and to carry out the necessary examinations with a view to ensuring compliance of the product with those requirements.
    The decision shall be notified to the manufacturer. The notification shall contain the conclusions of the audit and the reasoned assessment decision.

    3.4. The manufacturer shall undertake to fulfil the obligations arising out of the quality system as approved and to maintain it so that it remains adequate and efficient.

    3.5. The manufacturer shall keep the notified body that has approved the quality system informed of any intended change to the quality system.

    The notified body shall evaluate the proposed changes and decide whether the modified quality system will continue to satisfy the requirements referred to in point 3.2 or whether a reassessment is necessary.
    It shall notify the manufacturer of its decision. The notification shall contain the conclusions of the examination and the reasoned assessment decision.

  4. Surveillance under the responsibility of the notified body

    4.1. The purpose of surveillance is to make sure that the manufacturer duly fulfils the obligations arising out of the approved quality system.

    4.2. The manufacturer shall, for assessment purposes, allow the notified body access to the manufacture, inspection, testing and storage sites and shall provide it with all necessary information, in particular:
    • the quality system documentation,
    • the quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, qualification reports of the personnel concerned, etc.

    4.3. The notified body shall carry out periodic audits to make sure that the manufacturer maintains and applies the quality system and provide the manufacturer with an audit report. The frequency of periodic audits shall be such that a full reassessment is carried out every three years.

    4.4. In addition the notified body may pay unexpected visits to the manufacturer. The need for such additional visits, and the frequency thereof, will be determined on the basis of a visit control system operated by the notified body. In particular, the following factors shall be considered in the visit control system:
    • the category of the pressure equipment,
    • the results of previous surveillance visits,
    • the need to follow up corrective actions,
    • special conditions linked to the approval of the system, where applicable,
    • significant changes in manufacturing organisation, policy or techniques.
    During such visits the notified body may, if necessary, carry out product tests or have them carried out in order to verify that the quality system is functioning correctly. The notified body shall provide the manufacturer with a visit report and, if tests have been carried out, with a test report.

  5. CE marking and EU declaration of conformity 5.1. The manufacturer shall affix the CE marking and, under the responsibility of the notified body referred to in point 3.1, the latter's identification number to each individual pressure equipment that is in conformity with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and satisfies the applicable requirements of this Directive. 5.2. The manufacturer shall draw up a written EU declaration of conformity for each pressure equipment model and keep it at the disposal of the national authorities for 10 years after the pressure equipment has been placed on the market. The EU declaration of conformity shall identify the pressure equipment model for which it has been drawn up. A copy of the EU declaration of conformity shall be made available to the relevant authorities upon request.

  6. The manufacturer shall, for a period ending 10 years after the pressure equipment has been placed on the market, keep at the disposal of the national authorities:
    • the documentation referred to point 3.1,
    • the change referred to in point 3.5, as approved,
    • the decisions and reports of the notified body referred to in points 3.3, 3.5, 4.3 and 4.4.


  7. Each notified body shall inform its notifying authorities of the quality system approvals issued or withdrawn, and shall, periodically or upon request, make available to its notifying authorities the list of quality system approvals refused, suspended or otherwise restricted. Each notified body shall inform the other notified bodies of the quality system approvals which it has refused, suspended, withdrawn or otherwise restricted, and, upon request, of quality system approvals which it has issued.

  8. Authorised representative

    The manufacturer's obligations set out in points 3.1, 3.5, 5 and 6 may be fulfilled by his authorised representative, on his behalf and under his responsibility, provided that they are specified in the mandate.