87/404/EEC

What is a "Simple Pressure Vessel"?

For a vessel to fall into the scope of this Directive, it must meet all of the following categories:

• Unfired
• Cylindrical welded construction
• Constructed of certain grades of steel or aluminium
• Intended to contain nitrogen or air
• Gauge pressure greater than 0.5 bar
• Produced in series

The Directive's scope also has limits on the maximum working pressure and temperature as well as the types of end to the vessel.

Exclusions from the 'Simple Pressure Vessel Directive'

The Directive excludes further vessels that meet all the above criteria but fall into the following areas of use (where other legislation applies):

• Nuclear use
• Use in the propulsion of ships and aircraft
• Fire extinguishers

Do not make the mistake of assuming that because your vessel does not fall into the scope of SPVD that it is not regulated. If the containment pressure is at least 0.5bar and the vessel does not fall into the scope of SPVD, it will fall back into the scope of the more onerous "Pressure Equipment Directive" (PED).

Dates

The Directive (87/404/EEC) came into force on 1 July 1990 and was amended twice: 90/488/EEC & 93/68/EEC. Both amendments have been in force for some time.