PED 4.3 Certification Classification Analysis

PED 4.3 certification is based on the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU and is required for the export of metal materials such as flanges, fittings, castings, forgings, etc., used for pressure equipment exported to Europe or used for processing into products exported to the European Union. According to Annex I, Paragraph 4.3 of the European Union Directive 2014/68/EU Pressure Equipment Directive (PED), material manufacturers need to undergo PED certification but are not required to affix the CE mark.

A. Requirements of PED Directive for Materials

Suppliers providing materials to pressure equipment manufacturers must certify their materials according to the requirements of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). Annex I, Paragraph 4.3 of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) requires material manufacturers to prepare documentation confirming compliance with the specifications required by equipment manufacturers. The characteristics of the materials used in equipment design, such as yield strength and impact performance, must be based on specifications confirmed by the material manufacturer. The material manufacturer's certificate is generally considered sufficient as a reference containing appropriate values.

Materials

Unless foreseeable updates are possible, the materials used in the manufacture of pressure equipment must be suitable for their intended lifespan. Welding consumables and other connecting materials only need to comply with the requirements of Sections 4.1, 4.2(a), and the first paragraph of 4.3, which are applicable to individual pieces as well as connecting structures.

4.1 Materials for pressure parts must:

(a) Have suitable performance to meet foreseeable operating conditions and all test conditions, especially with sufficient flexibility and rigidity. When feasible, the material characteristics must comply with the requirements of 7.5. When necessary, the selection of materials should consider preventing their brittleness; if brittle materials must be used due to specific reasons, appropriate measures must be taken.

(b) Have sufficient resistance to chemical attack by liquids that will be contained in the pressure equipment; the required chemical and physical properties for operation should not be significantly affected over the expected lifespan of the equipment.

(d) Be suitable for the intended processing.

(e) When different materials are combined, the selection of materials should avoid severe unexpected interactions.

4.2 Pressure materials

(a) Pressure equipment manufacturers must specify the values required for design calculations in Section 2.2.3, the basic characteristics of the materials, and the requirements specified in Section 4.1.

(b) Manufacturers must state compliance with the material specifications of this Directive in their technical documentation and may adopt one of the following methods:

- Use materials that comply with harmonized standards.

- Use pressure equipment materials that have obtained European approval according to Article 11.

- Conduct a specific evaluation.

(c) For Category III and IV pressure equipment, the material evaluation described in point (b)3 must be performed by an authorized body responsible for the conformity assessment procedure.

4.3 Equipment manufacturers must take appropriate measures to ensure that the materials used comply with the material specifications. In particular, they must obtain documentation from the material manufacturer proving that all materials comply with the material specifications. For pressure-bearing parts of Category II, III, and IV equipment, a product control certificate must be obtained. If the material manufacturer has an appropriate quality assurance system certified by a European authority and has undergone a specific evaluation of the materials, the certificate issued by that manufacturer is considered to comply with the requirements of this section.

B. Material Manufacturers Obtaining PED Certification can Issue EN10204-3.1 Certificates.

PED 4.3 Certification for Materials

a) Scope: In addition to pressure equipment with operating pressures above 0.5 bar, such as pressure vessels, boilers, piping, pressure accessories,

and safety accessories, the materials used for the manufacture of pressure equipment, such as castings, forgings (flanges), pipes, rods, plates, etc., must also comply with the requirements of the PED directive.

b) PED 4.3 certification for material manufacturers refers to the certification of their quality assurance systems.

c) According to the PED directive annex, material manufacturers supplying materials (such as flanges, forgings, castings, pipes, etc.) must provide material quality certificates that meet the specified requirements to the pressure equipment manufacturers. This is typically done by issuing an EN10204-3.1 certificate as specified in the EN10204 standard.

d) If a material manufacturer has obtained PED 4.3 certification, they have the authority to issue EN10204-3.1 certificates. Otherwise, an EN10204-3.2 certificate must be issued by a registered and authorized third-party inspection agency in the European Union after batch inspection.

C. About EN10204 Certificates

There are generally two types of certificates:

a) EN10204-3.1 certificate

b) EN10204-3.2 certificate

1. EN10204-3.1 certificate

a) The raw material manufacturer has obtained ISO9001 certification (issued by a non-European Union organization) and applies for PED 4.3 certification from an authorized agency in the European Union. A certified material manufacturer can issue an EN10204-3.1 material certificate to its customers (this can be considered as a factory certification mode).

b) The raw material manufacturer applies for ISO9001 quality management system certification or PED 4.3 certification from an announcement organization within the European Union and can directly issue an EN10204-3.1 certificate.

c) If the raw material manufacturer has not passed ISO9001 or if the ISO9001 certification body is not an EU-recognized certification organization, the manufacturer is not authorized to issue an EN10204-3.1 certificate and must apply for an EN10204-3.2 certificate from a third-party certification organization.

d) The EN10204-3.1 certificate must indicate the customer's name.

2. EN10204-3.2 certificate

a) The issuing organization of EN10204-3.2 must be an EU-authorized agency. The issuing organization tests the materials purchased by the purchaser according to the requirements of the purchase contract and declares to the purchaser through a third-party organization that the product inspection results comply with the requirements of the purchase order, issuing the EN10204-3.2 certificate.

b) The EN10204-3.2 certificate is a valid certificate proving that the product complies with European material specifications. Generally, for exported large equipment, pressure equipment, and other products, the raw material suppliers are required to provide EN10204-3.2 certificates to prove that the materials used in the equipment comply with European standards.

c) The EN10204-3.2 certificate applies to any metal and non-metal materials, such as steel, welded components, forgings, castings, semi-finished metal products, and PP pipes.

d) The certificate must indicate the customer's name and the material manufacturer's name.

We specialize in CE certification for pressure equipment and PED 4.3 certification for pressure equipment materials. We have extensive experience in CE certification for boilers, pressure vessels, breathing gas cylinders, handheld fire extinguisher casings, industrial valves, safety valves, non-ferrous metals, steel metallurgical materials, welded components, forgings, castings, semi-finished metal products, and PP pipes.