While all industries follow manufacturing best practices, the United States relies on pressure equipment that meets standards set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). In contrast, businesses in Europe use equipment that complies with the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). For anyone unfamiliar with these standards, knowing the difference between the ratings can be challenging.
While the two system designs are slightly different, they both help ensure the production of high-quality pressure equipment.
What Is ASME Certification?
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a not-for-profit professional organization that establishes codes and standards that prioritize public safety. It offers ongoing education and opportunities for collaboration within the engineering community.
What Is PED Certification?
The Pressure Equipment Directive is a legislative framework to eliminate technical trade barriers concerning the distribution of pressure equipment throughout Europe. The directive is founded on Essential Safety Requirements (ESRs) that outline the criteria for design, manufacturing, inspection and testing processes.
What Are Their Differences?
Differences between ASME and PED include:
- Documentation requirements: To maintain PED compliance, manufacturers must provide a detailed technical file with design calculations, manufacturing process and descriptions, risk assessments, and more. In contrast, while ASME also requires substantial documentation, the focus is more on complying with specific codes and standards rather than providing an extensive technical file.
- Costs: The various PED categories and modules have different costs depending on volume, pressure and hazardous/nonhazardous gas/fluid.
- Pressure ratings: ASME and PED have different calculation codes for their pressure ratings, or how much pressure equipment can safely handle under normal conditions. For instance, the ASME code mandates more robust materials, meaning structural steel for ASME-rated frames is generally thicker, giving them a higher PSI.
Similarities Between ASME and PED
Essentially, ASME is the U.S. version of PED certification. Both ASME and PED certifications were designed to ensure safe, reliable pressure vessels. They both require rigorous testing and compliance. Pressure vessels coded to both ASME and PED meet high safety standards, making them suitable for various industrial applications. Similarities include:
- Quality assurance: ASME and PED standards prioritize quality assurance throughout the manufacturing process. They are designed to ensure vessels meet top safety and performance standards.
- Material testing: While the specific testing procedures may differ, both certifications require thorough material testing to ensure the integrity and performance of the materials used in pressure vessel construction.
- Training and qualification: Both ASME and PED require personnel involved in the design, manufacture and inspection of pressure vessels to be adequately trained and qualified. These professionals ensure that industry best practices are followed.
- Inspection and compliance: Both certifications involve a comprehensive inspection process, with regular audits to ensure ongoing compliance.
- Market access: Obtaining either certification can enhance market access, as they are recognized benchmarks for safety and quality in the pressure equipment market.
Partner With BEPeterson for ASME and PED Pressure Vessels
With decades of industry experience, BEPeterson provides tailored engineering solutions that meet both ASME and PED standards. Our dedicated project engineers collaborate closely with you to achieve compliance and optimize designs for manufacturability.
Our ASME pressure vessels are designed and fabricated following the guidelines and protocol of the ASME Code guidelines. All material test reports (MTRs) and ASME forms are made available with every vessel.
Additionally, we ensure that all PED pressure vessels are built in the United States and shipped to the European Union in full compliance. All PED vessels come with comprehensive documentation, such as MTRs and hydrotest reports.
As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, we emphasize meticulous quality assurance and safety inspections, giving you confidence in the reliability of our products. Request a quote today!
