Comparison between American and

European Pressure Vessel Rules

Fernando Lidonnici
Convenor of WG’C’/CEN TC54

Sant’Ambrogio Servizi Industriali SRL - Milano

 LEGAL AND NORMATIVE ASPECTS

• USA: the ASME Code (Section VIII for Pressure Vessels) is

the safety standard generally accepted, but there are
differences in the different States (in some of them it is
imposed by law, in other it is required for insurance
purposes only).

• Europe: the PED (Process Equipment Directive) is a law and

therefore it is compulsory in all the European countries. It
requires compliance with the Essential Safety Requirements
(ESRs) only, not with a detailed set of rules. The use of a
“Harmonized Standard” (EN 13445 for Pressure Vessels)
assures “Presumption of Conformity” with the PED, but
other standards are also acceptable, provided they take into
account the ESRs.
 REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• ASME: requires strict compliance with the section of the
ASME code concerning a given pressure component (there is
a specific section for each type of component). The ASME
stamp (different for each section) assures full compliance with
every detail contained in that section. The Manufacturer is
responsible to take into account the requirements and loading
conditions specified by the Purchaser..

• PED: the Manufacturer (not the Purchaser) is fully responsible

for the safety of the equipment in all the possible conditions:
normal operating, exceptional, testing, transport, erection,
maintenance, etc. The CE mark means that only the ESRs have
been complied with, not a specific code or standard. Design
and fabrication must be made on the basis of a specific Risk
Analysis, different for each component, under the
responsibility of the Manufacturer.
 DESIGN ACCORDING TO ASME SECTION VIII div.1

• Nominal design stresses for Steels in Section VIII

division 1 are limited by a very high safety
coefficient on tensile strength (3,5).
• In the creep range the characteristics of the welding
material are supposed to be the same as the base
metal.
• DBA (=Design by Analysis) and Fatigue Analysis
only possible with Section VIII division 2 (special
vessels).
• DBE (Design by Experiment) only possible where
calculation formulae are not provided in the Code.
• Section VIII division 1 covers all materials (Steels,
Cast Iron, Al alloys, Cu alloys, Ni alloys, Titanium,
etc.)
 DESIGN TO PED + EN13445.3
• Safety coefficients are only recommended, however
deviations from recommended values must be supported
by additional prescriptions giving the same level of safety.
• The harmonized Pressure Vessel Standard considers the
recommended value of 2,4 on tensile strength; this value
may be lowered to 1,875 (amendment already approved) if
additional prescriptions are taken.
• The actual characteristics of weld metal must be taken
into account, particularly in the creep range.
• DBA is always possible, fatigue analysis is mandatory for
all vessels subject to cyclic loadings.
• DBE possible only for small components (in EN 13445.3 it
will be covered in an amendment already approved).
• EN 13445 is limited to steels, Spheroidal Cast Iron and
Aluminium alloys only (amendment already approved for
Aluminium and design of Steels in the Creep Range)
 MATERIALS ACCORDING TO ASME

• Only SA (or ASTM) materials may be used (plus a few EN

materials considered in the Code).

• Allowable design stresses based on hot tensile / creep

properties are directly provided in the Code.

• The material Manufacturer is not required to give a

guarantee on such characteristics.

• Only a few SA / ASTM material specifications give impact

properties at room or low temperatures.
 MATERIALS ACCORDING TO PED + EN 13445.2

There are three possibilities:

1. Use of EN harmonized material standards. These standards

usually contain hot tensile characteristics and impact test
values which are therefore automatically guaranteed by the
material Fabricator.

2. Use of materials for which an EAM procedure has been carried

out (only possible for a few materials not yet contained in EN
standards).

3. Use a PMA (Particular Material Appraisal) = original

specification plus supplementary requirements to be
guaranteed by the material Fabricator.
 JOINT EFFICIENCIES (of main welded joints)

ASME: from 0,7 (no NDT) to 1 (full NDT).

Joint efficiency 1 required for Lethal Service, large thicknesses,
materials with particular welding difficulties. It is possible to use 0,7
also for large vessels.

PED + EN 13445: also from 0,7 (no NDT) to 1 (full NDT).

EN 13445 limits the use of testing group 4 (joint efficiency 0,7) to
carbon steels (temperatures +10 / +200 °C) and austenitic stainless
steels (temperatures -50 / +300°C) only, with pressure smaller than
20 bar and pressure x volume smaller than 20000 (above 100°C) or
50000 bar x litre, provided the content is not dangerous (Group 2
Fluids only).
 HYDROSTATIC TEST PRESSURE
fο
ASME VIII division 1: the lower of 1,3 PS
f
(formula to be applied to all pressure parts of a specific vessel)

fο
PED (Recommended): the higher of 1,25 PS
f
(formula to be applied to all the pressure parts of a specific vessel),
however not less than 1,43 PS . Use of lower hydrostatic test
pressures is permitted if alternative measures assuring the same
safety level are taken.
EN 13445.5: the hydrostatic test pressure may be limited to the
maximum value compatible with the actual thicknesses of the main
pressure parts determined by design conditions. For Vessels of
Testing Group 4 a higher test pressure is provided.
fo
Note: PS = Design Pressure, f = ratio between nominal design
stress at 20°C and nominal design stress at design temperature.
 CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES
ASME: Authorization given to the Manufacturer to affix an ASME
Stamp (specific for the particular kind of pressure component
concerned) after a survey carried out by ASME and the National
Board of Pressure Vessel Inspectors. Design, fabrication and
inspection activities carried out under the surveillance of an
Authorized Inspection Agency. Particular precautions are to be
taken for vessels in “Lethal Service”.

PED: Specific certification procedures (modules) have been

provided in order to cover 4 different hazard categories of
vessels. Some modules are based on QC (Quality Control)
procedures, other on QA (Quality Assurance) procedures (lower
degree: self certification, higher degree: either full QC (step by
step checking), or full QA (Qualification of the Manufacturer). For
Vessels the hazard category depends on the content
(dangerous / / non dangerous) and on its physical state (liquid or
gas / vapour). Each module provides a different involvement of a
Notified Body, specifically authorized by one of the European
countries. Note: also assemblies made of several pressure
component are subject to a certification procedure.
PED: Conformity assessment table for dangerous gases
PED: Conformity assessment table for non dangerous gases
PED: Conformity assessment table for dangerous liquids
PED: Conformity assessment table for non dangerous liquids
PED: Conformity assessment modules for the various hazard
categories