PED 2014/68/EU and CE Marking for Industrial Valves: A Buyer's Guide

Technical guide · Supreme Valves India · Updated 2026-10-24

If valves are going to a plant inside the European Union, the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU (PED) decides whether they need a CE mark, which conformity assessment route applies, and which documents must travel with them. This guide covers the questions buyers and EPC engineers raise most often when sourcing PED valves from outside Europe.

Are valves in scope?

PED applies to pressure equipment with a maximum allowable pressure (PS) above 0.5 bar. Valves are classed as pressure accessories: devices with an operational function whose housing is subject to pressure. A valve with a safety function, such as a safety relief valve, is a safety accessory and is always category IV, with a few narrow exceptions for equipment it protects.

How a valve's category is decided

For a standard isolation or control valve, the category depends on three things:

1. Fluid group. Group 1 covers dangerous fluids (explosive, flammable, toxic, oxidising, as classified under the CLP regulation). Group 2 covers everything else, including steam and water.
2. State of the fluid. Gas, liquefied gas, or vapour versus liquid. Gases are treated more strictly.
3. Size and pressure. Valves are classified using the piping tables in PED Annex II (tables 6 to 9) by nominal size DN and the product PS × DN.

The result is either sound engineering practice (SEP) or category I, II, III or IV. As a rough guide, small valves (for example DN 25 and below) usually fall under SEP for most fluids, while larger valves on group 1 gases reach categories II and III quickly. Always work from the tables for the exact service conditions rather than from a rule of thumb.

Sound engineering practice (Article 4(3))

Valves below category I must be designed and manufactured in accordance with the sound engineering practice of a member state. They must not carry a CE mark for PED. They still need adequate instructions and the manufacturer's identification. Buyers sometimes reject SEP valves because "there is no CE mark". That is the correct marking, not a defect.

Conformity assessment modules

The higher the category, the more involvement from a notified body:

In practice most series valve manufacturers hold a module H (full quality assurance) or B + D certificate covering their valve range, issued by a notified body. Ask for a copy of that certificate and check that its scope covers the valve type, size range and pressure class you are buying.

Material requirements

PED Annex I sets material rules that matter when valves are made to ASME and ASTM standards:

• Materials must come from a harmonised standard (EN), a European approval for materials (EAM), or a particular material appraisal (PMA) accepted by the notified body for categories III and IV.
• Steels need adequate ductility and toughness. Annex I 7.5 gives the presumption values: elongation after fracture of at least 14 percent and impact energy of at least 27 J at the lowest scheduled operating temperature, and not above 20 °C.
• For main pressure-bearing parts of equipment in categories II, III and IV, the material documentation must be a certificate of specific product control. In practice that means an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.

The toughness requirement catches out some carbon steel castings. ASTM A216 WCB does not require impact testing by default, so a PED valve in WCB usually needs Charpy testing added to the order, or the design minimum temperature limited accordingly.

What should arrive with the valves

• CE marking on the valve or nameplate, with the notified body number for category II and above.
• EU declaration of conformity listing the directive, modules applied and notified body.
• Instructions for installation, operation and maintenance in the language of the country of use.
• Material certificates (3.1 for main pressure parts in categories II to IV) and the pressure test certificate.
• Marking of PS, TS (allowable temperature range), DN, material and, where relevant, fluid group limits.

Practical points for buyers

• State fluid, fluid group, PS and TS in the RFQ. Without them the supplier cannot confirm the category.
• If your piping is ASME Class rated, give the design pressure and temperature as well as the class. PED works from PS and TS.
• Check whether the plant also falls under ATEX (for actuated valves in hazardous areas) or the Machinery Regulation. These are separate requirements.
• For projects in Great Britain, confirm whether UKCA marking under the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 or CE marking is required at the time of delivery.

Send your line list with service conditions and destination country, and we will confirm the PED route for each line item before quoting.

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