PED 2014/68/EU

ASSESSMENT MODULES

EU

12 Sep 2026

PED 2014/68/EU Conformity Assessment Modules Explained: A, A2, B, C2, D, E, F, G, H & H1

By Editorial Team

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The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU sets out the rules that apply to pressure equipment that has a pressure of more than 0.5 bar. To follow these rules, manufacturers need to pick the right way to show their product meets the requirements. This depends on the category of equipment they are making. There are different methods, called modules, that manufacturers can use, such as internal control, checking by a recognized organization, or testing the product. This guide explains modules A, A2, B, C2, D, E, F, G, H, and H1, to help manufacturers choose the best way to show their equipment is safe and meets the rules.

What Are PED Conformity Assessment Modules?

PED conformity assessment modules are steps that make sure pressure equipment follows the essential safety rules in Directive 2014/68/EU. These modules explain how to check if the equipment meets the required standards, when a Notified Body is needed, how to set up a quality management system, how to inspect and test the product, what design checks are necessary, how to ensure everything stays consistent during production, and how to keep proper records. The right module is chosen based on the PED category of the equipment. It is important to understand the difference between the conformity assessment module and the equipment category, which is decided using the PED classification rules.

PED Equipment Categories

Manufacturers must identify PED category before choosing conformity assessment module for equipment.

PED Category	General Conformity-Assessment Complexity
Category I	Lowest
Category II	Moderate
Category III	Higher
Category IV	Highest

Classification factors involve equipment type, fluid group, maximum pressure, volume, how pressure and volume relate, and the hazard level.These are important for properly categorizing equipment under the PED and completing the conformity assessment.

PED Module A – Internal Production Control

Module A requires manufacturers to handle internal control of production for pressure equipment that follows PED rules. Their job includes creating technical documents, making sure safety standards are met, doing required inspections, keeping production controls in place, writing the EU Declaration of Conformity, and putting the CE mark on products. Module A is usually for Category I pressure equipment, and it doesn’t need a Notified Body to be involved.

PED Module A2 – Internal Production Control Plus Supervised Pressure Equipment Checks

Module A2 includes regular supervised inspections of pressure equipment. The manufacturer is responsible for managing their own internal controls, while a Notified Body carries out random checks. These inspections involve looking at the equipment both inside and outside, testing the pressure, checking if it meets the required standards, and examining samples from the production process. This helps ensure that the equipment produced meets the necessary conformity requirements for the relevant categories.

PED Module B – EU-Type Examination

Module B looks at the design or a typical kind of pressure equipment, focusing on two main types: EU-type examination for production and design. A Notified Body checks if the equipment follows PED 2014/68/EU by looking at technical documents, design calculations, materials used, how it’s made, drawings, and test models. If the check is passed, they give an EU-type examination certificate, which is usually used with another module to show the product meets the required standards.

PED Module C2 – Conformity to Type Based on Internal Production Control Plus Supervised Pressure Equipment Checks

Module C2 works together with a type-examination process similar to Module B. The manufacturer makes sure that the pressure equipment made is the same as the approved type. They keep control over production, do inspections, and create the EU Declaration of Conformity. A Notified Body checks things randomly to make sure everything follows the rules. They use type examination, making sure production stays correct, and doing supervised checks to ensure compliance.

PED Module D – Conformity to Type Based on Quality Assurance of the Production Process

Module D focuses on the manufacturer’s quality system for production, which is usually used together with Module B. It covers making products, checking them, testing them, controlling quality, and keeping records. This is checked by a Notified Body, which helps manufacturers who have reliable and controlled ways of making their products.

PED Module E – Conformity to Type Based on Product Quality Assurance

Module E uses a quality-management approach that focuses on making sure the product is of good quality. The manufacturer has a quality system that is approved, which includes checking the final product, testing it, ensuring it meets standards, and keeping records of the quality. A Notified Body checks this system.Usually, Module E is used together with Module B, which is different from Module D, because Module D is about the production process itself.

PED Module F – Conformity to Type Based on Product Verification

Module F makes sure that pressure equipment made is the same as what’s shown on the EU-type examination certificate. A Notified Body does the checks, tests, and looks at the documents. It usually goes along with a Module B type examination, which checks the product itself rather than the whole production quality system. A common way is to use both Module B and Module F together.

PED Module G – Conformity Based on Unit Verification

Module G is used for special pressure equipment that can’t be made using standard production methods. The Notified Body checks if the equipment meets requirements by looking at the design, reviewing technical documents, inspecting how it’s made, checking the materials used, doing non-destructive tests, testing the pressure, and finally inspecting the finished product to make sure each item is properly assessed.

PED Module H – Full Quality Assurance

Module H includes a manufacturer’s quality management system that covers design, production, checking, and testing. The Notified Body checks this system to make sure it follows PED safety rules. They look at the whole quality system to assess high-risk products, rather than checking each item separately.

PED Module H1 – Full Quality Assurance Plus Design Examination and Special Surveillance

Module H1 builds on Module H by adding design reviews and more involvement from the Notified Body.It checks the manufacturer’s quality system and design in more detail, with extra monitoring for certain parts of the conformity assessment. This makes it one of the most detailed PED processes, especially for higher-category equipment.

PED Modules Comparison

Module	Main Approach	Notified Body	Key Focus
C2	Conformity to type + checks	Yes	Production conformity
B	EU-type examination	Yes	Design/type assessment
H1	Full QA + design examination	Yes	Comprehensive QA + design surveillance
H	Full quality assurance	Yes	Design + production quality system
A2	Internal control + supervised checks	Yes	Random product checks
A	Internal production control	No	Manufacturer's internal controls
E	Product quality assurance	Yes	Product quality system
F	Product verification	Yes	Verification of manufactured products
D	Production quality assurance	Yes	Manufacturing quality system
G	Unit verification	Yes	Individual equipment

How to Choose the Correct PED Conformity Assessment Module

Manufacturers should not choose a PED module just based on personal preference.
Here are the steps for selecting the right module:

First, identify the pressure equipment.
Next, find out if it is a pressure vessel, piping, safety accessory, pressure accessory, assembly, or another type of equipment covered by PED.
Then, determine the fluid group because it affects how the equipment is classified.
Decide on the classification parameters such as pressure, size, fluid properties, and equipment type.
Find out which PED category the equipment falls into: Category I, II, III, or IV.
Choose the correct conformity assessment procedure.
Carry out the necessary assessments, which may include technical documentation, EU-type examination, quality system check, product inspection, testing, design review, and ongoing checks by a notified Body.

PED Notified Body: When Is It Required?

A Notified Body, which is chosen by an EU country, carries out checks to make sure products meet EU rules. This is required for certain types of pressure equipment, depending on the module. For example, there may be no need for a Notified Body in Module A, but they might do supervised checks in A2, conduct type testing in B, perform quality checks in D, E, or H, and carry out product testing in F or G. Manufacturers need to make sure the Notified Body they use is properly approved.

PED Technical Documentation Requirements

Manufacturers need technical documents to make sure they follow the rules.
These documents can include:
– A general description of the product
– Engineering drawings
– Design calculations
– Manufacturing drawings
– Information about the materials used
– Details about welding
– Welding procedure specifications
– Proof that welders are qualified
– Records from non-destructive testing
– Records from pressure tests
– Inspection records
– Risk and hazard analysis
– The standards that apply
– Documents about the quality system
– Certificates
– The EU Declaration of Conformity
Having proper welding-related documents is very important for pressure equipment that is welded.

PED CE Marking and Declaration of Conformity

After completing the conformity assessment, manufacturers are required to prepare the EU Declaration of Conformity. The CE marking includes the Notified Body’s identification number, and it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure that compliant pressure equipment is sold in the EU market, confirming that all necessary assessments have been finished.

Common PED Conformity Assessment Mistakes

Manufacturers frequently encounter problems because they:

Select the module before correctly determining the PED category.
Confuse PED category with conformity assessment module.
Use an inappropriate Notified Body.
Maintain incomplete technical documentation.
Fail to establish material traceability.
Have inadequate welding documentation.
Treat CE marking as a simple certification exercise.
Fail to maintain conformity between the assessed design and production equipment.
Apply harmonised standards incorrectly.
Assume that ISO 9001 certification automatically satisfies PED quality-system requirements.

PED 2014/68/EU Compliance Checklist

Before placing pressure equipment on the EU market, manufacturers should verify:

PED applicability confirmed
Equipment type identified
Fluid group determined
PS, V/DN and other parameters established
PED category determined
Applicable conformity assessment module selected
Notified Body identified where required
Technical documentation prepared
Design assessment completed where required
Materials verified and traceable
Welding requirements addressed
NDT requirements fulfilled
Pressure testing completed
Quality system implemented where required
Required Notified Body activities completed
EU Declaration of Conformity prepared
CE marking applied correctly
Technical records retained as required

Final Takeaway

The PED 2014/68/EU conformity assessment modules provide different ways to show that pressure equipment meets essential safety requirements. Important modules are A and A2, which involve internal production control; B, which is EU-type examination; C2, which is conformity to type with supervised checks; D and E, which are based on quality assurance; F, which is product verification; G, which is unit verification; H, which is full quality assurance; and H1, which is full quality assurance with design examination.Manufacturers need to decide which category their equipment falls into and choose the right method to ensure PED compliance, CE marking, and following regulations in the European market.