Engineering task and calculation objective
Anyone placing pressure equipment on the market must provide, in addition to the design calculations, a complete set of technical documentation in accordance with the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU (PED). Module ADZ1 supports this documentation step within the framework of the German AD 2000 pressure vessel code: it guides the user through compiling the information required for the conformity assessment of a pressure vessel.
The AD 2000 code gives concrete form to the essential safety requirements of the Pressure Equipment Directive; a manufacturer who designs and fabricates to AD 2000 can demonstrate compliance with the directive by this route. The documentation links the calculation results of the individual modules (e.g. the B series) with the equipment- and procedure-related data such as category, fluid group and the selected conformity assessment procedure.
In practice, the module is used both when preparing the preliminary documentation for new vessels and when re-documenting modifications and substantial changes for which a new assessment becomes necessary.
Standard and calculation basis: AD 2000 Z1
Calculation workflow
- Start the documentation and identify the equipment: Via the "Start documentation" entry point, the master data of the pressure equipment is recorded first: manufacturer, designation, order and drawing numbers, and the governing operating data such as maximum allowable pressure and temperature.
- Classification under the Pressure Equipment Directive: From the fluid group, state of matter, pressure and volume or nominal size, the category of the pressure equipment follows from the charts in Annex II of the PED. The category determines the permissible conformity assessment procedure (module A to H).
- Link to the calculation records: The strength verifications from the AD 2000 calculation modules are assigned to the documentation, so that the design is traceably demonstrated against the essential safety requirements of Annex I of the PED.
- Compile and output the documents: Finally, the module generates the consolidated documentation, which serves as part of the technical file for the notified body or for internal production surveillance.
Input quantities
| Quantity | Symbol | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Start documentation | <1> | - |
Frequently asked questions
Does designing to AD 2000 replace the conformity assessment under the Pressure Equipment Directive?
No. The AD 2000 code is a recognized technical code by which the essential safety requirements of Annex I of the PED can be satisfied. The conformity assessment itself — the choice of module, the involvement of a notified body from category I or II onwards, and the CE marking — remains a separate, formal step which the documentation prepares.
What does the category of pressure equipment depend on?
On the type of equipment (vessel, piping, steam generator), the fluid (group 1: hazardous fluids, group 2: all others), the state of matter, and the product of maximum allowable pressure PS and volume V or nominal size DN. The assignment is made via the charts in Annex II of the PED; equipment below the categories falls under Article 4(3) (sound engineering practice) and does not receive CE marking as pressure equipment.
Which documents typically belong to the technical documentation of a pressure vessel?
Besides the strength calculation, these include general arrangement and fabrication drawings, material certificates (inspection documents to EN 10204), welding procedure specifications and qualifications, inspection and test plans, the hazard analysis, and the operating instructions. The scope depends on the conformity assessment module selected.