2.3. Vessel checks

For each individual vessel manufactured, the notified body shall carry out the appropriate examinations and tests in order to verify the conformity of the vessel with the type described in the EU-type examination certificate and with the corresponding requirements of this Directive in accordance with the following points: The manufacturer shall present his vessels in the form of uniform batches and shall take all necessary measures in order that the manufacturing process ensures the uniformity of each batch produced. When a batch is examined, the notified body shall ensure that the vessels have been manufactured and checked in accordance with the technical documentation, and shall perform a hydrostatic test or a pneumatic test of equivalent effect on each vessel in the batch at a pressure Ph equal to 1,5 times the vessel’s design pressure in order to check its strength. The pneumatic test shall be subject to acceptance of the test safety procedures by the Member State in which the test is performed. Moreover, the notified body shall carry out tests on test-pieces taken from a representative production test-piece or from a vessel, as the manufacturer chooses, in order to examine the weld quality. The tests shall be carried out on longitudinal welds. However, where differing weld techniques are used for longitudinal and circumferential welds, the tests shall be repeated on the circumferential welds. For the vessels subject to the experimental method referred to in point 2.1.2 of Annex I, these tests on test-pieces shall be replaced by a hydrostatic test on five vessels taken at random from each batch in order to check that they conform to the essential safety requirements set out in point 2.1.2 of Annex I. In the case of accepted batches, the notified body shall affix its identification number, or cause that number to be affixed, to each vessel and shall draw up a written certificate of conformity relating to the tests carried out. All vessels in the batch may be placed on the market except for those which have not successfully undergone a hydrostatic test or a pneumatic test. If a batch is rejected, the notified body shall take appropriate measures to prevent the placing on the market of that batch. In the event of frequent rejection of batches, the notified body may suspend the statistical verification. The manufacturer shall be able to supply on request by the relevant authorities the notified body’s certificates of conformity referred to in point (e). The notified body shall supply the Member State which notified it and, on request, the other notified bodies, the other Member States and the Commission, with a copy of the inspection report issued by it. The manufacturer shall, under the responsibility of the notified body, affix the notified body’s identification number during the manufacturing process.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-03 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.