{"id":13092,"date":"2026-09-24T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T08:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inox-fer.com\/?p=13092"},"modified":"2026-09-29T16:22:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T14:22:55","slug":"ped-certification-for-food-processing-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inox-fer.com\/en\/ped-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"PED certification for food processing equipment"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Author: Matteo Morotti, Process Engineer at INOX-FER<\/p>

Does every stainless steel food processing machine need PED certification? No. The answer depends on its pressure boundaries, maximum allowable pressure, design parameters and the way the equipment is supplied. A steam heated cooking system, for example, may contain several circuits that need to be considered separately.<\/p>

The Pressure Equipment Directive\u2014Directive 2014\/68\/EU<\/a>\u2014applies to qualifying stationary pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum allowable pressure (PS) greater than 0.5 bar. That threshold begins the assessment; it does not determine the equipment\u2019s category or automatically require PED CE marking.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What does the PED cover in a food processing plant?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The PED establishes requirements for the design, manufacture and conformity assessment of pressure equipment placed on the EU market. Depending on their design, relevant items in a food plant can include vessels, piping, pressure accessories, safety accessories and assemblies.<\/p>

Potential applications include a pressurised mixing vessel, the heating jacket of an industrial cooker, a heat exchanger or pipework carrying a pressurised process fluid. The fact that a machine is made from stainless steel\u2014or used to produce food\u2014does not establish its PED classification.<\/p>

Does a vacuum cooker automatically fall under the PED?<\/span><\/h3>

No. A vacuum process creates pressure below atmospheric pressure in the product chamber; it does not automatically mean that the chamber requires PED conformity assessment. A separate steam or hot water circuit serving the same machine may have its own positive pressure design conditions and require assessment.<\/p>

A practical example: INOX-FER\u2019s concentration kettles<\/a> can use vacuum processing to concentrate foods such as sauces and jams. When reviewing a particular configuration, the engineer identifies the product chamber, heating circuit, connected piping and safety devices, then checks the design conditions of each relevant pressure boundary. The PED conclusion must be based on that configuration\u2014not simply on the description \u201cvacuum kettle\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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When is PED CE marking required?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A maximum allowable pressure above 0.5 bar does not mean that every item receives CE marking under the PED. The directive also provides for equipment manufactured according to sound engineering practice when it falls below the relevant category thresholds. Such equipment must be designed and manufactured to ensure safe use, but it does not carry CE marking under the PED. The completed machine may require CE marking under other applicable EU legislation.<\/p>

Equipment classified in Categories I to IV follows a conformity assessment procedure appropriate to its category. Once the applicable requirements have been met, the manufacturer draws up the EU declaration of conformity and applies CE marking. Some procedures require the involvement of an EU notified body.<\/p>

How is the PED category determined?<\/span><\/h3>

Classification considers the type of equipment and relevant design parameters, including:<\/p>