Specialist valves manufacturer AVK Southern Africa has been awarded certification according to the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU-Module H for the manufacturing of two of its valves.

The directive regulates the manufacture of pressure equipment, including steam boilers, pressure vessels, piping, safety valves and other pipeline accessories and assemblies subject to pressure loading.

This certification means that AVK Southern Africa has permission to affix the CE marking – a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area – to its ball and butterfly valves, which are suitable for the mining industry.

The valves are AVK Southern Africa’s CEM, IPV one-piece ball valve DN80-DN350mm; and the PVE boving butterfly valve DN350-DN4500.

The pressure loading specification in the directive applies, generally, to volume exceeding one litre and a maximum pressure of greater than 0.5 bar/50 kPa. The PED prescribes the standard for the design and fabrication of this pressurised equipment.

The company believes that receiving this certification is a considerable achievement for the group’s South African production plant, which includes both its valves refurbishment division PV Engineering and high-pressure control suppliers Cementation Engineering.

“The fact that AVK is now accredited with this certification, reaffirms to our business partners and end-users that with AVK they can expect solutions, global leadership with local commitment, quality and lasting innovations,” enthuses AVK Southern Africa marketing manager Sayuri Naidoo.

She adds that the certification to Module H refers to full quality assurance compliance, including the design of its ball and butterfly valves. It also sets the administrative procedural requirements for the pressure equipment ‘conformity assessment’ and for free placing on the European market without being concerned about local legislative barriers.

The PED certification has been mandatory throughout the European Union since May 30, 2002, with the 2014 revision fully effective as of July 19, 2016.

AVK’s certification will remain valid until February 14, 2022.

“It enables most international inspection agencies to provide verification and certification services to assess compliance to the requirements of the pressure equipment directive for AVK Southern Africa,” concludes Naidoo.