Hot Spot Proposed Amendments to UK Designated Standards

What is it?

The UK Government Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has advised that the following pressure equipment standards are proposed to become designated standards relating to the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.

• EN 1591-1:2024 Flanges and their joints – Design rules for gasketed circular flange connections – Part 1: Calculation
• EN 13445-5:2021+A1:2024 Unfi red pressure vessels – Part 5: Inspection and testing
• EN 16668:2025 Industrial valves – Requirements and testing for metallic valves as pressure accessories
• EN ISO 4126-10:2024 Safety devices for protection against excessive pressure – Part 10: Sizing of safety valves and bursting discs for gas/liquid two-phase flow

Why is it Important?

Designated standards are the UK equivalent of EU Harmonised standards and once designated these standards can be presumed to confer conformance with the requirements of the PE(S)R for pressure equipment.

Once the proposal is confirmed the previous editions, EN 1591-1:2013, EN 133445-5:2021 and EN 16668:2016+A1:2018 will no longer confer a presumption of conformity after 13th July 2027. If you rely on any of these standards for regulatory compliance you are recommended to review and amend your technical files before the specified date.

Continuous Improvement - Did we miss anything?

Hot Spots are intended to alert members and provide a brief overview of new standards, activities or procedures that are being introduced in the industry. If there is key information missing that would be helpful, please let us know so that we can improve our future service.

Please Note: This Hotspot is for information purposes, and we invite comments from BVAA members only. Please also note that at time of publication ballots may be closed. For more information, please contact the Secretariat.

BVAA Members: Did you know we have a hotspot tab on the BVAA website? Head over to www.bvaa.org.uk/login-here.asp and log into the member only area. You then need to select ‘Hotspots’ for the latest. For information on how to access the member only area of the website please contact jane@bvaa.org.uk. 

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