AVK Southern Africa, a specialist valve manufacturer, was recently certified according to the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU-Module H for the manufacturing of two of its valves – the CEM, IPV One-Piece Ball Valve DN80-DN350mm; and the PVE Boving Butterfly Valve DN350-DN4500. 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 means that AVK Southern Africa has permission to affix the CE marking to its ball and butterfly valves.

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.

“Receiving this certification is a considerable achievement for the Group’s South African production plant, which includes both PV Engineering and Cementation Engineering,” enthuses AVK Southern Africa Marketing Manager Sayuri Papiah. “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.”

 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 procedures’ requirements for the pressure equipment ‘conformity assessment’ and for free placing on the European market without being concerned about local legislative barriers.

“This certification has been mandatory throughout the EU since 30 May 2002, with the 2014 revision fully effective as of 19 July 2016,” Papiah concludes. “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.”

AVK’s certification remains valid until 14 February 2022.