F-gassen7 min readUpdated 21 augustus 2026

PED pressure equipment inspection for refrigeration installations: when does it apply?

When does a refrigeration installation fall under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) and what does that mean for CE marking and inspection, separate from STEK and F-gases.

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A refrigeration installation often has to comply with two very different regimes: the F-gas Regulation and STEK/BRL 100 govern refrigerant, leakage and the professional competence of your company — the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED, 2014/68/EU) governs something else: the safety of the pressure vessel and the pipework itself, with CE marking and inspection as the result. Both regimes can apply to the same installation at the same time, and in practice that regularly leads to confusion. This article explains when the PED applies and what that means in concrete terms.

What is the PED and when does it apply to a refrigeration installation

The PED is European directive 2014/68/EU for pressure equipment, fully applicable since 19 July 2016 (NVKL (opent in nieuw tabblad)). In the Netherlands the directive has been transposed into the Warenwetbesluit drukapparatuur 2016 (WBDA) and the accompanying Warenwetregeling drukapparatuur.

The core rule: pressure equipment with a maximum allowable pressure (PS) of more than 0.5 bar falls under the PED. A refrigeration installation works with refrigerant under pressure in pipework, compressor, condenser and evaporator — and therefore is nearly always above that 0.5 bar threshold. That means the PED applies alongside the F-gas Regulation, not instead of it (NVKL (opent in nieuw tabblad); Kiwa (opent in nieuw tabblad)).

Category I to IV: what determines the classification

The PED classifies pressure equipment via the tables in Annex II of the directive, based on a combination of design pressure (PS), volume or pipe diameter, and the fluid group of the refrigerant (group 1 = hazardous substances such as flammable or toxic agents, group 2 = other substances). The higher the risk, the higher the category: I is the lowest, IV the highest. Equipment that stays below the lowest threshold falls under article 4.3 ("sound craftsmanship") and does not need CE marking.

Which category exactly applies to your installation depends on the specific refrigerant, the charge and the design — that differs per installation. Check this with a designated body such as Kiwa (opent in nieuw tabblad) or use the NVKL info sheet (opent in nieuw tabblad) to determine the category of a specific installation — a ready-made table with all threshold values does not fit reliably into a single paragraph.

CE marking: who is the 'manufacturer'

Important for installers: whoever assembles units — for example connecting an indoor and an outdoor unit with pipework into one assembly — counts under the PED as the manufacturer of that assembly, with the same obligations as a manufacturer of pressure equipment, including CE marking (NVKL (opent in nieuw tabblad)). For category I, CE marking is applied without the identification number of a notified body; for category II to IV the identification number of the Notified Body (NoBo) must appear on the marking (source: Kiwa (opent in nieuw tabblad)).

Inspection before commissioning and re-inspection

For category II to IV, independent assessment by a notified body is mandatory during the construction phase. For category III and IV a statutory Keuring vóór Ingebruikname (KvI) also applies, carried out by a designated inspection body or user inspection service, resulting in a Verklaring van Ingebruikneming (VvI) — legal basis: article 21 of the Warenwetbesluit drukapparatuur 2016 (WBDA 2016; the original Warenwetbesluit drukapparatuur from 1999 was repealed and replaced as of 19 July 2016) (Kiwa (opent in nieuw tabblad)).

After that, periodic re-inspection applies, likewise made mandatory under the WBDA 2016. The exact terms are set per type of equipment by ministerial regulation; in practice a first re-inspection four years after commissioning is often applied, with subsequent terms of typically six years depending on the expected deterioration of the installation (Kiwa (opent in nieuw tabblad)). Check the exact term for your installation on the Verklaring van Ingebruikneming itself or with your inspection body — this is not identical for every installation. The Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie oversees compliance with these inspection obligations in the use phase (NVKL (opent in nieuw tabblad)).

The PED is not a replacement for STEK or F-gases

The three regimes run alongside each other and each cover something different:

F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573. Governs leak checks, refrigerant records and the logbook obligation — see F-gas Regulation explained.
STEK / BRL 100. Governs the professional competence and process certification of your company as an installer — see STEK: the company certificate in practice.
PED (2014/68/EU). Governs the design, construction, CE marking and inspection of the pressure vessel and the pipework itself — separate from who manages the refrigerant.

One installation can therefore be STEK-certified, subject to the F-gas logbook obligation, and PED category III all at the same time. Those are three separate files, not one.

Recording this in your records

You don't carry out the PED inspection itself — a designated inspection body does that. It is, however, sensible to record the Verklaring van Ingebruikneming, the PED category and the next re-inspection date per installation, so you're not dependent on a loose folder. In installation management you record this kind of installation-specific data alongside the refrigerant and maintenance data; the logbook module keeps track of when a next inspection or check is expected.

Frequently asked questions

Does my refrigeration installation fall under the PED?

Almost always: the Pressure Equipment Directive (2014/68/EU) applies to pressure equipment with a maximum allowable pressure above 0.5 bar, and refrigeration installations work with refrigerant under pressure in pipework and components — so above that threshold (source: NVKL, Kiwa). The precise category depends on the refrigerant, the charge and the design pressure.

When am I, as an installer, a 'manufacturer' under the PED?

When you assemble independent units into one assembly, for example connecting an indoor and an outdoor unit with pipework, you count under the PED as the manufacturer of that assembly — with the same obligations as a manufacturer, including CE marking (source: NVKL).

What is the difference between the PED and STEK or the F-gas Regulation?

The F-gas Regulation governs leak checks and refrigerant records, STEK/BRL 100 governs the professional competence of your company, and the PED governs the design, CE marking and inspection of the pressure vessel and the pipework itself. These are three separate regimes that can apply to the same installation at the same time.

Is a keuring vóór ingebruikname (KvI) always mandatory?

No. A statutory KvI by a designated inspection body applies to pressure equipment in category III and IV, resulting in a Verklaring van Ingebruikneming (art. 21 Warenwetbesluit drukapparatuur 2016). Lighter or no inspection requirements apply for lower categories — check this with a designated body such as Kiwa.

How often must pressure equipment be re-inspected?

For category III and IV, periodic re-inspection is mandatory under the Warenwetbesluit drukapparatuur 2016 (WBDA 2016); the exact term is set per type of equipment by ministerial regulation. In practice four years is often applied for the first re-inspection and around six years after that, but always check the exact term on your Verklaring van Ingebruikneming or with your inspection body.