Pressure Equipment(National Legislation) 

1. (Legislation for Pressure Vessels) “Establishment of a regulation for the safe construction and circulation of pressure vessels and gas devices” Official Gazette 673B/2.9.1993/ ΑΑ14165/Φ17.4/373. 

2. (Legislation for the Installation of Liquefied Gas Tanks (LPG) “Definition of technical specifications for the design, construction, safe operation and fire protection of LPG storage, bottling, handling and distribution facilities as well as facilities for its use in industrial, craft and professional activities” GOVERNMENT 477B/ 01.07.1993/YA D3/14858. 

The above Ministerial Decision concerns pressure vessels in which an active pressure greater than 0.5 bar is developed. Containers can contain air, inert gases / cryogenics (argon, nitrogen, oxygen, etc.), combustible gases (L.P.G, propane natural gas) and general fluids more, less or not at all explosive, corrosive or oxidizing. It does not apply to mechanical project production devices (steam boilers, air turbines, etc.). The specific Ministerial Decision also concerns Pressure Vessels installed before the entry into force of the Official Gazette on 02.09.1993. 

Periodic checks are mandatory according to the respective gazettes and are done according to the harmonized European or National standards. The type and extent of the controls and the periodic frequency are mentioned in the standards and in the Official Gazette. 

Applies to: Airframes, Gas Tanks, Ammonia Tanks, Gas Deaerators, Alternators, Fuel and Gas Piping 

3. (Legislation for Steam Boilers) Y.A. 10735/651/2012 (Government Gazette 2656-28.09.2012) related to the installation, operation and control of steam boilers. 

According to the legislation, the following are required: 

A) First commissioning 

A Certificate of Receipt issued by Recognized Bodies from the Ministry of Development is required. Checks include: 

1) For steam boilers manufactured according to the European Directive PED 2014/68/EU 

• Confirmation of compliance with the European PED Directive 2014/68/EU 

• Certification of compliance of the installation in accordance with the requirements of article 4 of Official Gazette 2656-28.09.12 

• Inspection of the steam boiler if it is not new, check in operation of the safety devices 

• Hydraulic test if the inspection period has passed 

B) Periodic checks 

They are performed periodically depending on the category (according to the product of volume and pressure) to which the steam boiler belongs or after repair by Recognized Bodies from the Ministry of Development. The checks include: 

• Checking the existence of a Certificate of Receipt 

• Inspection of the steam boiler 

• Control of insurance provisions in operation 

• Hydraulic test 

• Issuing an audit report 

• Issuance of an inspection certificate 

Legally operating steam boilers and those that already have a valid installation permit are still governed by the installation requirements that were in place before the Gazette. 

Categories and periodicity of audits 

Category “AGE” (years) Periodicity of inspections (years) 
A, B, C 0-16maximum 8 
A, B, C 17-25maximum 3
B & C ≥26maximum 3
Α≥26maximum 1
  • Category Α: PS*V >40.000bar.lt  
  • Category C: PS*V <10.000bar.lt (volume < 1000lt)  
  • Category Β: All other types. 

Lifting Equipments for Loads (Legislation for load lifting mechanisms) “Lifting Machinery Inspection Regulation” KYA co. 15085/593/2003 (Government Gazette 1186/B/25-08-2003). 

Types of lifting machines are the following: 

Harbor cranes, construction cranes, wall-mounted cranes, mast cranes, gantry cranes, electric winches, forklifts, self-propelled cranes, jib cranes, cranes, concrete pumps, cranes – excavators, airport machinery, vehicle lifts, column-type car workshop lifts, freight elevators , vehicle lifts, scissor lifts, 

The periodic inspections of lifting machines – project machines in Greece are mandatory by the Legislation (Government Gazette 1186B/2003) with periodicity determined by the classification of each machine in a risk category. 

The periodicity intervals of these checks vary from 1 to 5 years. 

In August 2013, YA 27397/122/19.8.2013 (Government Gazette 2062/B/23.8.2013) was published and entered into force, which allows for the immediate imposition of administrative sanctions. In this context, the imposition of administrative sanctions (€2,500 per case) by S.E.P.E. for failure to display a lifting machinery inspection certificate. 

CERTIFICATION / CONTROL OF PRESSURE EQUIPMENT 

in accordance with directive 2014/68/EU Official Gazette 2278/22.07.2016 

It is applied to check and certify the conformity of pressurized equipment and assemblies with a PS pressure of more than 0.5 bar. Such are vessels, piping, safety fittings and pressure fittings, including items attached to pressure parts (flanges, nozzles, couplings, supports, suspension eyes, etc. 

To facilitate and simplify the evaluation process, the table below is drawn up, which also includes the harmonized standards that provide the best reference for the safe design and construction of pressure equipment. 

Certification of Hot Water Boilers  (According to directive 92/42/EC)  

The certification of hot water boilers is done in accordance with the provisions of the P.D. 335 and Directive 92/42/EC on “performance requirements for new hot water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels”. 

The certification of hot water boilers takes place when they are placed on the market, i.e. when the manufacturer makes the boiler available to the user for the first time. This procedure specifies the performance requirements applicable to new hot water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels, rated at 4kW or more and 1000kW or less.