MADE IN GERMANY

The existing legal regulations will be partially replaced or repealed by the European Pressure Equipment Directive, whose 5-year transition and implementation period began on November 29, 1999. This means that the national pressure vessel regulations and the new EC Directive can be applied during this 5-year period. If a manufacturer certifies a pressure vessel or an assembly according to the new EC Directive after 29.11.1999, this certification and the associated treatment according to the new EC Directive must be recognized by the authorities of the member states.

Time and again, filling station operators have expressed displeasure and incomprehension because some authorities are still struggling to implement the new directives and in some federal states these EC directives and even federal directives are being steadfastly ignored.

In many conversations on this topic, it quickly becomes clear that the authorities are not being arbitrary or harassing, but rather that it is often due to uncertainty in the application of the new regulations and, above all, to the serious regression from the safety standards achieved in Germany (incidentally, some of our neighbors feel the same way here), for which the approving authority may ultimately have to answer in the event of an accident.

The liberalization of regulations in the area of pressure vessels and systems, which is intended to lead to the future adaptation of safety standards within the EC to a common level, means considerable, not entirely harmless safety-related losses for the operators of such systems in some areas.

Here is an example to demonstrate why some authorities, and above all the TÜV experts, are working with great concern on a new, adapted and up-to-date national regulation and are currently finding it so difficult to obtain approvals.

Example:

The final filter housing made of aluminum from a well-known compressor manufacturer from another European country corresponded to a Class II pressure vessel in accordance with the German Pressure Vessel Ordinance.

(volume content x max. pressure = <200) in this case (0.749 L x 265 W = 198.49)

Class II pressure vessels did not require a type examination, but only a manufacturer's certificate and corresponding marking.

The same pressure vessel with a volume of 0.749 L may be pressurized to an unimaginable 1000 bar according to the new EC Directive, without a type examination or similar being required.

All that is required is a manufacturer's certificate stating that this pressure vessel and its manufacture comply with "good engineering practice".

Here is a question that everyone can answer for themselves: "What is good engineering practice in Germany compared to Portugal or Greece?"

Without wishing to offend our neighbors, this may be a serious difference, but for us it means a safety-related step backwards of several decades. Just imagine that the Austrian counterpart to our pressure vessel ordinance, the Steam Boiler Ordinance, which is almost identical in the most important points, dates back to the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Pressure vessels exceeding 200 bar always require a type examination by the BAM (Federal Office for Materials Testing). When the above-mentioned southern manufacturer produced 300 bar compressors and the corresponding filters, the filter tubes were shortened for the sake of simplicity in order to save expensive type tests and costs and thus remain in class II of the pressure vessels. Of course, he only did this if German or Austrian customers demanded it (in other countries and especially in the country of this manufacturer, regulations are of little interest, especially if they are from other countries - they are far away). A course of action that would be unthinkable for German manufacturers for liability reasons alone.

In summary, you can assume that responsible manufacturers in Germany or Austria continue to build their systems in accordance with tried and tested regulations such as "AD-Merkblätter" or "Technische Regeln für Druckgase und Druckbehälter". This is an opportunity to once again do justice to the once justifiably proverbial "Made in Germany" and thus demonstrate technological progress and quality.

For decades, Italian manufacturers preferred to buy German cars or German machines to make their products. This was no accident and German manufacturers would do well to remember their old traditions a little and use this safety technology regression imposed by Brussels as an opportunity to regain a piece of "Made in Germany".

There must be no compromises in the safety of plant and machinery and certainly no regression; on the contrary, the countries lagging behind in this area must try to catch up with the help of the high-tech members. Technological setbacks do not bring any progress or innovation and therefore also represent a setback in training standards or cause an even more massive exodus of good skilled workers.

This article is in no way intended to give the impression that the author or the industry are against Europe or want to call for a boycott against some manufacturers from the member states.

The European idea is certainly not that each member should give up its identity. With this policy, Europe is increasingly running the risk of losing more and more of its already tarnished technological image, making it an ever more convenient "partner" (or "takeover candidate" in the age of globalization and market takeover) for the Americans.

However, there is one thing we can learn from the Americans and put to good use: a little more national pride.

THEREFORE THE MOTTO - QUALITY AND SAFETY - MADE IN GERMANY