History of Pressure Equipment Safety and Compliance

A LONG HISTORY AND COMMITMENT TO BOILER AND PRESSURE EQUIPMENT SAFETY

TÜV SÜD has had a long history in testing, inspection, and certification services, providing clients with comprehensive solutions around the globe. Over 150 years later, we continue that tradition by continuing to offer inspection and compliance services for your boilers and pressure vessels to help ensure safety to your personnel and business.

The company that became known as TÜV SÜD traces its roots back to January 6, 1866, when 22 entrepreneurs from Baden launched the “Gesellschaft zur Ueberwachung und Versicherung von Dampfkesseln mit dem Sitze in Mannheim” (Association for inspecting and insuring steam boilers with headquarters in Mannheim). The association was formed in response to a steam boiler explosion that had occurred a year earlier in a brewery.

A trained technician could have easily found the deficiency and prevented the disaster, but regular inspections had not taken place as there were not strictly required procedures. In addition, the operating personnel were not familiar with the hazards of boiler operations. Incidents like this were not uncommon at the time, indicative of a lack of organized safety and compliance standards and general knowledge of risks.

ORGANIZED EFFORTS TO MITIGATE BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL EXPLOSIONS

Both the government in the Grand Duchy of Baden as well as potentially affected industrialists supported the creation of an association for inspections. Their aim was to prevent future accidents with regular inspections. In later years, due to efforts by the association, none of the more than 1,000 boilers inspected by the association had exploded.

In a reorganization of German technical inspections in the 1930’s, the facilities were transformed into regional monitoring associations, collectively named TÜV (Technische Überwachungsvereine: technical inspection associations).

While TÜV SÜD expanded its portfolio over the years, its roots have always been grounded in boiler and pressure vessel safety, ensuring that incidents threatening lives and property do not occur.

CONTINUING THE TRADITION

In continuing the tradition of boiler and pressure vessel safety and compliance, TÜV SÜD ARISE Inspection services and TÜV SÜD’s Steam and Pressure Services group have joined to provide ASME and Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU services under one roof, ensuring that the client can easily meet safety and Directive needs without having to shop around

TÜV SÜD ARISE provides access to jurisdictional, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and National Board (NB) inspection services, third-party property damage liability insurance, risk analysis and training across North America. One of the largest providers, TÜV SÜD ARISE also offers ASME and National Board Inspection Services around the world, ensuring that clients across the globe can benefit from the safety measures started in the 1860’s which have evolved and improved thru today.

TÜV SÜD’s Steam and Pressure Services group are problem solvers and process experts, supplying customers with individual and comprehensive one-stop solutions. With experience in PED compliance, steam and pressure technology, component and equipment manufacturers, shell and water tube boilers, heat exchangers, process pipework and more, we are equipped to help you meet the regulatory needs of today and the future.

Both under TÜV SÜD America, TÜV SÜD ARISE can provide of your ASME/NB inspection needs, working in tandem with TÜV SÜD’s Steam and Pressure Services for your Pressure Equipment Directive and CE Marking needs.