Compressors
The Pneurop Committee 2 (PN 2) leads the way for compressor manufacturers in the compressor field in the expanding European Union.
It has a simple goal:
To promote the evolution of technological progress in the compressed air field
The original quest in 1959 to “Prepare recommendations for displacement compressors and related equipment” has largely been realised by the promotion of those recommendations into the International Standards arena and more recently into the European Standards arena.
The manufacturer members come from the trade associations of the member countries of PNEUROP to exchange views and opinions that are distilled and result in the production of positions to be taken. The positions taken are those in response to the ever increasing European legislative scene. In addition to this the committee has not forgotten its roots and still caries on the work of producing draft standards work which is now increasingly introduced directly into the ISO arena.
Industry
Since many years, solutions lead the way in the compressor market. The manufacturer seeks to satisfy the challenges of the customer with novel and ever more complex equipment. As a result of this there has to be a real partnership between the manufacturer and the customer. The need to innovate is seen as the way to ensure a high level of compressed air efficiency, reliability and sustainability.
Much effort has been put into meeting the environmental challenges as well as those in the all important quest for improved energy efficiency. On the environmental front the industry seeks to ensure that sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
As part of the need for improved energy efficiency control solutions maximize the efficiency, save costs and ease operation of a customer’s compressed air equipment.
As the need for compressed air becomes more refined, the solutions used to satisfy the demand have resulted in a broader range of compressor technologies being offered. Where once the reciprocating compressor reigned supreme its position as the mainstream solution has been taken over by the screw compressor to provide the industrial ‘work horse’ for compressed air supply. But the screw compressor has not taken over as an exclusive technology many alternatives have been introduced to fill niche areas including the reciprocating compressor. The customer now has the widest range of options open to meet the challenge and provide the solution.
The industrial landscape that is the market for compressed air has changed not only in the EU member states but also in the EU as a whole. Where there was once heavy industry and mining that in some parts of the EU has given way to light and high technology industry. That brings with it the demand for improved compressed air and more flexibility.
Legislation
The European legislation is continuously evolving.
Some of the applicable legislation:
- Machinery Directive (MD)
- Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) and Simple Pressure Vessels Directive (SPVD)
- Low Voltage Directive (LVD)
- Outdoor Noise Directive (OND)
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC)
- Potentially Explosive Atmosphere (ATEX)
- Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)
Over the last decade, PNEUROP has contributed to the draft regulations for minimum efficiency of compressors. The Lot31 program was however stopped by the EU in 2021, and will be taken up in the new Sustainable Product Initiative (SPi). (Ecodesign for compressors)
Standardisation
PNEUROP has been instrumental in the development of several international standards together with the Compressed Air andGas Institute (CAGI), for both CEN and ISO.
In recognition that standards should be global and not regional and making good use of the links between PNEUROP and CAGI, compressor and compressed air system standards are being developed to encompass the elements of European and US standards to harmonise the requirements using the best available information from the regional standards. This approach provides a cost benefit to the manufacturer and also to the user who will be able to specify requirements from common standards.
Some existing and under construction standards as example:
- ISO 1217 : Displacement Compressors – Acceptance Tests
- ISO 5389 : Turbocompressors – Performance Test Code
- ISO 18740 : Turbocompressors – Performance Test Code
- etc…
Publications
There are no PN 2 publications available at the moment.