Pressure equipment is equipment that operates under a pressure of more than 0.5 bar. It is used in sectors including the chemical industry, the food industry, and energy storage and distribution. Examples of pressure equipment include refrigeration systems, pipelines, heat exchangers and steam boilers.

Scope of the sector

There are around 82,000 registered items of pressure equipment in the Netherlands.

Certificates issued by Dutch conformity assessment bodies (NL-CABs) for pressure equipment in its operational phase in 2021. If an application for a certificate is refused, the applicant can remedy the technical shortcomings and submit a new application.
Valid certificates
(31-12- 2021)		Approved certificate applications in 2021Refused certificate applications in 2021
82,25819,271886
Certificates issued by EU conformity assessment bodies (EU-CABs) for newly built pressure equipment in 2021.
Valid certificates
(31-12- 2021)		Approved certificate applications in 2021Refused certificate applications in 2021
8,8576,2530

Risks in the system

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Around 13 percent of pressure equipment is not re-inspected or is not re-inspected on time.* In almost half of these cases (46 percent), the equipment involved is refrigeration systems.

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Users, installers and maintenance firms are not always aware that the law requires pressure equipment to undergo re-inspection by an NL-CAB or Dutch user inspectorate (NL-UI).

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Users, installers and maintenance firms responsible for refrigeration systems in buildings are insufficiently aware of the statutory inspection requirement.

* Exceptions include gas tanks, air-conditioning systems, breathing apparatus cylinders and pressure equipment at companies to which the Major Accidents (Risks) Decree 1999 (BRZO) applies; in other words companies that work with large quantities of hazardous substances.

'I didn't realise the inspection deadline had expired.'

Approach

The Netherlands Labour Authority works in various ways to ensure safe operation of pressure equipment:

  • In 2019 and 2020, the Netherlands Labour Authority investigated (Dutch) compliance with the requirement for periodic inspections.
  • Together with maintenance firms and inspection bodies, the Netherlands Labour Authority identified the reasons why refrigeration systems in buildings were not being re-inspected. Since 2024, those responsible have been informed in various ways about their statutory obligations, including through an information brochure (Dutch), an information webpage and an online campaign. From 2026 onwards, the Netherlands Labour Authority checks whether the legally required re-inspections have been carried out.
  • The Netherlands Labour Authority organises information sessions to explain the legislation that applies to refrigeration systems.

Results

  • Inspections at office buildings, including buildings used by the central government, led to the re-inspection of around 400 refrigeration systems.
  • Together with installation firms, maintenance firms and inspection bodies, among others, the Netherlands Labour Authority identified the reasons why refrigeration systems were not being re-inspected. In 2025, it drew the attention of building owners and tenants to the need for re-inspection through a campaign. Industry organisations also helped raise awareness of the issue (see 2025 Annual Report (Dutch), page 4.)
  • Even during the investigation, owners of pressure equipment had already started taking action. After a survey questionnaire was sent to 1,084 respondents, many owners of pressure equipment contacted the Netherlands Labour Authority with questions about the re-inspection requirement.