It specifies requirements for the design, manufacture, inspection and testing of unfired pressure vessels made from carbon, ferritic alloy, and austenitic steels.
It also includes material supplements containing requirements for vessels made from aluminium, copper, nickel, titanium and duplex.
PD5500 was withdrawn from the list of British Standards because it was not harmonized with the European Pressure Equipment Directive (2014/68/EU formerly 97/23/EC) .
Since the UK exited the European Union, the PED no longer applies and the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulations 2016 have been amended by the enactment of the UK Product Safety and Metrology Regulations, which update a number of pieces of legislation which required amendments to operate outside of the EU.
EN 13445 is recognised as a Designated Standard, while other codes such as PD5500 must still demonstrate conformity against each Essential Safety Requirement.