ASME vs PED: Which Cryogenic Tank Certification Do You Need?

In the ASME vs PED decision, the right code depends on the destination market where the tank will operate, not on quality. ASME is the United States pressure vessel code, while PED 2014/68/EU is the European code required for CE marking. A tank built to either can be sound; the question is which one your market accepts.

This guide compares the two dominant pressure vessel codes for cryogenic tanks in plain terms. It explains what each covers, why the choice is market-driven, and how European cryogenic standards and low-temperature testing fit alongside them.

KAF Cryogenics manufactures cryogenic equipment certified to both ASME and PED, so the code follows your market rather than limiting your options.

What is the difference between ASME and PED?

ASME and PED are two separate regulatory frameworks for pressure equipment. They set out how a pressurized vessel must be designed, fabricated, tested, and documented. They are not competing measures of quality; they are the rules of different jurisdictions.

• ASME is the United States code. Pressure vessels are built to ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII.
• PED 2014/68/EU is the European code. Compliance leads to CE marking, which is required to place the equipment on the European market.
• Each defines its own design rules, material requirements, inspection points, and documentation.

The practical takeaway for the ASME vs PED question is that a tank is certified to the framework of the market where it will be installed and operated. Ordering the wrong one can mean a compliant tank that your local authority or customer will not accept.

Does ASME or PED mean better quality?

No. Neither code is inherently higher quality than the other. Both impose rigorous design, welding, inspection, and testing requirements. The correct one depends on the destination market, not on quality. A vessel built to ASME for a market that expects ASME is the right choice, and the same is true of PED in a European context.

Treating this as a quality contest leads buyers astray. The better mental model is compliance: which code does the country of operation, the local authority, and your customer require? Answer that first, then build to it.

When do you need PED 2014/68/EU?

PED 2014/68/EU applies when equipment is placed on the market within the European Union. Compliance is demonstrated through CE marking. If your cryogenic tank will be installed and operated in a market that follows the European framework, PED is typically the code you need.

For cryogenic vessels, PED works together with harmonized European standards that address the specifics of low-temperature, vacuum-insulated equipment.

• EN 13458 covers static vacuum-insulated cryogenic vessels.
• EN 13530 covers transportable cryogenic vessels.
• CE marking signals PED compliance for the European market.

To understand how these European standards relate to each other, see the EN 13458 and EN 13530 explainer.

When do you need ASME?

ASME certification applies where the United States code is the accepted or expected framework. If your tank is destined for a market that references ASME Section VIII, or a customer specifies it, then ASME is the correct code. As with PED, the driver is market acceptance, not a quality ranking.

Because KAF exports across several regions, projects sometimes call for ASME and sometimes for PED. The decisive input is always where the equipment will operate and what that market and customer accept. Market-by-market guidance is covered in the export market guide.

Why does low-temperature impact testing matter for both?

Regardless of which code applies, cryogenic service brings a shared engineering requirement: materials must resist brittle fracture at very low temperatures. Below roughly -150 C, unsuitable materials can fail suddenly. To guard against this, low-temperature service requires impact testing, known as Charpy V-notch testing, on the materials used.

This is why the certification framework alone does not tell the full story. Both ASME and PED work alongside material verification for cryogenic duty. When you review a tank's document file, look for the impact test records as well as the code certificate.

• Impact (Charpy V-notch) testing confirms materials stay tough at cryogenic temperatures.
• Brittle fracture risk rises below about -150 C.
• Material records belong in the document file alongside the code certificate.

How do you choose the right code for your project?

Choosing between ASME and PED is a market question answered with a few practical inputs. Work through them before you order.

• Where will the tank be installed and operated?
• What does the local authority in that country require?
• Does your customer or end user specify a code?
• Is CE marking needed, which points to PED?
• Are there intermodal or cross-border factors that affect acceptance?

Answering these prevents the costly error of ordering a compliant tank that the destination will not accept. If you are unsure, confirm the requirement with the operating market before fabrication begins.

How does KAF handle both codes?

KAF Cryogenics manufactures cryogenic and pressurized gas equipment certified to both ASME and PED 2014/68/EU, and works to the relevant European standards including EN 13458 and EN 13530. KAF exports to Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, so the code is matched to each project's market.

Whether you need a new tank built to specification or a certified second-hand unit, the document file shows the code, the standard, and the material test records. For a full view of the certification landscape, see the certifications overview.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related reading

• EN 13458 and EN 13530 explainer
• export market guide
• certifications overview
• storage tanks