EN 12952-1:2015
(Main)Water-tube boilers and auxiliary installations - Part 1: General
General Information
- Abstract
1.1 General
This European Standard applies to water-tube boilers with volumes in excess of two litres for the generation of steam and/or hot water at a maximum allowable pressure PS greater than 0,5 bar and with a temperature in excess of 110 °C as well as auxiliary installations (other plant equipment).
The purpose of this European Standard is to ensure that the necessary essential safety requirements according to Annex I of the Pressure Equipment Directive are fulfilled in order to guarantee the safety of water tube boilers.
This aim will be achieved by:
- the proper application of the design, manufacturing, testing and inspection methods and techniques,
- the provision of protective measures against hazards, which cannot be eliminated, and
- the provision of information on residual hazards and other measures to reduce risk,
which are incorporated in the various parts of this European Standard.
The requirements of this European Standard take account of pressure-related hazards, which apply to water tube boilers, including failure of pressure-retaining components due to overheating.
This standard recognizes that it is not possible to cover all the combinations of situations that might arise.
1.2 Boiler assembly
For the purpose of this European Standard, the boiler assembly includes:
- the water-tube boiler including all the pressure parts from the feedwater inlet (including the inlet valve) up to and including the steam and/or hot water outlet (including the outlet valve or, if there is no valve, the first circumferential weld or flange downsteam of the outlet header);
- all superheaters, reheaters, economizers, that are not capable of isolation from the main system by interposing shut-off valves, associated safety accessories and interconnecting piping;
- additionally, the piping that is connected to the boiler involved in services such as draining, venting, desuperheating, etc., up to and including the first isolating valve in the tubing line downstream of the boiler;
- reheaters which are independently fired, and are separately provided with their safety accessories including all control and safety systems.
The following equipment and components can be integrated in the assembly at the discretion of the manufacturer:
- isolatable superheaters, reheaters, economizers and related interconnecting piping;
- the heat supply or firing system;
- the means of preparing and feeding the fuel to the boiler including the control systems;
- the means of providing the boiler with feedwater including the control system;
- the pressure expansion vessels and tanks of hot water generating plant.
1.3 Other plant equipment
a) The boiler supporting structural steelwork, the thermal insulation and/or brickwork and the casing;
b) the means of providing the boiler with air including the forced draught fans and air pre-heaters which are heated by the gases of combustion;
c) the facilities for moving flue gases through the boiler up to the stack inlet, including the induced draught fans and the air pollution reducing equipment located in the flue gas removal path;
d) all other equipment necessary for the operation of the boiler plant.
1.4 Exclusions
This European Standard does not apply to the following types of boiler plant:
a) boilers other than stationary boilers;
b) shell type boilers;
c) electrical boilers;
d) nuclear primary circuits, the failure of which can cause an emission of radioactivity.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 27-Oct-2015
- Withdrawal Date
- 29-Apr-2016
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 269 - Shell and water tube boilers
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 269/WG 1 - Water-tube boilers
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
- Start Date
- 28-Oct-2015
- Due Date
- 13-Mar-2016
- Completion Date
- 28-Oct-2015
- Directive
- Harmonized Standard2014/68/EU - Directive 2014/68/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of pressure equipmentOJ Ref: C 293/01 OJ Date: 12-Aug-2016
Not Harmonized97/23/EC - Pressure equipment
Overview
EN 12952-1:2015 - published by CEN - defines the general requirements for water‑tube boilers and auxiliary installations. It applies to water‑tube boilers with internal volumes > 2 litres used to generate steam and/or hot water at a maximum allowable pressure (PS) > 0.5 bar and temperatures above 110 °C. The standard’s primary purpose is to ensure compliance with the essential safety requirements of the Pressure Equipment Directive (Annex I) and to harmonize design, manufacturing, testing and inspection practices for safe boiler operation.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability
- Covers the boiler assembly from the feedwater inlet up to the steam/hot‑water outlet (including valves or first downstream flange/weld).
- Includes non‑isolatable superheaters, reheaters, economizers, associated safety accessories and interconnecting piping.
- Specifies piping up to the first isolating valve downstream for services such as draining, venting and desuperheating.
- Identifies optional components that manufacturers may integrate (firing systems, feedwater systems, pressure expansion vessels, isolatable heat exchangers).
- Safety objective
- Ensures essential safety requirements are met by applying proper design, manufacturing, testing and inspection methods.
- Requires protective measures where hazards cannot be eliminated and information on residual hazards and risk‑reduction measures.
- Addresses pressure‑related hazards including failure of pressure‑retaining components due to overheating.
- Boiler assembly and other plant equipment
- Defines included and associated equipment: structural supports, thermal insulation, air supply devices (fans, air pre‑heaters), flue gas handling (induced draught fans, flue‑gas cleaning) and all necessary operational equipment.
- Exclusions
- Excludes non‑stationary boilers, shell‑type boilers, electrical boilers and nuclear primary circuits subject to radioactive release concerns.
- Series interdependency
- Part 1 is the general part of the EN 12952 series and is intended to be used in conjunction with Parts 2–18 (materials, design, construction, inspection, firing systems, safeguards, feedwater quality, flue‑gas cleaning, acceptance tests, operating instructions, etc.).
Applications - who uses it
- Boiler manufacturers and fabricators for compliant design and construction
- Designers and engineers specifying pressure parts and assemblies
- Purchasers and project managers for procurement and acceptance criteria
- Notified bodies / inspection authorities / user inspectorates for conformity assessment
- Plant operators and maintenance teams to understand assembly boundaries, safety accessories and documentation requirements
Related standards and regulatory context
- Part of the EN 12952 series (Parts 2–18 cover materials, design, workmanship, testing and specific firing and safety systems).
- Harmonized to support the essential requirements of EU Directive 2014/68/EU (Pressure Equipment Directive).
- Normative references include EN 764 and other EN 12952 parts relevant for materials, construction and inspection.
Keywords: EN 12952-1:2015, water-tube boilers, boiler safety, CEN standard, Pressure Equipment Directive, boiler design, boiler testing, boiler inspection, steam generation.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 08-Jun-2022
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 19-Jan-2023
Get Certified
Connect with accredited certification bodies for this standard
DNV
DNV is an independent assurance and risk management provider.
Lloyd's Register
Lloyd's Register is a global professional services organisation specialising in engineering and technology.
DNV Energy Systems
Energy and renewable energy certification.
Sponsored listings
Frequently Asked Questions
EN 12952-1:2015 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Water-tube boilers and auxiliary installations - Part 1: General". This standard covers: 1.1 General This European Standard applies to water-tube boilers with volumes in excess of two litres for the generation of steam and/or hot water at a maximum allowable pressure PS greater than 0,5 bar and with a temperature in excess of 110 °C as well as auxiliary installations (other plant equipment). The purpose of this European Standard is to ensure that the necessary essential safety requirements according to Annex I of the Pressure Equipment Directive are fulfilled in order to guarantee the safety of water tube boilers. This aim will be achieved by: - the proper application of the design, manufacturing, testing and inspection methods and techniques, - the provision of protective measures against hazards, which cannot be eliminated, and - the provision of information on residual hazards and other measures to reduce risk, which are incorporated in the various parts of this European Standard. The requirements of this European Standard take account of pressure-related hazards, which apply to water tube boilers, including failure of pressure-retaining components due to overheating. This standard recognizes that it is not possible to cover all the combinations of situations that might arise. 1.2 Boiler assembly For the purpose of this European Standard, the boiler assembly includes: - the water-tube boiler including all the pressure parts from the feedwater inlet (including the inlet valve) up to and including the steam and/or hot water outlet (including the outlet valve or, if there is no valve, the first circumferential weld or flange downsteam of the outlet header); - all superheaters, reheaters, economizers, that are not capable of isolation from the main system by interposing shut-off valves, associated safety accessories and interconnecting piping; - additionally, the piping that is connected to the boiler involved in services such as draining, venting, desuperheating, etc., up to and including the first isolating valve in the tubing line downstream of the boiler; - reheaters which are independently fired, and are separately provided with their safety accessories including all control and safety systems. The following equipment and components can be integrated in the assembly at the discretion of the manufacturer: - isolatable superheaters, reheaters, economizers and related interconnecting piping; - the heat supply or firing system; - the means of preparing and feeding the fuel to the boiler including the control systems; - the means of providing the boiler with feedwater including the control system; - the pressure expansion vessels and tanks of hot water generating plant. 1.3 Other plant equipment a) The boiler supporting structural steelwork, the thermal insulation and/or brickwork and the casing; b) the means of providing the boiler with air including the forced draught fans and air pre-heaters which are heated by the gases of combustion; c) the facilities for moving flue gases through the boiler up to the stack inlet, including the induced draught fans and the air pollution reducing equipment located in the flue gas removal path; d) all other equipment necessary for the operation of the boiler plant. 1.4 Exclusions This European Standard does not apply to the following types of boiler plant: a) boilers other than stationary boilers; b) shell type boilers; c) electrical boilers; d) nuclear primary circuits, the failure of which can cause an emission of radioactivity.
1.1 General This European Standard applies to water-tube boilers with volumes in excess of two litres for the generation of steam and/or hot water at a maximum allowable pressure PS greater than 0,5 bar and with a temperature in excess of 110 °C as well as auxiliary installations (other plant equipment). The purpose of this European Standard is to ensure that the necessary essential safety requirements according to Annex I of the Pressure Equipment Directive are fulfilled in order to guarantee the safety of water tube boilers. This aim will be achieved by: - the proper application of the design, manufacturing, testing and inspection methods and techniques, - the provision of protective measures against hazards, which cannot be eliminated, and - the provision of information on residual hazards and other measures to reduce risk, which are incorporated in the various parts of this European Standard. The requirements of this European Standard take account of pressure-related hazards, which apply to water tube boilers, including failure of pressure-retaining components due to overheating. This standard recognizes that it is not possible to cover all the combinations of situations that might arise. 1.2 Boiler assembly For the purpose of this European Standard, the boiler assembly includes: - the water-tube boiler including all the pressure parts from the feedwater inlet (including the inlet valve) up to and including the steam and/or hot water outlet (including the outlet valve or, if there is no valve, the first circumferential weld or flange downsteam of the outlet header); - all superheaters, reheaters, economizers, that are not capable of isolation from the main system by interposing shut-off valves, associated safety accessories and interconnecting piping; - additionally, the piping that is connected to the boiler involved in services such as draining, venting, desuperheating, etc., up to and including the first isolating valve in the tubing line downstream of the boiler; - reheaters which are independently fired, and are separately provided with their safety accessories including all control and safety systems. The following equipment and components can be integrated in the assembly at the discretion of the manufacturer: - isolatable superheaters, reheaters, economizers and related interconnecting piping; - the heat supply or firing system; - the means of preparing and feeding the fuel to the boiler including the control systems; - the means of providing the boiler with feedwater including the control system; - the pressure expansion vessels and tanks of hot water generating plant. 1.3 Other plant equipment a) The boiler supporting structural steelwork, the thermal insulation and/or brickwork and the casing; b) the means of providing the boiler with air including the forced draught fans and air pre-heaters which are heated by the gases of combustion; c) the facilities for moving flue gases through the boiler up to the stack inlet, including the induced draught fans and the air pollution reducing equipment located in the flue gas removal path; d) all other equipment necessary for the operation of the boiler plant. 1.4 Exclusions This European Standard does not apply to the following types of boiler plant: a) boilers other than stationary boilers; b) shell type boilers; c) electrical boilers; d) nuclear primary circuits, the failure of which can cause an emission of radioactivity.
EN 12952-1:2015 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 27.040 - Gas and steam turbines. Steam engines. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 12952-1:2015 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 12952-1:2001, EN 764-5:2014, EN 764-1:2015+A1:2016, EN 764-4:2014, EN 12952-5:2011, EN 12952-6:2011, EN 764-7:2002, EN 764-2:2012, EN 12952-6:2021, EN 12952-5:2021, EN 12952-3:2022, EN 12952-10:2021, CR 12952-17:2002, FprEN 12952-1. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 12952-1:2015 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2014/68/EU, 97/23/EC; Standardization Mandates: M/071. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
EN 12952-1:2015 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Vodocevni kotli in pomožne napeljave - 1. del: SplošnoWasserrohrkessel und Anlagenkomponenten - Teil 1: AllgemeinesChaudières à tubes d'eau et installations auxiliaires - Partie 1 : GénéralitésWater-tube boilers and auxiliary installations - Part 1: General27.060.30Grelniki vode in prenosniki toploteBoilers and heat exchangersICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12952-1:2015SIST EN 12952-1:2016en,fr,de01-februar-2016SIST EN 12952-1:2016SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 12952-1:20021DGRPHãþD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 12952-1
October
t r s w ICS
t yä r v r Supersedes EN
s t { w tæ sã t r r sEnglish Version
Waterætube boilers and auxiliary installations æ Part
sã General Chaudières à tubes d 5eau et installations auxiliaires æ Partie
sã Généralités
Wasserrohrkessel und Anlagenkomponenten æ Teil
sã Allgemeines This European Standard was approved by CEN on
t { August
t r s wä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey and United Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels
t r s w CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s t { w tæ sã t r s w ESIST EN 12952-1:2016
Significant technical changes between this European Standard and the previous edition . 13 Annex ZA (informative)
Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential Requirements of EU Directive 2014/68/EU . 14 Bibliography . 15
...