History

When EPRG started its work in 1972, a number of gas pipeline operators and line pipe manufacturers joined to study the vital problem of long running fracture in gas transmission pipelines. The testing activities needed to understand the phenomenon were exceptionally elaborate, which was one of the main reasons to share the effort and bundle the expertise, both in terms of testing and assessing the results to derive internationally accepted guidelines which are included in the most widely used standards.

A milestone in the history of EPRG was the foundation of EPRG e.V in 2005 when the group based itself on the formal structure of a registered association. Over the course of time, and in response to the challenges that were faced, the scope and membership of EPRG was enlarged to reflect evolving challenges and now includes pipelines transporting other media and service providing companies. The latter were welcomed to include expertise with respect to welding, NDT, construction and offshore operations. Currently EPRG has 27 member companies based in ten countries.

The work is carried out in the laboratories of the member companies as well as by external research institutes. The results however are assessed by EPRG’s Technical Committees, and the final approval is given by the Plenary Committee. This means that every publication, recommendation or guideline is based on the collative expertise of specialists from the different disciplines.