Pressure Vessel

Inspections
The Pressure Vessel Inspections article provides you
information about the inspection of pressure vessels
and pressure vessel tests in a manufacturing shop.
This article provides you lots of invaluable information
about the following items:

 Inspection and Testing During the Manufacturing

Phase
 Inspection and Testing During the Operation
Phase
 Pressure Vessel Codes and Regulations
 Maintenance and Repairs

The Pressure vessel inspections article, alongside

other linked articles are useful for Manufacturer's
Quality Control personnel, Second and Third Party
Inspectors, Purchasers, Sellers, Plant Inspectors, HSE
Engineers, Integrity Engineers, Operation and
Maintenance Engineers and any Other Interested
Individuals.

Pressure Vessel Definition - Based on the ASME Code

Section VIII, pressure vessels are containers for the
containment of pressure, either internal or external.
This pressure may be obtained from an external
source, or by the application of heat from a direct or
indirect source, or any combination thereof.
Click on the above link for detailed information about
pressure vessel definition, scope, and boundaries
based on ASME and API codes which specifically focus
on pressure vessel inspections.

ASME Code Section 8 - ASME Code Section 8 is the

construction code for Pressure Vessels.
This Code section addresses mandatory
requirements, specific prohibitions, and non-
mandatory guidance for pressure vessel materials,
design, fabrication, examination, inspection, testing,
certification, and pressure relief.
You may know that ASME Code Section 8 has three
divisions. Division 1 covers pressure up to 3,000 psi,
Division 2 has an alternative rule and covers up to
10,000 psi, and Division 3 can be used for pressure
higher than 10,000 psi.
This section is divided into three parts: subsections,
mandatory appendices, and non-mandatory
appendices.
Subsection A consists of Part UG, covering the
general requirements applicable to all pressure
vessels.
Subsection B covers specific requirements that are
applicable to the various methods used in the
fabrication of pressure vessels. It consists of Parts
UW, UF, and UB, and deals with welded, forged, and
brazed methods, respectively.
Subsection C covers specific requirements applicable
to the several classes of materials used in pressure
vessel construction.
It consists of Parts UCS, UNF, UHA, UCI, UCL, UCD,
UHT, ULW, and ULT dealing with carbon and low alloy
steels, nonferrous metals, high alloy steels, cast iron,
clad and lined material, cast ductile iron, ferritic
steels with properties enhanced by heat treatment,
layered construction, and low temperature materials,
respectively.
Click on the above link for detailed information about
ASME code section 8, which specifically focuses on
pressure vessel inspections.

Pressure Vessel Plate

The Pressure Vessel Plate article provides you
information about the ASME Code requirement
regarding plate material and related points in the
pressure vessel inspection.
You need to take care about your Pressure Vessel
Plate Materials, there are lots of requirements and
specific prohibitions in the ASME code.
Some of these requirements are ASME and Non ASME
plate materials, plate specifications, inspection
requirements and material test reports. This article
describes these requirements for you.
What is ASME Material?
ASME Code Sec VIII DIV 1 requires the materials that
are used for pressure containing parts to be one of:
Material specified in ASME section II materials but
with some restrictions, which are stated in ASME
Code Sec VIII Div 1 in subsection C e.g. UCS, UHF,
UNF.
For example, SA 283 plate material is listed in ASME
Sec II, but when you refer to subsection C in Sec VIII
Div 1, you see it is not allowed to be used for lethal
substance services as well as for unfired steam
boilers. Also, you cannot use this material when you
need your thickness to be greater than 5/8 inch.

What is Difference Between ASTM Material and

ASME Material?
When you refer to ASME Section II Part A, you see all
material with SA prefix identification and on one side
there is an ASTM logo, and on the other side is ASME
logo.
But the ASTM prefix is single A.
The material specification in ASME Section II Part A
was originally developed by ASTM and then reviewed
and adopted by ASME Code. That is the reason you
see both societies' Logos.
For example, if you open the SA 516 material
specification in ASME Section II, material Part A,
edition 2004, you will see this statement below the
page title:
“Identical with ASTM specification A 516/ A516M-90”;
This means you can use A 516 Edition 1990 instead
SA 516 2004.
But if your ASTM material is A 516 and not
manufactured based on ASTM Edition 1990, you
cannot use this material unless you do the
assessment based on clause UG-10 in ASME Section
VIII Div 1, and your assessment result will determine
either it is permissible, or you need to do more tests
to recertify this material.
For some materials, the specifications are not
identical or may be identical with some exceptions, so
again we cannot use these ASTM material unless we
make an assessment based on the above mentioned
clause (UG-10)
Is it possible to use Non ASME material instead
of ASME Section II material?
The answer is “Yes,” but with some conditions. These
conditions ar addressed in UG-10(a) as following
items:

 Melting method, melting practice, deoxidation,

quality and heat treatment to be same between
suggested non-ASME material and equivalent
permitted ASME section II material.
  Material certificate proves there is no conflict in
chemical analysis between suggested non-ASME
material and equivalent permitted ASME
material.

 Material certificate proves the suggested non-

ASME material was produced and tested in
accordance to equivalent permitted ASME
material.

 The material certificate to be recertified by the

equivalent permitted ASME material with a
notation of “ Certified per UG-10”

Example:
A manufacturer received an order for manufacturing a
pressure vessel with an SA 516 Gr.60 pressure vessel
plate normalized material, but apparently this
material is not available in the market...
So the material supplier recommended to the
pressure vessel manufacturer to purchase an
available P265GH material instead. The manufacturer
requested a copy of the material certificate for
P265GH to verify for recertification per UG-10.
Pressure Vessel Manufacturer Assessment:
Step 1: Checking of melting method, melting
practices, deoxidation, and heat treatment
P265GH is produced based on the European EN-
10028 Standard, manufacturer controls plate material
certificate and confirms:
Melting method, practice, deoxidation and heat
treatment are consistent with SA 516 Gr.60
specification, the current available P265GH material
produced by basic oxygen process and secondary
vacuum process refinement and both normalized.
Step 2: Plate material certificate prove there is no
conflict in chemical analysis between the suggested
non-ASME material and the equivalent permitted
ASME material.
The manufacture controlled chemical analysis in
pressure vessel plate material certificate of P265GH
with SA 516 Gr.60 specification and confirm
everything is in specific minimum or ranged limits.
Step 3: Plate material certificate prove the suggested
non-ASME material produced and tested in
accordance to equivalent permitted ASME material.
Manufacturer the first control with the required
number of test specimens for each mechanical test,
as well as the size of specimens and confirm that
both standards are the same;
Then check the plate material mechanical test result
for yield stress, tensile strength and elongation and
confirm all are in specific range of SA 516 Gr.60.
Manufacturer control for plate material impact test
requirement and notice impact test carried out by
ISO V method and in - 53 degree F;
But SA 516 Gr.60 requires to be impact tested in -60
degree F with Charpy V-notch test method based on
SA 370 Specification so there are two conflicts here.
First is the test method, and seconder is in the test
temperature.
So pressure vessel manufacturer requests that the
plate material supplier provide a test plate and send
the test piece to a laboratory for impact testing based
the SA 516 Gr.60 specification.
The lab test report confirms that the P265GH plate
material covers the SA 516 Gr.60 impact testing
requirement.
Step 4: The material certificate is to be recertified by
the equivalent permitted ASME material with a
notation of “Certified per UG-10.”
The manufacturer purchases the P265GH plate
material and changes the marking on the plate and
also rectifies the material test report with SA 516
Gr.60 material. This material identification will be SA
516 Gr.60
In the above example, a vessel manufacturer with
doing extra tests recertified a non ASME pressure
vessel plate material.
In some other cases, this might not be possible even
by extra testing for example if the tensile strength is
less than the ASME permitted material.
Sometimes it might be recertified even without any
extra test when everything falls in the limitation
range of the ASME permitted material.
What is the Other Requirement for Pressure
Vessel Plate?
UG-93 in ASME Code Sec VIII Div 1 specifies
requirements for plate material inspection.
Based on this clause, only plate material is require to
have a material test certificate(MTR).
It means this requirement only can be applied for
plate material; for other material such as pipe and
flange, MTR's are not required and marking on the
materials would be acceptable.
You need to inspect the plate material per
specification of ASME Sec II Part A. For example, for
SA 516 Gr.60 refer to this specification and check the
chemical composition, mechanical property with your
MTR.
You need to check that the Heat Number stated in
MTR is the same stenciled on the plate material
marking and make sure this MTR belongs to this
material.
You need to check your pressure vessel plate
dimensions, such as thickness, width, length, weight
as per tolerances stated in specification SA 20. Visual
inspection for surface defects also need to be done
based on SA 20 specification.

Industrial Source Inspection

Inspection-for-industry.com Provides Industrial

Source Inspection information, guidance and
technical articles. The articles include all subjects
such as Pre-Shipment, Vendor, Goods or Commodity
surveillance.
You can find the information you need including:

 Third Party, Shop, Site, Pre-Shipment, Vendor,

Goods and industrial Inspectors
 Factory Acceptance Test
 Inspection and Test Plan
 Quality Control
 Plant Inspectors

The articles in this website cover all industrial fields such as

Oil, Gas, Petrochemical, Refinery, Power, Pulp and Paper,
and other industrial fields.
The technical articles on this website will be useful for:

 Equipment Purchasers
 Equipment Vendors and Suppliers
 Engineering companies and Procurement Personnel
 Plant Owners or End Users
 Quality Control Personnel
 Third Party Inspectors
 Buyers and Sellers
 Bankers Letter of Credit (LC) Personnel
 Integrity Engineers and In-Service Inspectors

There are two types of articles on this website:

general and apply to all equipment such as “Factory
Acceptance Test,” or specific and written for specific
equipment such as “Above Ground Storage Tank”
These articles provide you invaluable information
about inspection requirements from the design stage
to the manufacturing process, shipment, installation
and operation.
The Industrial Inspection and Quality Control
requirements for the following equipment have been
addressed in this website's articles:

 Static Equipment - Pressure vessels

(Drums, Columns, Reactors, Filters, Strainers,
Reformers), Water Tube Boilers, Fire Tube
Boilers, Above Ground Storage Tanks, Process
Piping Systems, Process Heaters, Shell and Tube
Heat Exchangers, Fin Tube Heat Exchangers,
Plate Heat Exchangers, Incinerators, Loading
Arms, Expansion and Flexible Joints, Pig
Launchers and Receivers, Linings, Rupture Disks,
Safety and Relief Valves, Steam Traps, Flanges,
Fittings, Line Pipes, Pipes, Bolts and Nuts,
Gaskets, etc.
 Rotating Equipment - Boiler Feed water
Pumps, Centrifugal Water Pumps, Cryogenic
Submerged Pumps, Fire Fighting Pumps, Gear
Pumps, Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps, Metering
Pumps, Proportioning Pumps, Reciprocating
Pumps, Refinery Centrifugal Pumps, Rotary
Pumps, Sea Water Lift Pumps, Submerged
Pumps, Submersible Pumps, Vertical Pumps,
Screw Pumps, Air Compressors, Centrifugal
Compressors, Axial Compressors, Reciprocating
Compressors, Diaphragm Compressors, Screw
Compressors, Van Type Compressors,
Belt Conveyors, Mixers, Diesel Engines, Fans,
Blowers, Gas Turbines, Steam Turbines, Rotating
Drum Screens, etc.

 Electrical Equipment - Bus Ducts, Induction

Motors, Electric Generators, Diesel Generators,
Gas Turbine Generators, Electric Motors, Power
Transformers, Switchgears, Gas Circuit Breakers,
Power Cables, Control Panels, Electrical
Insulators, Conduit and Fittings, Electrical Heat
Tracings, Junction Boxes, Electrical Heaters,
Plugs and Sockets, Uninterrupted Power
Supplies, UPS Battery Chargers, UPS Batteries,
etc.

 Instrumental Equipment - Control

Valves, Breather Valves, Valve Actuators, Block
Manifolds, On/Off Valves, Conductivity Meters,
Control Panels, Density Transmitters, Emergency
Vent Valves, Filter Regulators, Fire Detectors,
Flame Detectors, Gas Detectors, Heat Detectors,
Smoke Detectors, Flow Meters, Flow Switches,
 Sight Flow Indicators, Gas Analyzers, Hydrogen
Process Analyzers, Hydrogen Sulfide Analyzers,
Infrared Analyzers, Moisture Analyzers, Oxygen
Analyzers, Instrument Cables, Instrument tubes
and Fittings, Leak Detection Systems,
Level Switches, Level Gauges, Level
Transmitters, Limit Switches,
Motor Operated Valves and Actuators, Manual
Call Points, Needle Valves, Orifice Flanges and
Plates, PH Meters, Pressure Gauges, Pressure
Reducing Valves, Pressure Self Regulating
Valves, Pressure Switches, Pressure
Transmitters, Proximity Switches, Solenoid
Valves, Temperature Gauges, Temperature Self
Regulating
Valves, Temperature Transmitters, Temperature
Switches, Thermocouples, Thermowells,
Thermometers, Venturi Tubes, etc.

 Lifting Equipment - Hoists and Cranes, etc.

 Industrial Valves - Ball Valves, Gate Valves,

Glob Valves, Check Valves, Plug Valves, Pressure
Safety Valves, Bronze Valves, Butterfly Valves,
Catalyst Tight Valves, Choke Valves, Cryogenic
Flanged Gate, Globe and Check Valves, Deluge
Valves, Double Block and Bleed Valves, Forged
Gate, Globe and Check Valves, Gas Tight Valves,
Large Cast Gate, Globe and Check Valves,
Pressure and Safety Relief Valves, Slide and
Sluice Valves, etc.

 Boiler Water Treatment Units,

Skid-Mounted Units -
Chemical Injection Packages, Desalination Plants,
Dryer Packages, Oily Water Treatment Packages,
 Refrigeration Packages, Sanitary Water
Treatment Packages, Raw Water Filters, Nitrogen
Blanketing Systems, etc.

 ASME Code Section 8

 The ASME Code Section 8 is the construction
code for pressure vessel and covers design,
manufacturing and pressure vessel inspection
and testing in the manufacturing shop.
 This Code section addresses the mandatory
requirements, specific prohibitions, and non-
mandatory guidance for Pressure Vessel
Materials, design, fabrication, examination,
inspection, testing, certification, and pressure
relief.
 In this article you will learn about the different
subsections and guidelines for the use and
application of this code.
 For ASME Code Section 8 scope and boundaries,
review the Pressure Vessel Definition article.


 You may know ASME Code Section 8 has three
divisions. Division 1 covers pressure up to 3000
psi, Division 2 has an alternative rule and covers
up to 10,000 psi and Division 3 can be used for
pressure higher than 10,000 psi.
 Hierarchy of Standard
 1. Law and Regulation at Location of
Installation
 Mandatory application of ASME pressure vessel
code is determined by rule and regulation at
location of installation.
 For example, if you are living in the state of
Minnesota, the application of ASME Code for
construction and stamping is mandatory in your
location, but if you are living in the state of South
Carolina, it is not mandatory.
 2. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
 The next item in this hierarchy is ASME Code
itself; the ASME Code generally is divided into
three groups as following:
 Group 1: Construction Codes
 Some of them are: Section VIII for pressure
vessel, Section I for Power Boiler, section III for
Nuclear Power Plant and Section IV for heating
Boiler
 Group 2: Reference Codes
 These are the codes which are referenced from
construction codes as explained in group 1.
 The ASME Section IX for welding and Section V
for Non Destructive Testing are in this Group.
 For example, ASME Code section VIII for welding
requirement such as WPS (Welding Procedure
Specification), PQR (Procedure Qualification
Record), Welder Performance Qualification, etc.
refer you to ASME Section IX.
 Group 3: In-Service Codes
 These are the codes for in-service inspection
after placing the equipment into service.
 The ASME Section VI for the heating boiler and
Section VII are from this group.
 3. National Board Inspection Code(NBIC):
 We have assigned a separate article for the
NBIC, but as required for this article, the NBIC is
making certification for ASME Authorized
Inspectors and is also certifying R stamp for
Repair services for stamped pressure vessels.
 ASME Code Section 8 Content:
 See following Fig; it shows ASME Code Section 8
Content:



 This section is divided into three Subsections,
Mandatory Appendices, and Nonmandatory
Appendices.
 Subsection A consists of Part UG, covering the
general requirements applicable to all pressure
vessels.
 Subsection B covers specific requirements that
are applicable to the various methods used in the
fabrication of pressure vessels.
 It consists of Parts UW, UF, and UB dealing with
welded, forged, and brazed methods,
respectively.
 Subsection C covers specific requirements
applicable to the several classes of materials
used in pressure vessel construction.
 It consists of Parts UCS, UNF, UHA, UCI, UCL,
UCD, UHT, ULW, and ULT dealing with carbon
and low alloy steels, nonferrous metals, high
alloy steels, cast iron, clad and lined material,
cast ductile iron, ferritic steels with properties
enhanced by heat treatment, layered
construction, and low temperature materials,
respectively.
 For example, if you need to manufacture a
pressure vessel with SA 516 Gr.70 material
(Carbon Steel), then you need to meet the
marked items in above Fig.
 Please note that ASME Code Section 8, does not
provide you fabrication tolerances except for
misalignment and weld reinforcement.
 For example, for nozzle orientation, projection,
elevation and other required tolerances there are
no values in the code, and you may refer to
pressure vessel handbooks for such information.
 Review the Pressure Vessel Dimension
Inspection article for such tolerances.
 If you review the ASME Forward statement it
clearly says “The Code does not address all
aspects of construction activities, and those
aspects which are not specifically addressed
should not be considered prohibited.”
 In continuing it says, “The Code is not a
handbook and cannot replace education,
experience, and the use of engineering
judgments.”
 For example, ASME Code Section 8 Div 1 in UG-
28 mandates all loading to be considered in
pressure vessel design, but the method for
calculation of all of them has not been addressed.
 For example, the formula for wind or earthquakes
is not provided in the ASME Code Section 8, and
these items and other similar loading
considerations need to be designed by using the
information provided in the pressure vessel
handbooks.
 For ASME pressure vessel manufacture
certification, as well as Authorized Inspection
Agency certification, Review the Pressure Vessel
Certification article.
 What is the Summary of Important Points in
ASME Code Section 8 ?
 1. ASME Code Section 8 edition is issued once
every 3 years and addenda, once a year – both
on July 1st. Edition and addenda become
effective on the 1st of January of next year (i.e.,
6 months after issue).
 2. Thickness of cylindrical shell t = PR/(SE-0.6P)
+C
 3. Longitudinal weld is more critical because it is
subjected to double the stress than Circ. Weld.
 4. “Weld joint categories” A, B, C, D – are based
on joint locations in the vessel and stress levels
encountered. “Weld Types” (type 1, 2, 3, etc.)
describe the weld itself.
 5. Depths of 2:1 Ellip. and hemisph. heads are
D/4 and D/2 respectively. (D= Head diameter.)
 6. Weld Joint categories:
 Category A:
 - All longitudinal welds in shell and nozzles.
 - All welds in heads, Hemisph-head to shell weld
joint
 Category B:
 - All circumferential welds in shell and nozzles
 - Head to shell joint (other than Hemisph.)
 Category C and D are flange welds and nozzle
attachment welds respectively.
 7. Weld Types:
 Type 1: Full penetration welds (Typically Double
welded)
 Type 2: Welds with backing strip
 Type 3: Single welded partial penetration welds
 Type 4, 5 and 6: Various Lap welds (rarely used)
 8. For full penetration welds (type 1):
 Joint efficiency, E = 100%, 85%, 70%
 (For the radiography = Full, Spot, Nil
respectively)
 9. Radiography marking on name plates
(typically for Type-1 welds)
 RT-1: (E=1) All butt welds – full length
radiography
 RT-2: (E=1.0) All Cat. A Butt welds Full length,
Cat B, spot
 RT-3: (E=0.85) Spot radiography of both Cat A
and B welds
 RT-4: (E=0.7) Partial/No radiography
 10. For Welded Heads for E=1, all welds within
the head require full length radiography (since
they are all Cat. A welds)
 11. For seamless heads, E=1, If a) head to shell
weld is fully radiographed (if Cat. A), and at least
spot radiographed (if Cat. B)
 12. Compared to Cylindrical shell, thickness of
2:1 Ellipsoidal head is approx. same as shell,
 Hemisph. head approx. half and Torisph head is
77% higher.
 13. MAWP is calculated for: Working condition
(Hot & Corroded). Vessel MAWP is always taken
at the Top of the Vessel and is lowest of all part
MAWPs adjusted for static pressure.
 14. Hydro-Test is Standard Pressure test on
Completed Vessels.
 Hyd. Test Pr. = 1.3 x MAWP x stress ratio
 Insp. Pressure (hydro) = test pr. / 1.3
 Min. Test temp. = MDMT + 30°F
 Max. Inspection temp. = 120°F
 15. Pneumatic test is performed if hydro is not
possible due to design or process reasons. Prior
to the test, NDT as per UW-50 is mandatory.
 Pneumatic test pressure = 1.1 x MAWP x stress
ratio, Pressure should be increased in steps
(Total 6).
 1st step – 50% of test pressure
 2nd to 6 step – 10% of test pressure
 Insp. Pr. (pneumatic) = test pressure /1.1
 16. Pressure gauge range should be about twice
the test pressure. However, in any case it shall
not be lower than 1.5 times and not higher than
4 times the test pressure.
 17. Vessel MAWP represents the maximum safe
pressure holding capacity of the vessel. Vessel
MAWP is measured at top-most point and is
lowest of vessel part MAWPs, adjusted for
hydrostatic head.
 18. For vertical vessels, hydrostatic pressure
caused due to liquid with specific gravity = 1, 1ft
of height = 0.43 psig. Or 1 mtr of height = 0.1
Bar
 19. Total pressure at any point of Vertical vessel
is given by:
 Total Pr. = Vessel MAWP + h x 0.433.
 (h = height from top in ft.)
 20. If part MAWP and elevations are known,
Vessel MAWP can be calculated by the deducting
hydrostatic head from part MAWP.
 21. Ext. Pressure is worked out on basis of
Geometric factor A (which depends on L/Do and
Do/t ratios) and factor B (depends on A, )
 Allowable Ext. Pressure, Pa = 4B/(3(Do/t))
 22. For values of A falling to the left of material
line in the material chart:
 Pa = 2AE/(3(Do/t))
 23. Name plate shows The Code stamping,
MAWP, design temp., MDMT, and Extent of
Radiography.
 24. ASME materials (SA) shall be used for code
stamped vessel fabrication instead of ASTM (A)
materials.
 25. Reinforcement pad is not required, if the size
of finished opening is (UG 36)
  Not exceeding 2-3/8” for all thicknesses of
vessel
  Not exceeding 3-½”, if vessel thickness is ≤
3/8’’
 26. Reinforcement pad with OD = 2d and thk =
vessel thk is always safe (d = diameter of
finished opening)
 27. Reinforcement limit along vessel wall = 2d
 28. Reinforcement limit normal to vessel wall =
smaller of 2.5 t or 2.5 tn
 29. In reinforcement pad calculations, credit can
be taken for area available in shell and nozzle.
 30. Fillet weld throat dimension = 0.707 x leg of
weld
 31. Adequacy of weld sizes shall be checked as
required by UW-16. The nozzles construction
shall be one of the Code acceptable types.
 32. The maximum permitted ovality tolerance (D
max – D min) shall not exceed 1% of nominal
diameter of vessel. If there is opening, then the
tolerance can be increased by 2% x d (d =
diameter of opening) if measurement is taken
within a distance of ‘d’ from axis of opening.
 33. The mismatch tolerances and the maximum
allowable weld reinforcement is more strict on
longitudinal welds compared to circumferential
welds (UW-35).
 34. Principle of reinforcement:
 Area removed = Area compensated.
 Compensation area shall be within reinforcement
limits.
 35. For use as pressure parts, the plates shall be
fully identified. Maximum permitted under
tolerance on plates is 0.01” (0.3 mm) or 6% of
ordered thickness, whichever is less.
 36. All welding (including tack, seal, etc.) shall be
done using qualified procedures and welders.
 37. Mandatory full radiography in ASME Code
Section 8 is required for all welding with
thickness exceeding Table UCS-57, and also for
lethal service vessels and unfired boilers with
Design Pr. More than 50 psig.
 38. PWHT is ASME Code Section 8 requirement if
thickness exceeds those given in tables UCS-56
(given in notes under the tables). These tables
also give min. PWHT temperature and min.
 holding time (soaking period) based on P-Nos.
and thickness respectively.
 39. For Furnace PWHT in ASME Code Section 8 ,
Loading Temperature shall not exceed 800°F,
heating rate 400 deg F/hr/inch of thickness,
cooling rate 500°F /hr/inch of thickness. Still air
cooling permitted below 800°F. During soaking
period, temp difference between hottest and
coldest part shall not exceed 150°F.
 40. Minimum overlap for PWHT in multiple heats
= 5 ft.
 41. For the ASME Code Section 8 impact test
requirement, UCS 66 curve. If MDMT-thickness
combination falls on or above the curve, impact
testing is exempted. Additional exemptions are
given as per UG-20(f) and UCS=68 (c).

Pressure Vessel
Certification
The Pressure Vessel Certification article provides you
with information about the ASME stamp holder
process for manufacturers and third party inspection
companies.
Do you what the pressure vessel certification process
is? Do you know how pressure vessel manufacturers
can be ASME stamp holders?
How Third Party inspection companies can be certified
by ASME and be Authorized Inspection Agencies?
What is a “U” stamped pressure vessel?
This article describes all the required information
regarding pressure vessel certification and regulation.
Pressure Vessel Manufacturer Certification:
You may know pressure vessel manufacturer
certification is the same as authorization for an ASME
Stamp.
The pressure vessel manufacturers can implement an
ASME Quality Control System and then apply for the
ASME Stamp.
This means that if a manufacturer is accredited by
the ASME organization for pressure vessels per ASME
Code Section VIII Div. 1, they can stamp the letter
“U” in the pressure vessel nameplate.
See the following Fig. for Pressure Vessel Certification
(The Stamp Item)

This is the process for ASME stamp accreditation:

1. Obtain Application Forms from ASME
2. Sign a Service Agreement with an Authorized
Inspection Agency (AIA)
Authorized inspection agencies are third party
inspection companies, which have accredited by an
ASME organization and their inspectors are certified
by the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC).
These inspectors are named authorized inspectors
and hold commission cards issued by NBIC
organization.
Summary: AIAs are accredited by ASME, but these
inspectors are certified by NBIC.
3. Submit Application Forms to ASME and transfer
Fees
4. Purchase ASME Code Books
5. Describe a QC-System according to the ASME code
quality control manual and have the procedures
prepared by the manufacturer.
6. Prepare a Demonstration Item
A representative demo pressure vessel needs to be
constructed and all drawings, calculations, part lists,
purchase orders, material test reports, fabrications,
inspections, tests and reporting shall be based on
ASME code section VIII requirements.
7. Qualify Procedures and Personnel
Quality control procedures and personnel also need to
be approved by the manufacturer.
8. Pre-Joint Review by the Supervisor of AIA
It takes almost 4 months to fulfill the above
requirements. Then an audit needs to be conducted
by a supervisor authorized inspector, which is
designated by an authorized inspection agency, which
is under contract with the manufacture.
This auditor would report non-conformities found in
the audit process, and then the manufacturer would
have some time to correct them.
9. Joint Review (Audit) with ASME Designee,
Inspector and Supervisor
Finally, the audit would be conducted by an ASME
designated person, supervisor authorized Inspector
and authorized inspector.
That is the reason this audit is named a joint review.
10. Issuance of Certificate and Stamp by ASME
If the result of Audit was satisfactory, the certificate
would be issued by ASME and then manufacture
would be authorized to stamp name plate with “U”
Stamp.
What are the Different Pressure Vessel Stamps?
Manufacturing of Pressure Vessels (Shop and /or
Field): U
Alternative Rules Section VIII, Division 2(Shop and
/or Field):U2
Manufacturing of High Pressure Vessels (Shop and /or
Field):U3
What is the Quality Control System that Needs
to be Implemented in Pressure Vessel
Certification?
For U the stamp, the quality control system needs to
be based on ASME section VIII Div. 1 Appendix 10.
What is the Benefit for a Pressure Vessel
Purchaser to Order a Stamped Pressure Vessel?
When a purchaser orders stamped pressure vessel
from a stamp holder manufacturer, it is not necessary
to hire a third party inspector.
Because this pressure vessel would automatically be
inspected by an AI(Authorized Inspector) and its data
report would be signed by him.
Another benefit can be the purchaser's assurance of
the quality of the pressure vessel, because of the
manufacturers responsibility to the ASME
organization.
At the same time, ordering a stamped pressure
vessel would be more expensive than a non-stamped
pressure vessel.

Pressure Vessel Dimension

Inspection
The Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection article
provides you with information about the dimensional
requirements in pressure vessel construction and
pressure vessel inspection.
You may know some fabrication tolerances have not
been addressed in ASME Code Section VIII.
So you need to refer to other sources for inspection.
This article provides you the most important
dimensional inspection requirements.
The dimensional check of a pressure vessel consists
of the following items:

 Mill Undertolerance of Plates and Pipes

 Tolerances for Formed Heads

 Out of Roundness of shell

 Nozzles and attachments Orientation

 Nozzles and attachments Projection

 Nozzles and attachments elevation

 Nozzles and attachments levelness

 Weld mismatch

 Weld reinforcement

Mill Undertolerance of Plates and Pipes

Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Plate:
Your pressure vessel plates with 0.01 inch or
6% undertolerance, whichever is smaller, may be
used for full design pressure, instead of at the given
design thickness specified.
However, if the material specification allows greater
undertolerance, then the ordered thickness for the
material should be sufficiently greater.
For example, if you have SA 516 Gr.70 plate with a
0.625 inch nominal thickness, and the actual
thickness is 0.615, it is acceptable, and you may use
this plate without any specific design consideration.
But if the same plate has an actual thickness of 0.595
inches, you need to consider mill undertolarence in
your design calculation.
This plate thickness is acceptable based on the
material specification (see table in SA 20 for
thickness tolerances). We cannot reject this plate
because it is in the permissible tolerance of plate
specification, but based on ASME Code SEC VIII Div
1, you need to consider this 0.03 inches in your
design calculation: e.g. Thickness = Min Thickness +
Corrosion Allowance + Mill Undertolrance
Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Pipe:
Contrary to the plate material, your pipe and tube
mill undertolrances need to be taken into account for
design consideration.
Pipe and tube undertolrances are almost -12.5 % of
the nominal wall thickness, but sometimes there are
differences for different materials, so for any specific
material, it shall be referred to the suggested pipe or
tube material specification to obtain the exact amount
of mill undertolrances.
For example, if there is a pressure vessel with
nominal shell thickness of 0.5 inch, it needs a 6” SA
106 Gr.B nozzle to be attached to the shell plate.
Assume that external loading is not a design
controlling factor (is not governor), so as our
minimum, nozzle thickness will be the same as the
shell thickness.
So with a consideration of -12.5%, the calculation will
be: 0.5 / 0.875 = 0.571 inches. So when we refer to
ASME B36.10 and select our pipe schedule it will be
SA 106 Gr.B Schedule 160.

Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection -

Tolerances for Formed Head:
You may know that there is a specific rule for
dimensional checking of formed heads, based the fact
that the UG-81 inner surface shall not deviate outside
of the specified shape more than 11⁄4% of D and
inside the shape more than 5⁄8%.
You can use sweep boards, which are made by
cutting a thin steel sheet or piece of wood for
checking your crown and knuckle radius.
For your skirt, the difference between the maximum
and minimum inside diameter, should not be more
than 1%, and you can use a tape measure or laser
measure for dimensional control of the skirt.
So to fully understand, let's check the following
head together:

Head ID = 3364 mm
Head Type: Torispherical
Limit for Outside of specified Shape = 3364 x 1 ¼%
= 42.05 mm
Limit for Inside of specified Shape = 3364 x 5/8 % =
21.025 mm
So we check the depth, and the drawing is 656.3 mm
and the actual is 672 mm, so it is outside of the
shape. We need to check if it is in the range of
tolerance, so the maximum outside of the shape will
be 42.05 + 656.3 = 698.35 so our actual value is 672
mm. 672<698.35, so it is OK.
We cut a sweep board equal to the head drawing
crown radius (3400 mm) and other one for the
knuckle radius equal to 204 mm, so we try to fit the
sweep boards in the heads for the above example of
the sweep boards. The edge distance to the head
surface should not be deviate from the above limited
values.
Skirt max and min ID should not be more than 1% of
the ID, which is 33.64 mm. So, in the above example
skirt is also is OK. Our nominal thickness is 20 mm,
so up to 19.746 is acceptable then for the above
example. The thickness dimension is also OK.
So the above head dimensions are ok
Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Out of
Roundness of Shell:
UG-80 deals with out of roundness of shell. The
maximum permitted ovality tolerance (D max – D
min) shall not exceed 1% of the nominal diameter of
the vessel.
If you have an opening, then the tolerance can be
increased by 2% x d (d = diameter of opening), if the
measurement is taken within a distance of ‘d’ from
the axis of the opening.
The out of roundness generally is measured in two
directions with a normalmeasuring tape or laser
measure, so one direction would be the D max and
other one would be the D min.
The following picture shows an out of roundness
measurement:
Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Nozzles
and Attachments Orientation:
ASME Code SEC VIII Div 1 has not specified the
orientation tolerances for nozzles and attachments,
so you need refer to the pressure vessel handbook.
It is almost +/- 1 degree. The orientation check can
be done by a simple calculation by using
a measuring tape in the actual measurement work on
the vessel.
For example, we want to check N3 orientation in
following drawing.
N3 is located at 120 degrees in the drawing. The
manufacturer has located this point in the vessel with
a marker, and we want to check the location, and if it
isOK, then we can allow the manufacturer to cut.
So we run this simple calculation:
Vessel OD = 97.875”
Shell outside Circumference length = π x OD = 3.14 x
97.875 = 307.3275”
307.3275 distributed to 360 degrees so each degree
represents
307.3275/ 360 =0.8536”
N3 is located at the 120 degree position, so if we use
a measuring tape and keep 0 at the zero reference
point in the vessel and pull the tape, the nozzle
center should be located at 120 x 0.8536 = 102.4425
inches.
This 102.4425 is a perfect case so our tolerance is ±1
degrees. So if the tape shows in following range, it
will be OK.
102.4425 – 0.8536 =101.5889”
102.4425 + 0.8536 =103.2961”
Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Nozzles
and Attachments Projection:
Nozzle and attachment projection is the length from
the nozzle or the attachment face to the vessel shell
centerline.
Projection dimensions are addressed in general
assembly drawings. The projection tolerances are not
addressed in ASME Code SEC VIII Div 1, but if you
refer to the pressure vessel handbook, almost ± 0.25
of an inch is permissible.
In following figure, we need to check the BD nozzle
projection. It should be 660 mm in distance from
shell centerline to the flange face.

In practical measurement, you may use a measuring

tape to measure the distance between the shell
outside circumference to the nozzle face. Then the
measured value is summed with the shell thickness
and the inside radius. So for the above example, the
following range is acceptable:
660 – 6.35 = 653.65
660 + 6.35 =666.35
Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Nozzles
and Attachments Elevation:
Your Nozzles and attachments elevation is the length
between the nozzles or the attachments centerline
and the bottom or top head tangent line.
The elevation dimension is addressed directly in the
general assembly drawing. The elevation tolerances
are not addressed in ASME Code SEC VIII Div 1, but
if you refer to the pressure vessel handbook, almost
±0.25 inch is permissible.
In following figure, we need to check Nozzle EB
elevation. As you see in the drawing, the distance
between the nozzle centerline to the bottom head
tangent line is 700 mm.
In actual measurement, the measuring tape or laser
measure is used to measure from the nozzle neck
center line to the tangent line. In this example, the
following range is acceptable:
700 – 6.35 = 693.65
700 + 6.35 = 706.35
Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Nozzles
and Attachments Levelness:
The nozzles and attachments levelness tolerances are
not addressed in ASME Code SEC VIII Div 1, but in
the pressure vessel handbook, a ½ ˚ deflection is
permissible.
For levelness checking, a level gage is used. If the
bubble is in the middle of the designated lines, the
nozzle is level.
But if the bubble intersects the designated limit lines,
you need to run a simple calculation and see if your
deflection is within the tolerance limit.

You need to move one end of the level gage up to the

bubble to be placed in middle. Then measure the
distance between the level gage end and the flange
face. The measured value is the X in the figure.
Then obtain α, if α is less than 0.5˚, the deflection
falls within the tolerances. And it is OK otherwise it
will require cutting out and re-welding.
Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Weld
Mismatch:
ASME Code SEC VIII Div. 1 specified tolerances for
weld mismatch in UW-33. It is important to know that
the limit for weld mismatch is stringent for a category
A weld (Longitudinal joint and circumferential shell to
hemispherical head).
The concept behind this is that the longitudinal joint
bears double the amount of stress, and inspectors
should precisely check these joints.
For example, you have a pressure vessel with a
nominal thickness of 1 inch. You do a visual and
measure the mismatch by the welding gauge.
Assume you found a 0.143 inch mismatch in one
longitudinal and one circumferential joint.
So you look to the UW-33 table:
The permissible weld mismatch in the longitudinal
joint for your case is 0.125 of an inch, and for the
circumferential joint, it is 0.1875 of an inch.
Your weld mismatches for both longitudinal and
circumferential joints are 0.143, so your
circumferential joint is OK, but your longitudinal joint
should be repaired.
Pressure Vessel Dimension Inspection - Weld
Reinforcement:
The same concept for weld mismatch exists for weld
reinforcement tolerances. The longitudinal joint weld
reinforcement limit is more stringent than that for
circumferential joints.
This is because longitudinal joint bears double stress,
and it is required that the stress concentration is
minimized.

In the same example, assume that there are 0.150 of

an inch welds reinforcement for both category A and
B welds. Do you want to review your weld
acceptance?
Category A allowances = 0.093 inch
Category B allowances = 0.1875
So our circumferential joint is OK, but the longitudinal
is not OK and should be repaired by removing the
excess weld reinforcement.
Related Articles

Pressure Vessel Definition, ASME Code Section 8, Pressure Vessel Heads, Pressure Vessel
Handbook, Spherical Pressure Vessel, Pressure Vessel Plate Material, ASME Pressure Vessel Joint
Efficiencies, ASME Impact Test Requirement, Pressure Vessel RT Test, Vessel Pressure Testing, Third
Party Inspection for Pressure Vessel, Inspection and Test Plan for Pressure Vessel

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