Pressure Vessels

Generally, a pressure vessel is a storage tank or vessel that has been designed to operate at pressures above 15 p.s.i.g. Recent inspections of pressure vessels have shown that there are a considerable number of cracked and damaged vessels in workplaces. Cracked and damaged vessels can result in leakage or rupture failures. Potential health and safety hazards of leaking vessels include poisonings, suffocations, fires, and explosion hazards. Rupture failures can be much more catastrophic and can cause considerable damage to life and property. The safe design, installation, operation, and maintenance of pressure vessels in accordance with the appropriate codes and standards are essential to worker safety and health.

Pressure vessel hazards are addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, and the construction industry.

Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards and national consensus standards related to pressure vessels.

OSHA

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials [related topic page]

1910.101, Compressed gases (general requirements)
1910.102, Acetylene
1910.103, Hydrogen
1910.104, Oxygen
1910.105, Nitrous oxide
1910.106, Flammable liquids
1910.107, Spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials [related topic page]
1910.110, Storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gases
1910.111, Storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia [related topic page]

1910 Subpart M, Compressed gas and compressed air equipment [related topic page]

1910.169, Air receivers

1910 Subpart O, Machinery and machine guarding [related topic page]

1910.217, Mechanical power presses

1910 Subpart R, Special industries

1910.261, Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills [related topic page]
1910.262, Textiles [related topic page]
1910.263, Bakery equipment

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

1915 Subpart K, Portable, unfired pressure vessels, drums and containers, other than ship's equipment

1915.172, Portable air receivers and other unfired pressure vessels
1915.173, Drums and containers

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

1910 Subpart C, General safety and health provisions

1926.29, Acceptable certifications

1926 Subpart F, Fire protection and prevention

1926.152, Flammable liquids
1926.153, Liquefied petroleum gas (LP-Gas)

1926 Subpart I, Tools - hand and power

1926.306, Air receivers

1926 Subpart O, Motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, and marine options

1926.603, Pile driving equipment

National Consensus

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection, and may be referenced by OSHA inspectors for informational purposes.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

2004 Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

American Petroleum Institute (API)

510, Pressure Vessel Inspection Code: Maintenance Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration. 9th ed. (2006, June 1).
572, Inspection of Pressure Vessels. (2009, November).
910, Digest of State Boiler, Pressure Vessel, Piping & Aboveground Storage Tank Rules and Regulations. 8th ed. (1997, November 1).
620, Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks. 11th ed. (2008, February 1).
941, Steels for Hydrogen Service at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures in Petroleum Refineries and Petrochemical Plants. 6th ed. (2004, February).
945, Avoiding Environmental Cracking in Amine Units. 3rd ed. (2003, June).

Hazard Recognition

The following references provide information to help with the recognition and control of pressure vessel hazards.

Recognition

OSHA Technical Manual (OTM). OSHA Directive TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A], (1999, January 20).
- Pressure Vessel Guidelines. Provides technical information on pressure vessel types, cracking experience, examination methods, and safety assessments.
Guidelines for Pressure Vessel Safety. OSHA Directive STD 01-10-001 [PUB 8-1.5], (1989, August 14). Presents a technical overview and information on metallic pressure containment vessels and tanks. Also provides information on design codes, construction materials, fabrication processes, inspection, and testing applicable to these vessels and tanks.
"Pressure." Volume II: Health & Safety -- Controls and Hazards; Environmental Safety and Health Manual. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
Potential Over Pressurization of Bromochlorodimethylhydantoin (BCDMH) Treatment Systems. OSHA Health Information Bulletin (HIB), (1994, August 30). Describes how these systems experienced an unexpected and rapid evolution of gases causing the feed system to over-pressurize and rupture.
Potential for Feed Water Pipes in Electrical Power Generation Facilities to Rupture Causing Hazardous Release of Steam and Hot Water. OSHA Health Information Bulletin (HIB), (1996, October 31). Describes how feed water pipe failures were attributed to wall thinning as a result of single-phase erosion/corrosion, leading to rupture of the pipes under high working pressures.

Evaluation

"Pressure Testing." Volume II: Health & Safety -- Controls and Hazards; Environmental Safety and Health Manual. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

Control

"Pressure Vessel and System Design." Volume II: Health & Safety -- Controls and Hazards; Environmental Safety and Health Manual. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

Training

Web-based Training Courses . Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).
- High Pressure Safety. Includes modules on pumps and compressors, hydrogen safety, and fittings and equipment.
- Pressure Consultation

Other Resources