On March 4, 2005, Employee #1 (leadman) performed a hydrostatic pressure test on a large stainless steel pressure vessel at a plant manufacturing pressure vessels. The tank was cylindrical, about 14 in. diameter and 24 in. long. The tank was pressurized to 150 number for the test. Upon completing the test, he was draining the…...
Vessel Pressure Testing Fatality (Hydrostatic and Pneumatic) Read More »
ASME B31.9 requires that utility piping be leak tested BEFORE initial operation. Hydrostatic testing shall be employed when possible. Pneumatic testing may be used instead of hydrostatic testing only under the limitations provided in para. 937.4…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
ASME B31.9 Utility Piping Pressure/Leak Testing Read More »
ASME B31.9 covers “utility piping.” The Code DEFINES and QUANTIFIES the phrase “utility piping.” We use this code for utilities associated with our PSM/RMP-covered processes WHEN the utility either PREVENTS, PROTECTS, or MITIGATES an event. Specifically, the code applies to the following services, except as excluded in para. 900.1.3:… Membership Required You must be a...
ASME B31.9 Utility Piping Scope Read More »
We have discussed all the requirements for transferring flammable liquids and gases (i.e., NFPA Flammable “4”); however, I have not mentioned the requirements for transferring TOXIC and HIGHLY TOXIC LIQUIDS that have an NFPA 704 Health Rating of 3 or 4. We see these issues in our Chlorine work where Cl2 is a “utility” to…...
Transferring liquids having a hazard ranking of 3 or 4 per NFPA 704 Read More »
The question was asked… If the underground piping is protected by a cathodic protection system, does this system need to be turned OFF and Locked Out before workers begin working on the pipe?… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Cathodic Protection on Piping and Line Breaking Read More »
On May 3, 2006, Employee #1 was in a trench (approximately 37″ deep and 44 to 46″ wide), digging dirt from around a 10″ diameter PVC water pipeline to locate a water leak. The pipeline was pressurized to approximately 125-130 psi with compressed air…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View...
The power and hazards of pneumatic pressure testing (PVC water pipe) Read More »
We have discussed these safety-critical valves extensively here at SAFTENG. I am a huge proponent of these valves, and they are required by most State Fire Codes and RAGAGEPs. Yet, we still find far too many processes handling Highly Hazardous Chemicals/Extremely Hazardous Chemicals that are missing this critical safety feature. As we have also discussed,…...
Inspection and Maintenance of Remote Emergency Shutoff Valves Read More »
Most of us have seen a gate valve installed in piping, and 99% of the time, we want to see the valve handle in the VERTICAL-UPWARD position. However, when we need to install an “intervening valve” in the relief path, which ASME allows, we may/should see the valve handle(s) in the Horizontal or below Horizontal…...
Gate Valves and their installation in “relief path” Read More »
In my time in petro chem I had two releases (Cl2 and Br) that were caused when the handle of a 1/4-turn ball valve (bleed) was accidentally OPENED (one by a utility hose and one by a pant’s leg). Here is another example from The European Process Safety Centre (EPSC) What Happened:During scaffolding maintenance work,…...
Inadvertently Opened Valve (EPSC Learning Sheet April 2025) Read More »
ASME has allowed dual PRD systems ever since I started in process safety back in 1993. These systems usually have a Rupture Disc (RD) BEFORE the Pressure Safety Valve (PSV). This is usually done to protect the more expensive and more complicated PSV from the corrosive process gases. Although I never managed a PR system…...
ASME’s NEW Section XIII – Dual PRD Systems Read More »
For decades, we used Appendix M-5 in Section VIII as our design basis for having intervening/stop valves before and/or after a Pressure Relief Device (PRD). But in 2021 (amid the global pandemic), ASME published its new Section XIII, Rules for Overpressure Protection. We now use Appendix B of this new ASME section when we have a design…...
I was always taught the “bubble test” method had a climate limitation regarding cold ambient temperatures. As we have discussed, ASME B31.3 refers us to ASME Section V for the Bubble Test method for leak testing. It is there we can find the “surface temperature” limitations… (emphasis is by me)… Membership Required You must be...
