STATIC AND MOBILE

PRESSURE VESSELS
RULES 1981
By
Denesu Babu A R (17MIS008)
Gopinath K (17MIS009)
 DEFINITION
Compressed Gas : means any permanent gas, liquefiable gas or gas
dissolved in liquid, or cryogenic liquid under pressure or gas mixture
which is in a closed pressure vessel. The maximum working
temperature -55 degree Celsius.

Critical temperature : means the temperature above which gas cannot

be liquefied by the application of pressure alone.

Cryogenic pressure vessel : means a pressure vessel intended for

storage or transportation of cryogenic liquid and includes cold
converters, vacuum insulated evaporators, vacuum insulated storage or
transport tanks and thermo syphon tanks

Flammable compressed gas : means 13% gas or less of which when

mixed with air forms a flammable mixture or whose flammable range
with air is greater than 12 %
 Cryogenic liquid : normal boiling point below minus 165 degree
Celsius.
Bottling Plant : premises where cylinders are filled with compressed
gas.

Design pressure : pressure used in the design calculations.

Pressure vessel : closed metal container for the storage and

transport of any compressed gas.

Safety relief device : means an automatic pressure relieving device

intended to prevent the rupture of a pressure vessel under certain
conditions of exposure.
Competent person & inspector : a professional organization or a
person recognized by the Chief Controller for carrying out tests,
examination, inspections and certification.
 4.RESTRICTION ON FILLING ,
MANUFACTURE AND
IMPORT
No person shall fill any compressed gas in any vessel-such
vessel has been manufactured according to standard or code .

No person should manufacture any vessel without the prior

approval of the Chief Controller.

No person shall import any vessel without prior approval of

the Chief Controller.
 5.RESTRICTION ON
DELIVERY AND DESPATCH

No person shall deliver on despatch to any person other than

the holder of a storage licence.

No compressed gas delivered or despatched shall exceed the

quantity.
 6.REPAIR TO PRESSURE
VESSELS

No person shall carry out any repairs to any vessel unless

their method of execution have been approved by the Chief
Controller.

Before any repairs vessel shall be completely emptied and

purged with an inert gas.

Complete record of repairs obtained for get permission from

the chief Controller.
 7.PURGING OF PRESSURE
VESSELS USED FOR
FLAMMABLE GASES

Before using any new vessel or refilling vessel, it has to be

made gas-free.

If the vessel is purged by flammable gas- shall be vented from

the vessel to prevent its ignition.
8.PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT
OF CHILDREN AND INTOXICATED
PERSONS

No person under the age of eighteen years should do loading

and unloading work.

Intoxication.
 9.PROHIBITION OF
SMOKING, FIRES, LIGHTS,
ETC.

No person shall smoke inside the working area.

No matches, fires, lights shall allowed.

 9.A. SUPERVISION AND
OPERATION WITHIN THE
LICENCED PREMISES

Trained persons only allowed in handling the compressed gas

and hazards associated with the compressed gas and fire
fighting operation.
 10. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS
AGAINST ACCIDENTS

No person shall commit or to cause a fire or explosion in any

place.

All empty vessels which had contained, any flammable or

toxic gases, shall be cleaned.

Observe all precautions for the prevention of accident by fire

or explosion.
 11. PROCEDURE FOR
PAYMENT OF FEES

paid through demand draft (greater than Rs 100) nationalized bank

in favour of the Chief Controller of Explosives.

cash, money order, postal order, cheque drawn on a local bank

(less than Rs.100)
 11.A. PROCEDURE FOR GRANT AND
REVOCATION OF RECOGNITION
TO COMPETENT PERSON AND
INSPECTOR

scrutiny fee of Rs.500 for application for competent Person

Rs.1000 for application for Inspector
The Chief Controller shall register application within sixty
days of the date of receipt of the application
 CHAPTER II
CONSTRUCTION AND FITMENTS OF
PRESSURE VESSELS
 12. DESIGN CODE

Vessels shall be designed, constructed, tested according to the

Indian Standard 2825 or such other standard or code
approved by the Chief Controller.

A test and inspection certificate issued by the manufacturer.

 13. DESIGN PRESSURE

The design pressure of a vessel shall not be less than

(condition 55 degree Celsius)
a) The vapour pressure of the gas.
b) The developed pressure of the gas.
c) The maximum allowable service.
pressure with additional allowances.
 14. DESIGN OF VESSELS
FOR GASES AT LOW
TEMPERATURE
Refrigerated vessels : designed in accordance with low temperature
requirements.

Insulated vessels : The entire insulation shall be covered with a metal

jacket of a thickness not less than 3 mm.

Cryogenic pressure vessel : temperature of the cryogenic pressure

vessel shall not be warmer than the normal boiling point of the
cryogenic liquid.
 15. FILLING CAPACITY AND
FILLING PRESSURE

The Maximum quantity of liquefiable gas filled limited.

Couldnt exceeds its design pressure.

An overflow pipe shall be provided at the maximum usable

capacity level.
 16. MARKINGS ON
PRESSURE VESSELS
A metal plate permanently fixed to it showing
Manufacturers name and identification marks
The standard or code
Official stamp of the Inspector
Design pressure in Kg/Cm
Date of initial hydrostatic test and the subsequent test
Hydrostatic test pressure in Kg/Cm2
Water capacity in litres
Gas capacity, if filled with liquefiable gas
Name or chemical symbol of the gas
 17. PAINTING OF
VESSELS

Adequately painted to prevent corrosion

Reflecting surface
 18. FITTINGS

General

Pressure relief

Shut-off and emergency shut-off valves

Liquid level gauging device

Pressure gauge
 General
* Pressure relief valve & Pressure gauge connected to the
vapour space shall not have more than one pipe connection to the bottom.

Pressure relief
* two or more relief valves spring loaded start-to-discharge at
110 percentage of the design pressure
* tested not less than once in a year.

Liquid level gauging device

* to determine amount of liquid in the vessel at any time

Shut-off and emergency shut-off valves

* pop up
* emergency purpose
 Pressure gauge
* at least one pressure gauge
 PERIODIC TESTING OF
PRESSURE VESSELS IN
SERVICE

All vessels shall be

1) Hydrostatically tested for an intervals of not
more than five years after the date of first test.
2) If cant hydraulic testing then go for
pneumatic testing along with non-destructive tests.
 PRECAUTIONS TO BE
OBSERVED IN CARRYING
OUT HYDRAULIC TEST

Before the test is carried out, each pressure vessel shall be

thoroughly cleaned and examined.

As soon as the test is completed, the vessel shall be

thoroughly dried internally - clearly stamped with the marks.
any vessel which fails to pass the hydraulic test shall be
destroyed.
 ABOVE
GROUNDED
PRESSURE
VESSEL
 ABOVE GROUNDED
PRESSURE VESSEL

Vessels should be installed above the ground

Vessels should be located in open
They shouldnt be installed one over another
Longitudinal axis of vessels should be parallel to each
other
No vessel should be located in the vicinity of
flammable liquids or petroleum.
Sufficient space must provided between vessels for
permitting fire fighting
UNDERGROUND
PRESSURE
VESSEL
 UNDERGROUND
PRESSURE VESSEL

Concrete pit must be constructed wit one meter wall

thickness
Vessels should be installed on firm foundation & secured to
prevent floatation
Should be covered by earth to withstand external pressure
due to earth cover
a) Anticorrosive coating should be made on the vessel

b) Vessel must be covered by non corrosive material or

abrasion free particles likely to damage the coating
LOCATION OF PRESSURE
VESSEL
 Foundation for pressure vessels

Design, materials ,principles ,construction should comply with

the standards & approved specifications
Ground conditions should be studied to avoid the risk of
floatation, allowable bearing pressure & possible deterioration of
original conditions
Materials should be selected on the basis of ground conditions

Fencing

Vessels should be covered by industrial type of fence at least 2

meter height along a perimeter of safety zone.
 Cleanliness
An area of three metres around the vessel shall be kept free from
readily ignitable materials, such as weeds and long dry grass.
Earthing
Vessels and pipelines should be connected with earth in an
efficient manner.
No smoking
Smoking must be strictly prohibited in the area where flammable
or oxidising gases are stored and the notice shall be visible from
outside.
Fire protection
Provisions should be made for the adequate supply of water in the
storage area for fire protection
Easy access of fire fighting equipment.
Atleast two dry powder type of fire extinguishers should be made
available
 Classification of hazardous area

Identification Nature of the area

Division 0 area Inflammable gas or vapors continuously
present
Division 1 area Inflammable gas or vapors continuously
present under normal operating conditions
Division 2 area Inflammable gas or vapors continuously
present under abnormal conditions or failure of
an equipment
CHAPTER-4 TRANSPORT
 Vehicles for transport of compressed gas
Vehicles used should be approved by the Chief Controller,
Explosives Officer.

Design

Vehicles should be constructed and tested as per the rules

Design stress enable the vehicle to withstand the shocks
encountered by movements on roads.
Mounting of vessels on the chassis should be in a manner to keep
vibration minimum
Attachments to the vessel must be protected
Designed to withstand combined stress i.e. gas pressure, pumping
pressure and shock loading
Protection of valves & accessories
All valves should be safeguarded against accidental
damages
Valves should be located at the rear of the vehicle
Mounting of valves should minimise the accidental risk

Equipment
Piping's, fittings, pumps & meters
Permanently mounted on the vehicle
Maximum design pressure should be employed
Ductile materials should be used
Adequately protected to prevent accident
Clearly marked to prevent incorrect operation
 Vehicle design considerations
Proper fitting of vessel to the chassis
Engine, exhaust system, electrical generators, motors,
switch gears shall be screened from vehicle body or
vessel by a fire resisting shield
Fuel tank should be protected from blows
Tires should be of anti static type
Space between cab of vehicle and front of vessel
should be minimum 15cm.
The rear of the vessel shall be protected by a
robust steel bumper
Marking on vehicles
Vehicles should be marked to show the product they
are carrying
 CHAPTER 5 ACCIDENTS &
INVESTIGATION
Notice of accident:
Accident particulars should be sent to the Chief controller within
24 hours
Nearby police station should be informed about the accident

Investigation:
The Chief controller has the power to investigate the accident and
inquire the evidences.
In absence of the chief controller, the district magistrate will
conduct the investigation
THANK YOU