Program Area

Pressure and Vacuum Systems Safety

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Pressure and Vacuum systems are used in many of the Laboratory's operations. Pressure systems at BNL generally fall into two SBMS Subject Areas: Compressed Gas Cylinders and Related Systems and; Pressure Safety. In addition to complying with national and local laws and requirements: compressed gas systems follow the recommendations of the Compressed Gas Association (CGA), the industries recognized authority for the safe storage, use, transportation of compress gas cylinders; and pressure systems are design and tested to codes and standards developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI or National Board). To aid staff in determining which set of requirements are applicable to a system, a Pressure System Requirement Flowchart; is provided. To support SMBS requirements, the following information is provided: Pressure Vessels and System Requirement Comparison between ASME and European Commission Pressure Equipment Directive; Pressure and Vacuum System Safety

Pressure Vessels provide definitions of what types of vessels are required to follow SBMS requirements and examples of vessels that may be exempt;

Comparison between ASME and European Commission Pressure Equipment Directive provides information and guidance for the use of vessels that have been build to the European Standard (CE- Marking);

Vacuum Systems provides guidance to design and use vacuum systems and defines which requirements may be exempted;

Stored Energy Calculations - Pressure Vessel (Gas filled) provides a tool to determine the potential stored energy of a gas filled pressure vessel and gives guidance on hazardous distances;

Pressure System Labeling lists the information required on pressure vessel labels and provides examples of an acceptable pressure vessel label;

Test and Operating Pressure Relationships provides guidance for system pressures and testing;

Design Criteria Checklist provides a designer aid for items to consider with regard to pressure and vacuum vessels;

Flexible Line Considerations provides guidance in the use of flexible lines in pressure systems.

Change of Service provides guidance for the safe removal from service (decommissioning) of a pressure vessel or system or the reinstating an out of service vessel/system into service/use.

Last Modified: October 2, 2008
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