External Visual Inspections of Pressure Vessels
Ladders, Stairways, Platforms, and Walkways
The external inspection of pressure vessels and exchangers should start with ladders, stairways,
platforms, or walkways connected to or bearing on the vessel
Anchor Bolts
The vessel saddle part connected with anchor bolt/nut with the vessel concrete bed. The condition of
anchor bolts determined by visual inspection, the area of contact between the bolts and any concrete or
steel should be scraped and closely examined for corrosion. Mostly carbon steel bolts and nuts found
crevice corrosion and also to be check MIC if there are any stagnant liquids on the bed. Suspected bolts
and nuts can be check with Ultrasonic Testing.
Concrete Supports
The opening between concrete supports and a vessel shell or head should be sealed to prevent water
from seeping between the supports and the vessel. A visual inspection with some picking and scraping
should disclose the condition of the seal. General found thins cracks and exposed reinforcement bars
corrosion would leads to mis settlement of the vessel.
Guy Wires
The cable should be inspected for corrosion and broken strands. The threaded parts of any turnbuckles
are subject to crevice corrosion. Picking with a pointed scraper will disclose this corrosion. The wire rope
clips on the guy wire cable at the tower and at the ground anchor point should be checked for correct
installation. The clips should be attached to the cable with the base against the live or long end and the
U-bolt against the dead or short end of the wire rope.
Nozzles
Nozzles should be inspected for distortion and cracking. Excessive pipeline expansions, internal
explosions, earthquakes, and fires may also damage piping connections. Flange faces may be checked
with a flange square for distortion. If there is any evidence of distortion or cracks in the area around the
nozzles shall be check alignments. The nozzle flange face should check for deteriorations in the gasket
seating surfaces with reference ASME PCC-1 Pressure boundary flanged joints acceptance criteria.
Grounding Connections
Grounding connections should be visually examined to verify that good electrical contact is maintained.
Coating
The condition of the protective coating or insulation on a vessel shell should be determined. Rust spots,
blisters, and film lifting are the types of paint failures usually found. Rust spots and blisters are easily
found by visual examination.
Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)
Inspection for CUI shall be considered for externally insulated vessels and those that are in intermittent
service or operate at temperatures between:
a) 10 °F (–12 °C) and 350 °F (177 °C) for carbon and low alloy steels,
b) 140 °F (60 °C) and 350 °F (177 °C) for austenitic stainless steels,
c) 280 °F (138 °C) and 350 °F (177 °C) for duplex stainless steels.
Manway and Davit
Manway flange bolt condition, signs of process leaks, mechanical damages, davit arm hanging eye bolt
condition, corrosion, cracks and expected coating damages
Lever Transmitter and Level gauges
To be check the level gauge glass indicator glass conditions if any damages and signs of leaks, level
transmitter flange joints distortions and sign of leaks, tubing conditions to verify for damages.
Name Plate
To verify the name plate location as per the general drawing its intact. And the clear visibility of data of
name plate such as ASME code mark, national board code, pressure vessel construction identifier,
radiography examination identifiers, post weld heat treatment identifier, pressure vessel maximum
allowable working pressure and pressure vessel design temperature ranges.
Lifting Lugs
To verify the lifting lugs are free from mechanical damages, corrosion and cracks.
