Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels
(Unfired) Rules, 2016
• “Pressure vessel” means any closed metal container of whatever
shape, intended for the storage and transport of any compressed gas
which is subjected to internal pressure and whose water capacity
exceeds one thousand liters and includes inter connecting parts and
components thereof upto the first point of connection to the
connected piping and fittings, but does not include containers
wherein steam or other vapour is or is intended to be generated or
water or other liquid is or is intended to be heated by the application
of fire or the products of combustion or by electrical means, heat
exchangers, evaporators, air receivers, steam type digestors, steam
type sterilizers, autoclaves, reactors, calorifiers, pressure piping
components such as separators or strainers and vessels containing a
liquid under a blanket of compressed inert gas;
• “Compressed Gas” means any permanent gas, liquefiable gas, or
cryogenic liquid under pressure or gas mixture which in a closed
pressure vessel exercises a pressure exceeding one atmosphere
(gauge) at the maximum working temperature.
• “NDT” means Non Destructive Testing methods like Dye Penetration
Inspection, Magnetic Particle Inspection, Ultrasonic thickness checks,
Ultrasonic Flaw Detection, Radiography and other relevant Inspection
procedures carried out to detect the defects in the welds and parent
metal of the pressure vessel;
• 4. Restriction on filling, manufacture and import of pressure vessels
including fittings and vaporizer.
— (1) No person shall fill any compressed gas in any vessel or transport any
vessel filled with any compressed gas unless such vessel has been
manufactured in accordance with a type or standard or code as specified under
rule 13 and fitted with fittings approved by the Chief Controller.
(2) No person shall manufacture any vessel and fitting thereof, under sub-rule
(1) including vaporizer without the prior approval of the Chief Controller.
• 5. Restriction on delivery and dispatch.
—(1) No person shall deliver or dispatch any compressed gas filled in a vessel
to any person other than the holder of a storage licence issued under these
rules or to a port authority or a railway administration.
(2) No compressed gas delivered or dispatched under sub-rule (1) shall exceed
the quantity under the license held by him
• Purging of pressure vessels used for flammable gases.
-(1) Before using any new vessel or before the refilling of any existing
vessel which has been made gas-free, air contained therein shall be
purged by an inert gas or by the gas for which the vessel is to be used.
(2) If the vessel is purged by means of a flammable gas, the
flammable mixture so formed shall be vented from the vessel only after
taking adequate precautions to prevent its ignition
Prohibition of employment of children and intoxicated persons
—No person under the age of eighteen years or who is in a state of
intoxication shall be employed for the loading, unloading or transport
of any vessel containing compressed gas, or in any premises licensed
under these rules.
Supervision and Operation within the licensed premises.
—The operation of the licensed premises shall be under the
supervision of persons having knowledge of the equipment's being used
in the premise and who are trained in handling the compressed gas,
and other operators shall be conversant with the hazards associated
with the compressed gas and fire fighting operation.
• Special precautions against accidents.—
• (1) No person shall smoke, or bring any matches, fire or articles capable of
causing ignition or commit or attempt to commit any act which may tend to
cause a fire or explosion in or about any place where any compressed gas is
stored, handled or transported in a vessel.
• (2) All empty vessels which had contained, any flammable or toxic gases,
shall, except when they are opened for the purpose of filling or cleaning, or
for rendering them gas-free, but kept securely closed until they have been
cleaned or freed of the gas, as the case may be.
• (3) Every person storing compressed gas in a vessel and every person in
charge of, or engaged in the storage, handling and transport of such gas in
vessels, shall at all times—
• (i) comply with the provisions of these rules and the conditions of any licence issued
there under;
• (ii) observe all precautions for the prevention of accident by fire or explosion; and
• (iii) prevent any person from committing any act referred in sub-rule (1)
• Design code.—
• (1) Vessels shall be designed, constructed and tested in accordance
with IS 2825; ASME Section VIII Division 1 or Division 2, PD5500, EN
13458, EN 13530, AD:2000 code as amended from time to time, or
such other standard or code accepted by the Chief Controller.
• (2) A test and inspection certificate issued by the Inspector and
countersigned by the approved fabricator in the prescribed proforma
that the vessel meets with the requirements of the standard or code
referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be furnished to the Chief Controller or
Controller authorised by the Chief Controller.
• Markings and Painting of pressure vessels.
• —(a) Every vessel shall have a metal plate permanently fixed to it showing the
following particulars which shall be visible from the ground level, namely:-
• (i) manufacturer’s name,
• (ii) Chief Controller’s approval number;
• (iii) vessel identification number as per the inspection certificate issued under
rule 13(2);
• (iv) the standard or code to which the vessel is constructed;
• (v) official stamp of the Inspector;
• (vi) design pressure in Kg/Cm2
• (vii) date of initial hydrostatic test and the subsequent test;
• (viii) hydrostatic test pressure in Kg/Cm2
• (ix) water capacity in liters;
• (x) gas capacity, if filled with liquefiable gas; and
• (xi) name or chemical symbol of the gas for which the vessel is to be used;
• (xii) design temperature in 0C.
• Periodic testing of pressure vessels in service.
• —(1) (a) Except specifically otherwise provided in this rule, all vessels
shall be hydraulically tested by a competent person at a pressure
marked on the vessel at intervals of not more than five years after
the date of first test, provided that in the case of vessels, containing
corrosive or toxic gases, the periodic test shall be done at an interval
of two years. Internal inspection along with residual thickness
measurement shall be carried out during the periodic testing.
• (b) Vessels of more than 100 KL water capacity meant for flammable,
corrosive and toxic gases shall also be subjected to Non Destructive
Test for weld inspection in addition to hydraulic test referred in
clause
• Location of pressure vessels.
• —(1) Each vessel shall be located with respect to the nearest building or group of
buildings or line of adjoining property which may be built on and with respect to other
vessels and facilities in accordance with the distances specified in the Tables below:-
• Earthing.
• —(1) All vessels used for storage of flammable compressed gases
shall be electrically connected with the earth in an efficient manner.
• (2) Pipelines conveying flammable liquids shall be adequately
prepared for electrical continuity and connected with the earth in an
efficient manner.
Fittings
Each vessels shall be provided with each of the following fittings all of
which should be suitable for use with the gas at pressures not less than
the design pressure of the vessel to which they are fitted and for
temperature appropriate to the characteristics of the gas and
operating conditions namely
• Pressure relief valve connected to the vapour space;
• Drains;
• maximum level indicator;
• Pressure gauge connected to the vapour space;
• Means of measuring the temperature of the contents of the vessel.
Pressure relief
• Every shall be provided with two or more pressure relieving devices
• The relief valves shall be spring loaded and shall be set-to-discharge and reach
full flow conditions Weight loaded relief valves shall not be permitted;
• Safety relief valves on any vessel shall be set to start-to-discharge at a pressure
not in excess of 110 percent of the design pressure of the vessel and shall have a
total relieving capacity sufficient to prevent the maximum pressure in the vessel
of more than 120 percent of the design pressure.
• Safety relief valves shall have direct communications with the vapour space of
the vessel;
• Relief valves shall be tested by a competent person for correct operation not
less than once in a year and a record of such test shall be maintained the test
certificate
Fencing
• The area where vessels pumping equipment loading and unloading
facilities are provided shall be enclosed by an industrial type fence at
least 2 metres high along the perimeter of the safety zone.
• Every fence shall have at least two means of exit and the gates of such
exits shall open outwards and shall not be self-locking.
• An area of three metres around the vessel shall be kept free from readily
ignitable materials such as weeds and long dry grass.
• Pipelines conveying flammable liquids shall be adequately prepared for
electrical continuity and connected with the earth in an efficient
manner. All vessels used for storage of flammable liquefiable gases shall
be electrically connected with the earth in an efficient manner
Design Pressure
The design pressure of vessel shall not be less than: -
a. The vapour pressure of the gas in the vessel at 55d c if the vessel is
meant for the storage of liquefiable gases :
b. The developed pressure of the gas in the vessel at 55dc if the vessel
is meant for the storage of a permanent gas.
