Document checklist: Buried pressure vessels design registration
Required documentation
- Design data: ASME code specification, material specifications, pressure ratings, temperature ratings and type of service.
- Drawings: showing dimensions, construction and welding details of the proposed vessel design.
- Calculations: for ASME code.
Applicant must select one of the following methods to satisfy the additional registration requirements for a buried pressure vessel design, and include the additional identified technical content with their application for registration.
Specific installation – determined external loads
- An installation design, signed and sealed by a professional engineer, and that identifies the maximum external load imposed upon the vessel under all foreseeable circumstances, including:
- Weight of the materials surrounding the vessel.
- Loads from nearby structures.
- Loads from vehicle traffic above the vessel.
- Pressure vessel calculations demonstrating that the pressure vessel can withstand the maximum external load identified above (in point ‘1’) while there is a vacuum condition within the vessel.
Note:
Vessels registered for specific installations will have notes added to the registration letter that identifies the following:
- Installation design to which the registration is limited; and
- maximum permissible external loading.
Generic installation – assumed external loads
Applicant must supply the following additional technical content with the vessel design.
- A manufacturer’s installation procedure that is supplied to the installer/owner, identifying:
- the maximum permissible external load that the vessel has been designed to withstand;
- the recommended installation configuration from which the design assumption for maximum permissible external loading has been derived.
An installation configuration may include:
- Maximum depth to which the pressure vessel is buried.
- Material types and properties that may surround the vessel.
- Layer thicknesses of materials that may be installed above or around the vessel.
- Any limitations for vehicles or weights that may be applied from above ground.
- Installation calculations, signed and sealed by a professional engineer, demonstrating that the installation configuration identified in the manufacturer’s installation procedure results with the identified maximum permissible external load.
- Pressure vessel calculations demonstrating that the pressure vessel can withstand the maximum external load identified above (in point ‘2’) while there is a vacuum condition within the vessel.
Note:
- Technical Safety BC recommends that a statement similar to the following be included within the manufacturer’s installation procedure:
The vessel is designed for a maximum permissible external load of X. The installation must ensure that, under all foreseeable circumstances, the external loading applied to the vessel will not exceed X.
- Vessels registered for generic installations will have notes added to the registration letter that identifies the:
• Manufacturer’s installation procedure to be followed by the owner/installer.
• Maximum permissible external loading.
- Other governments or agencies may also have requirements that the applicant will need to address prior to their installation or operation of a buried pressure vessel. An acceptance from Technical Safety BC should not be mistaken as an approval for use by any other organization.
- Technical Safety BC recommends that installers/owners of buried pressure vessels may contact their local municipalities and fire departments.