airtightness or watertightness?

[vivaword]

I'm a technical translator and am currently translating a document a pressure test procedure for pressure vessels and piping in a Vapour Recovery Unit. I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to tell me whether these tests involve checking for WATERTIGHTNESS or AIRTIGHTNESS of equipment and piping. The Spanish text uses the term "estanqueidad", which can mean either.

Many thanks in advance.

Ana

 

[deanc]

Both are correct. ASME SecVIII calls for Hydrostatic testing per UG-99 or Pneumatic per UG-100. Both are for leak tightness.

 

[aybee]

Both tests accomplish the same thing but the air test is carried out to a more stringent test procedure due to the inherant danger in pressurising a vessel with air....so they are not interchangeble from that point of view..

 

[vivaword]

Many thanks to you both for your help. The information you provided was very useful.

Ana

 

[Scipio]

One way to find out, is there a pressure factor included with that phrase? Pressure tests utilizing water are typically done at much higher pressures than pneumatic. Depending on the code you're looking at, hydrostatic tests can be done at upwards of 1.5 times the vessel design pressure, pneumatic tests typically are performed at a maximum of 1.1 times design pressure or maximum allowable pressure.