Hydrotest requirement for New Zealand 2

[SBlowers]

Peers,

Pressure vessel constructed in US designed to ASME VIII Div 1 which specifies Hydrotest pressure 1.3xMAWP, does the local regulations in NZ require the vessel to be re-hydrotested to 1.5xMAWP according to AS1210 for registration?

Thanks

 

[metengr]

Here is a tip, you need to contact the Jurisdiction where the pressure vessel is to be installed.

 

[gr2vessels]

Yes SBlowers, the hydrotest perssure must be as per AS 1210, if the vessel will be registered in NZ. However, the AS 1210 specifies the hydrotest pressure 1.5 x design pressure x multiplier for allowable stress at ambient temp. divided by allowable stress at design temperature. Also, the NZ regulations require the new hydrotest to be witnessed by the inspector, hence the best to test/retest the vessel in US at AS 1210 test pressure and have it certified by their inspector. Otherwise, you'll have to hire a shop, testing equipment, professional people for testing, inspector in NZ and you'll end up selling your house to pay for all this. Also, remember that you need to have the design reviewed and certified for compliance with AS 1210 by a third party design verifier (check the allowable stresses used in the design, the old AS 1210 is now more than 12 years behind, but the local legislation is still demanding those ancient figures, some of them are still including a safety factor of 4). Terrible....
cheers,
gr2vessels

 

[SBlowers]

thanks gr2vessels...
hmmm...AS1210 seems not been revised for more than a decade now! Is the 1997 the last edition and the original?

 

[gr2vessels]

Yes, the 1997 edition is the current one, but was issued, not written in 1997. It was pretty much looking like the ASME VIII ed. 1995, with most of the mods forced into the standard by the younger board members, otherwise it would have been a short version/copy of the ASME code.
Original..?? Let's not go there...And where is the new edition, claimed ready for issue 3 or 4 years ago...
Sorry...

Cheers,
gr2vessels

 

[dig1]

SBlowers,

gr2vessels has it correct. It has been a few years since I have done work in NZ, but I also remeber that seismic design requirements were fairly high and these need to be included.

I also remember that a hazard category needed to be assigned to the vessel and the level of inspection and design review was related to that category.

We had a small purchased vessel that was ASME Code stamped but the NZ Authorities did not recognize the AI (insurance company) so the hydrotest had to be re-done there and all the calculations, material certs, WPS/PQRs, etc had to be sent for their review.

Do your homework and get in touch with the locals. My experience is that they are very helpful.

btw. if you do any work in Australia similar requirements but there are variations between the states. I recently did vessels in NSW and Tas and there were differences in the requirements. So again, do you home work BEFORE you sign any contracts to build and make sure that the design satisfies the local requirments. I found WorkCover to be helpful during the process.