[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR61.10-5]
[Page 290-291]
TITLE 46--SHIPPING
CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
PART 61_PERIODIC TESTS AND INSPECTIONS--Table of Contents
Subpart 61.10_Tests and Inspections of Pressure Vessels
Sec. 61.10-5 Pressure vessels in service.
(a) Basic requirements. Each pressure vessel must be examined or
tested every 5 years. The extent of the test or examination should be
that necessary to determine that the pressure vessel's condition is
satisfactory and that the pressure vessel is fit for the service
intended.
(b) Internal and external tests and inspections. (1) Each pressure
vessel listed on the Certificate of Inspection must be thoroughly
examined externally every 5 years.
(2) In addition, each pressure vessel listed on the Certificate of
Inspection that is fitted with a manhole or other inspection opening so
it can be satisfactorily examined internally, must be opened for
internal examination every 5 years.
(3) No pressure vessel need be hydrostatically tested except when a
defect is found that, in the marine inspector's opinion, may affect the
safety of the pressure vessel. In this case, the pressure vessel should
be hydrostatically tested at a pressure of 1\1/2\ times the maximum
allowable working pressure.
(c) Special purpose vessels. (1) If your vessel's Certificate of
Inspection is renewed annually, the following must be examined under
operating conditions at each inspection for certification: all tubular
heat exchangers, hydraulic accumulators, and all pressure vessels used
in refrigeration service.
(2) If your vessel's Certificate of Inspection is renewed less often
than annually, the following must be examined under operating conditions
twice every 5 years: all tubular heat exchangers, hydraulic
accumulators, and all pressure vessels used in refrigeration service.
(3) No more than 3 years may elapse between any examination and its
immediate predecessor.
(d) Hydrostatic tests under pressure. Each pressure vessel, other
than one exempted by this section, must be subjected to a hydrostatic
test at a pressure of 1\1/4\ times the maximum allowable working
pressure twice within any five-year period, except that no more than
three years may elapse between any test and its immediate predecessor.
(e) Exemptions from hydrostatic tests. The following pressure
vessels will not normally be subjected to a hydrostatic test:
(1) Tubular heat exchangers.
(2) Pressure vessels used in refrigeration service.
(3) Hydraulic accumulators.
(4) Pressure vessels which have been satisfactorily examined
internally by a marine inspector and in which no defects have been found
which impair the safety of the pressure vessel.
(5) Pressure vessels which were initially pneumatically tested in
accordance with part 54 of this subchapter.
(6) Pressure vessels not stamped with the Coast Guard Symbol.
(f) Compressed gas or hazardous liquid pressure vessel tests. Cargo
tanks of pressure vessel configuration containing liquefied, compressed
gases or hazardous liquids must be inspected and tested as required by
the applicable regulations published in subchapter D or subchapter I of
this chapter.
(g) Bulk storage tanks. Each bulk storage tank containing
refrigerated liquefied CO2 for use aboard a vessel as a fire-
extinguishing agent shall be subjected to a hydrostatic test of 1\1/2\
times the maximum allowable working pressure in the tenth year of the
installation and at ten-year intervals thereafter. After the test, the
tank should be drained and an internal examination made. Parts of the
jacket and lagging on the underside of the tank designated by the marine
inspector must be removed at the time of the test so the marine
inspector may determine the external condition of the tank.
(h) Pneumatic tests. (1) Pressure vessels that were pneumatically
tested before being stamped with the Coast
[[Page 291]]
Guard Symbol must be examined internally twice every 5 years and
examined externally at each Inspection for Certification. No more than 3
years may elapse between any external examination and its immediate
predecessor.
(2) For tanks whose design precludes a thorough internal or external
examination, the thickness must be determined by a nondestructive method
acceptable to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
(3) If (due to the product carried) your vessel's inspection
intervals are prescribed in subchapter D (Tank Vessels), subchapter I
(Cargo and Miscellaneous Vessels), or subchapter I-A (Mobile Offshore
Drilling Units), you must comply with the pneumatic test regulations
there, instead of the ones in this section.
(i) Safety or relief valves on pressure vessels. (1) If your
vessel's Certificate of Inspection is renewed annually, the marine
inspector must check the settings of the safety or relief valves on all
pressure vessels, except cargo tanks, at each inspection for
certification.
(2) If your vessel's Certificate of Inspection is renewed less often
than annually, the marine inspector must check the settings of the
safety or relief valves on all pressure vessels, except cargo tanks,
twice every 5 years. No more than 3 years may elapse between any check
and its immediate predecessor.
(3) Cargo tank safety or relief valves must be checked at the
interval required in subchapter D (Tank Vessels) or subchapter I (Cargo
and Miscellaneous Vessels) of this chapter.
[CGFR 68-82, 33 FR 18890, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGFR 69-127, 35
FR 9980, June 17, 1970; CGD 73-251, 43 FR 56801, Dec. 4, 1978; CGD 77-
147, 47 FR 21811, May 20, 1982; CGD 86-033, 53 FR 36024, Sept. 16, 1988;
CGD 83-043, 60 FR 24782, May 10, 1995; CGD 95-028, 62 FR 51202, Sept.
30, 1997; USCG-1999-6216, 64 FR 53225, Oct. 1, 1999; USCG-1999-4976, 65
FR 6500, Feb. 9, 2000]