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AS 2971—2007

Australian Standard®

Serially produced pressure vessels

AS 2971—2007
 This Australian Standard® was prepared by Committee ME-001, Pressure Equipment. It was
approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 26 April 2007.
This Standard was published on 12 July 2007.

The following are represented on Committee ME-001:

• ACT WorkCover
• Australasian Institute of Engineer Surveyors
• Australian Aluminium Council
• Australian Building Codes Board
• Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Australian Industry Group
• Australian Institute for the Certification of Inspection Personnel
• Australian Institute of Energy
• Australian Institute of Petroleum
• Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia
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• Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, WorkSafe Division, WA

• Department of Industrial Relations, Queensland
• Department of Justice, Workplace Standards Tasmania
• Department of the Premier and Cabinet, SafeWork SA
• Energy Networks Association
• Engineers Australia
• Insurance Council of Australia
• LPG Australia
• Materials Australia
• National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
• Pressure Equipment Association
• Victorian WorkCover Authority
• Welding Technology Institute of Australia
• WorkCover NSW

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 06252.

Standards Australia wishes to acknowledge the participation of the expert individuals that
contributed to the development of this Standard through their representation on the
Committee and through public comment period.

Keeping Standards up-to-date

Australian Standards® are living documents that reflect progress in science, technology and
systems. To maintain their currency, all Standards are periodically reviewed, and new editions
are published. Between editions, amendments may be issued.

Standards may also be withdrawn. It is important that readers assure themselves they are
using a current Standard, which should include any amendments that may have been
published since the Standard was published.

Detailed information about Australian Standards, drafts, amendments and new projects can
be found by visiting www.standards.org.au

Standards Australia welcomes suggestions for improvements, and encourages readers to

notify us immediately of any apparent inaccuracies or ambiguities. Contact us via email at
[email protected], or write to Standards Australia, GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2001.
 AS 2971—2007

Australian Standard®
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Serially produced pressure vessels

Originated as AS 2971—1987.
Previous edition 2002.
Third edition 2007.

COPYRIGHT
© Standards Australia
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written
permission of the publisher.
Published by Standards Australia GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 8273 6
 AS 2971—2007 2

PREFACE
This Standard was prepared by the Australian members of the Joint Standards
Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee ME-001, Pressure Equipment to supersede
AS 2971—2002, Serially produced pressure vessels. After consultation with stakeholders in
both countries, Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand decided to develop this
Standard as an Australian Standard rather than an Australian/New Zealand Standard.
This Standard covers a wide range of small, usually low-hazard, pressure vessels whose
design and construction are based on satisfactory burst and other performance tests of a
significant number of representative samples. The main types of vessels falling into this
group are small, serially produced refrigeration type vessels, air brake reservoirs, drink
dispensers, and consumer items such as pressurized fire extinguisher bodies not covered by
other Australian Standards, and beer kegs.
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Almost invariably these types of vessels do not comply with AS 1210, Pressure vessels,
which has been prepared primarily for one-off vessels where the design is based on proven
formulas, and construction is based on proven materials, fabrication procedures, personnel,
and tests which are predominantly non-destructive. AS 1210 does permit burst testing as a
basis for acceptance of design of parts or vessels, but only when they cannot be calculated.
Thus, there is a need to cover this alternative method of producing safe vessels where it is
frequently equally sound and more economic to use burst and other performance tests to
validate design, materials, and fabrication, all simultaneously.
The main changes in this revision include the following:
(a) Clause 1.1, Scope—The lower limit for the temperature range has been changed from
–20°C to –30°C, to better meet the needs of the refrigeration industry.
(b) Clause 1.5.1, Batch—The time period considered to constitute a ‘batch’ has been
widened from 5 days to 3 months, as the previous test regime was thought to be
unnecessarily onerous.
(c) Clause 1.5.14, Unfired pressure vessel—The definition of the pressure envelope has
been clarified in line with AS 1210—1997.
(d) Section 3, Performance requirements—The test requirements for designs using
‘suitably ductile’ materials have been substantially altered.
(e) Clause 5.2, Type testing—Allowance for testing of a ‘representative’ vessel or design
where there is a family of designs which varies only in length and connections.
(f) Table 5.1, Schedule for assessment of performance characteristics—The number of
vessels between tests for burst and fragmentation requirements has been increased
from 500 to 1000.
(g) Appendix D, Burst and fragmentation test—The known performance of materials
operating outside the range of 0 to 50°C is now taken into account in tests and design
strengths.
(h) Appendix I, Corrosion tests—The brass cracking test method has been replaced to
avoid the safety risks involved with the use of mercurous nitrate.
Statements expressed in mandatory terms in notes to tables are deemed to be requirements
of this Standard.
The terms ‘normative’ and ‘informative’ have been used in this Standard to define the
application of the appendix to which they apply. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part
of a Standard, whereas an ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.
 3 AS 2971—2007

CONTENTS

Page

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE ........................................................................................................................ 5
1.2 OBJECTIVE................................................................................................................ 5
1.3 APPLICATION ........................................................................................................... 5
1.4 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS .................................................................................. 6
1.5 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................ 6
1.6 CLASSIFICATION OF VESSELS.............................................................................. 7
1.7 DESIGNATION .......................................................................................................... 8
1.8 APPLICATION OF CLASSES AND TIERS OF VESSELS ....................................... 8
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SECTION 2 MATERIALS, DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE

2.1 MATERIALS ............................................................................................................ 10
2.2 DESIGN .................................................................................................................... 10
2.3 MANUFACTURE ..................................................................................................... 12
2.4 PROTECTIVE DEVICES AND FITTINGS.............................................................. 12
2.5 CORROSION PROTECTION ................................................................................... 12

SECTION 3 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

3.1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................ 13
3.2 RESISTANCE TO INTERNAL PRESSURE ............................................................ 13
3.3 RESISTANCE TO BURSTING AND FRAGMENTATION..................................... 13
3.4 RESISTANCE TO FATIGUE ................................................................................... 13
3.5 RESISTANCE TO DROPPING ................................................................................ 13
3.6 RESISTANCE TO PENETRATION ......................................................................... 13
3.7 RESISTANCE TO IMPACT ..................................................................................... 13
3.8 RESISTANCE TO TORQUE .................................................................................... 14
3.9 CLOSURE................................................................................................................. 14
3.10 RESISTANCE TO CORROSION ............................................................................. 14
3.11 PRESSURE RELIEF ................................................................................................. 14
3.12 MARKING PLATE ADHESION .............................................................................. 15
3.13 SURFACE QUALITY AND CONFORMANCE....................................................... 15
3.14 OTHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.................................................... 15
3.15 RETESTS AFTER FAILURE OF A PRODUCTION TEST...................................... 16

SECTION 4 MARKING AND INSTRUCTIONS

4.1 MARKING ................................................................................................................ 17
4.2 INSTRUCTIONS ...................................................................................................... 17

SECTION 5 ASSESSMENT OF DESIGN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS

OF THIS STANDARD
5.1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................ 18
5.2 TESTING .................................................................................................................. 18
5.3 WITNESSING OF TYPE TESTS.............................................................................. 18
5.4 REPORT OF TYPE TESTING .................................................................................. 18
5.5 MANUFACTURER’S DATA REPORT ................................................................... 18
5.6 AUDITING OF MANUFACTURER’S FACILITIES ............................................... 19
5.7 RETESTS .................................................................................................................. 19
 AS 2971—2007 4

APPENDICES
A INTEGRATED PRESSURE EQUIPMENT TEST STATIONS ................................ 23
B INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED BY THE CUSTOMER AND THE
MANUFACTURER .................................................................................................. 25
C PROOF PRESSURE TESTS ..................................................................................... 27
D BURST AND FRAGMENTATION TEST ................................................................ 28
E FATIGUE TEST........................................................................................................ 30
F DROP TEST.............................................................................................................. 31
G PENETRATION TEST.............................................................................................. 33
H IMPACT TEST.......................................................................................................... 35
I CORROSION TESTS................................................................................................ 37
J PRESSURE-RELIEF DEVICE TESTS ..................................................................... 39
K MARKING PLATE ADHESION TEST.................................................................... 41
L REFERENCED DOCUMENTS ................................................................................ 42
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COMMENTARY ..................................................................................................................... 43
 5 AS 2971—2007

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Serially produced pressure vessels

SECT ION 1 SCOPE AND GENERA L

1.1 SCOPE
This Standard specifies requirements for the materials, design, manufacture, inspection and
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testing of serially produced metallic or non-metallic or combination unfired pressure

vessels comprising:
(a) A maximum volume of 500 L.
(b) A design pressure exceeding 0.05 MPa.
(c) A product of the design pressure (in megapascals) and the total vapour space (in
litres) that is greater than 1 but less than 3000 MPa.L. Where the vessel contents are
classified as harmful or very harmful to AS 4343, the upper limit is 1500 MPa.L. This
Standard excludes contents classified as lethal.
NOTE: The vapour space is the maximum volume which will contain compressed gas or
vapour or liquefied gas or liquid above its atmospheric boiling point.
(d) A temperature range of –30°C to 150°C. Vessels designated outside the range of 0°C
to 50°C require special tests. Refer to Appendices D, F and G where applicable.
Such vessels may be refillable or non-refillable.
NOTE: Users of this Standard are reminded that it has no legal authority in its own right, but
may acquire legal standing if adopted by government or any other authority having jurisdiction,
or if specified as part of a commercial contract.

1.2 OBJECTIVE
This Standard is intended to —
(a) establish minimum requirements for the materials, design, manufacture, inspection
and testing for pressure vessels within the range of Clause 1.1; and
(b) provide a method of design based on destructive type testing and monitoring of
manufacture by performance testing of representative samples from production. This
method is an alternative to that given in AS 1210 to vessels within the range of
Clause 1.1.

1.3 APPLICATION
This Standard is not intended to apply to —
(a) pressure vessels covered by other Australian Standards, e.g. portable fire
extinguishers, LP Gas fuel vessels for automotive use and sterilizers;
(b) compressed gas cylinders covered by AS 2030 (series);
(c) glass and plastics bottles; or
(d) vacuum vessels (i.e. vessels that operate only below atmospheric pressure).

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