RULES PRECRIBED UNDER SUB-SECTION (3) OF SECTION 31:-

56. Pressure Vessels or Plant

(1) Every pressure vessel or plant used in a factory –

(a) shall be properly designed on sound engineering practice;

(b) shall be of good construction, sound material, adequate strength and free from
any patent defects; and
(c) shall be properly maintained in a safe condition:

Provided that the pressure vessel or plant in respect of the design and construction of
which there is an Indian standard or a standard of the country of manufacture or any
other law or regulation in force, shall be designed and constructed in accordance with
the said standard, law or regulation, as the case may be, and a certificate thereof shall
be obtained from the manufacturer or from the competent person which shall be kept
and produced on demand by an Inspector.

(2) Every pressure shall be fitted with -

a) a suitable safety valve or other effective pressure relieving device of adequate

capacity to ensure that the maximum permissible working pressure and when
more than one protective device is provided, only one of the devices need be
set to operate at the maximum permissible working pressure and the
additional device shall be set to discharge at a pressure not more than 5 per
cent in excess of the maximum permissible working pressure;
b) a suitable pressure gauge with a dial range not less than 1.5 times the
maximum permissible working pressure, easily visible and designed to show at
all times the correct internal pressure and marked with a prominent red mark at
the maximum permissible working pressure of the pressure vessel;
c) a suitable nipple and globe valve connected for the exclusive purpose of
attaching a test pressure gauge for checking the accuracy of the pressure
gauge referred to in clause (b) of this sub-rule;
d) a suitable stop valve or valve by which the pressure vessel may be isolated
from other pressure vessels or plant or source of supply of pressure. Such a
stop valve or valves shall be located as close to the pressure vessel as
possible and shall be easily accessible; and
e) a suitable drain cock or valve at the lowest part of the pressure vessel for the
discharge of the liquid or other substances that may collect in the pressure
vessel:

Provided that it shall be sufficient for the purpose of this sub-rule if the safety valve or
pressure relieving device, the pressure gauge and the stop valve are mounted on a
pipeline immediately adjacent to the pressure vessel and where there is a range of
two or more similar pressure vessels served by the same pressure lead, only one set
of such mountings need be fitted on the pressure lead immediately adjacent to the
range of pressure vessels, provided they cannot be isolated.

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(3) (a) Every pressure vessel which is designed for a working pressure less than
the pressure at the source of supply, or less than the pressure which can be obtained
in the pipe connecting the pressure vessel with any other source of supply, shall be
fitted with a suitable pressure reducing valve or other suitable automatic device to
prevent the maximum permissible working pressure of the pressure vessel being
exceeded.

(b) To further protect the pressure vessel in the event of failure of the reducing valve
or device, at least one safety valve having a capacity sufficient to release all the
steam, vapour or gas without undue pressure rise as determined by the pressure at
the source of supply and the size of the pipe connecting the source of supply, shall be
fitted on the low pressure side of the reducing valve.

(4) (a) No new pressure vessel or plant shall be taken into use in the factory after
coming into force of this rule unless it has been hydrostatically tested by a
competent person at a pressure at least 1.3 times the design pressure, and no
pressure vessel or plant which has been previously used or has remained isolated or
idle for a period exceeding 2 months or which has undergone alterations or repairs
shall be taken into use in a factory unless it has been thoroughly examined by a
competent person externally and internally, if practicable, and has been
hydrostatically tested by the competent person at a pressure which shall be 1.5
times the maximum permissible working pressure :

Provided, however, that the pressure vessel or plant which is so designed and
constructed that it cannot be safely filled with water or liquid or is used in service when
even some traces of water cannot be tolerated, shall be pneumatically tested
at a pressure not less than the design pressure or the maximum
permissible working pressure as the case may be.

Provided further that the pressure vessel or plant, which is lined with glass, shall be
tested hydrostatically or pneumatically as required at a pressure not less than the
design pressure or maximum permissible working pressure as the case may be.

Design pressure shall be not less than the maximum permissible working pressure
and shall take into account the possible fluctuations of pressure during actual
operation.

(b) No pressure vessel or plant shall be used in a factory unless there has been
obtained from the maker of the pressure vessel or plant or from the competent person
a certificate specifying the design pressure or maximum permissible working pressure
thereof, and stating the nature of tests to which the pressure vessel or plant and its
fittings (if any) have been subjected, and every pressure vessel or plant so used in a
factory shall be marked so as to enable it to be identified as to be the pressure
vessel or plant to which the certificate relates and the certificate shall be kept available
for perusal by the Inspector.
(c) No pressure vessel or plant shall be permitted to be operated or used at a
pressure higher than its design pressure, or the maximum permissible working
pressure as shown in the certificate.

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(5) Every pressure vessel or plant in service shall be thoroughly examined
by a competent person

(a) Externally, once in every period of six months;

(b) Internally, once in every period of twelve months :

Provided that if by reason of the construction of a pressure vessel or plant, a thorough

internal examination is not possible, this examination may be replaced by a
hydrostatic test which shall be carried out once in every period of two years.

Provided further that for a pressure vessel or plant in continuous process which
cannot be frequently opened, the period of internal examination may be extended to
four years; and

(c) hydrostatically tested once in every period of four years :

Provided that in respect of a pressure vessel or plant with thin walls, such as sizing
cylinder made of copper or any other non- ferrous metal, periodic hydrostatic test may
be dispensed with subject to the condition that the requirements laid down in sub- rule
(8) are fulfilled.

Provided further that when it is impracticable to carry out thorough

external examination of any pressure vessel or plant every six months as
required in sub-clause (i) of this clause, or if owing to its construction and
use a pressure vessel or plant cannot be hydrostatically tested as
required in sub-clause (ii) and (iii) of this clause, a thorough external
examination of the pressure vessel or plant shall be carried out at least
once in every period of two years, and at least once in every period of
four years a thorough systematic non-destructive test like ultrasonic test
for metal thickness or other defects of all parts the failure of which
might lead to eventual rupture of the pressure vessel or plant shall be
carried out.
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(d) The pressure for the hydrostatic test to be carried out for the purpose of this sub-
rule shall be 1.25 times the design pressure or 1.5 times the maximum permissible
working pressure, whichever is less.

(6) (a) In respect of any pressure vessel or plant of thin walls such as sizing
cylinder made of copper or any other non-ferrous metal, the maximum permissible
working pressure shall be reduced at the rate of 5 percent of the original maximum
permissible working pressure for every year of its use after the first five years and
no such cylinder shall be allowed to continue to be used for more than twenty years
after it was first taken into use.

(b) If any information as to the date of construction, thickness of walls or maximum

permissible working pressure is not available, the age of such pressure vessel or plant
shall be determined by the competent person in consultation with the Chief Inspector
from the other particulars available with the manager.
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(c) Every new and second hand pressure vessel or plant of thin walls to which
repairs likely to affect its strength or safety have been carried out, shall be tested
before use to at least 1.5 times its maximum permissible working pressure.

(7) (a) If during any examination any doubt arises as to the ability of the pressure
vessel or plant to work safely until the next prescribed examination, the competent
person shall enter in the prescribed register his observations, findings and conclusions
with other relevant remarks with reasons and may authorise the pressure vessel or
plant to be used and kept in operation subject to a lowering of maximum permissible
working pressure, or to more frequent or special examination or test, or subject to both
of these conditions.

(b) A report of every examination or test carried out shall be completed in Form No 8
and shall be signed by the person making the examination or test, and shall be kept
available for perusal by the Inspector at all hours when the factory or any part thereof
is working.

(c)Where the report of any examination under this rule specified any condition for
securing the safe working of any pressure vessel or plant, the pressure vessel or plant
shall not be used unless the specified condition is fulfilled.

(d)The competent person making report of any examination under this rule, shall
within seven days of the completion of the examination, send to the Inspector a copy
of the report in every case where the maximum permissible working pressure is
reduced or the examination shows that the pressure vessel or plant or any part
thereof cannot continue to be used with safety unless certain repairs are carried out
or unless any other safety measure is taken.

(8) a) The requirements of this rule shall be in addition to and without any prejudice to

and not in derogation of the requirements of any other law in force.

b) Certificates or reports of any examination, or test of any pressure vessel or

plant to which sub-rules (5) to (7) to (9) do not apply, conducted or required to
be conducted under any other law in force and other relevant record relating to
such pressure vessel or plant, shall be properly maintained as required under
the said law and shall be produced on demand by the Inspector.

(9) In this rule

a) “design pressure” means the maximum pressure that a pressure vessel or

plant is designed to withstand safely when operating normally;

b) “maximum permissible working pressure” means the maximum pressure

at which a pressure vessel or plant is permitted to be operated or used under
this rule and is determined by the technical requirements of the process;
 c) “plant” means a system of piping that is connected to a pressure vessel and is
used to contain a gas, vapour or liquid under pressure greater than the
atmospheric pressure, and includes the pressure vessel;
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d) “pressure vessel” means a vessel that may be used for containing, storing,
distributing, transferring, distilling, processing or otherwise handling any gas,
vapour or liquid under pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure and
includes any pipeline fitting or other equipment attached thereto or used in
connection therewith; and

e) “competent person” means a person who is, in the opinion of the Chief
Inspector, capable by virtue of his qualifications, training and experience, of
conducting a thorough examination and pressure tests, as required, on a
pressure vessel or plant, and of making a full report on its condition.

(10) Nothing in this rule shall apply to

(a)Vessel having internal diameter nor exceeding 150 mm.(6) and capacity not
exceeding 141.585 liters (5 cu.ft.) ;

(b) Vessels made of ferrous materials having an internal operating pressure not
exceeding 1 kilogram per square centimetre; (15 Lbs/ Sq.inch)

(c) Steam boilers, steam and feed pipes and their fittings coming under the purview
of Indian Boilers Act, 1923;( V of 1923)

(d) Metal bottles or cylinders used for storage or transport of compressed gases or
liquefied or dissolved gases under pressure covered by the Gas Cylinder Rules, 1940
framed under the Indian Explosives Act, 1884; (IV of 1884)

(e) Vessels in which internal pressure is due solely to the static head of liquid;

(f) Vessels with a nominal water capacity not exceeding 500 litres connected in a
water-pumping system containing air that is compressed to serve as a cushion;

(g) Vessels for nuclear energy application;

(h) Refrigeration plant having a capacity of 3 tons or less of refrigeration in 24

hours; and

(i) working cylinders of steam engines or prime movers, feed pumps and steam
traps; turbine casings; compressor cylinders; steam separators or dryers; steam
strainers; steam de-super-heaters; oil separators; air receivers for fire sprinkler
installations; air receivers of monotype machines provided the maximum working
pressure of the air receiver does not exceed 1.33 kilograms per square centimetre
and the capacity 84.95 litres; air receivers of electrical circuit breakers; air receivers
of electrical relays; air vessels on pumps, pipe coils, accessories of instruments and
appliances such as cylinders and piston assemblies used for operating relays and
interlocking type of guards; vessels with liquids subjected to static head only; and
hydraulically operating cylinders other than any cylinder communicating with an
air loaded accumulator.

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