PD 5500:2015+A3:2017

What is PD 5500- Unfired fusion welded pressure vessels about?  

PD 5500 is the UK’s unfired pressure vessels code. 

PD 5500 specifies requirements for the design, construction, inspection, testing, and verification of compliance of new unfired fusion welded pressure vessels. 

Who is PD 5500-Unfired fusion welded pressure vessels for? 

PD 5500 on fusion welded pressure vessels is relevant to: 

• Mechanical engineers 
• Pressure vessel designers and manufacturers  
• Inspection authorities 
• Industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical, and energy generation (including nuclear) 
• Organizations that commission, design, build and maintain pressure vessels 

Why should you use PD 5500- Unfired fusion welded pressure vessels?  

Pressure vessels that have not been subjected to burner fire or combustion, such as air and water storage tanks, are known as unfired pressure vessels. PD 5500 is an essential reading for organizations that commission, design, build and maintain pressure vessels. 

PD 5500 specifies requirements for the design, construction, inspection, and testing of unfired pressure vessels made from carbon, ferritic alloy, and austenitic steels, aluminium, copper, nickel, and titanium. It is an invaluable reference tool for the design and assessment of pressure vessels. 

The materials should be determined in accordance with PD 5500 to maintain the integrity of the vessel design against the danger of massive plastic deformation, gradual collapse, and buckling collapse. 

Overall, PD 5500 can help you prevent overheating, and unfired pressure vessels have a proven track record of avoiding corrosion through heat exchange. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

PD 5500:2015+A3:2017 supersedes PD 5500:2015+A2:2016, which is withdrawn. Amendment 3 updates PD 5500 based on committee member contributions and user inquiries. It includes corrections and clarifications that enhance the accuracy and user-friendliness of the document. In addition, this year’s annual amendment includes:  

• Major updates to Annex C, Assessment of vessels subject to fatigue, following the recent revision of the UK’s fatigue design code BS 7608 Guide to fatigue design and assessment of steel products 
• Updates to Annex G, Recommendations for the design of local loads, thermal gradients, etc., based around recent changes introduced within the European standards arena 
• A new Enquiry Case, (new EC 141) on compressive stress limits based around some new work in the European committee arena 
• References to the new Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) (its new number) have been included as well as the usual updating of all of the cross-referenced standards that appear in PD 5500