Knowledgebase Article 1095

Question:

Can ASME Section VIII, Division 1 (VIII-1) be used at design pressures greater than 3000 psi?

Answer:

Yes. ASME Section VIII Division 1 paragraph U-1(d) does not restrict design pressure to 3000 psi and below.

A number of COMPRESS users have designed vessels for pressures exceeding 3000 psi using ASME VIII-1. This practice seems fairly standard for certain vessel applications.

The use of ASME VIII-1 for high pressures may result in wall thicknesses that are greater than those obtained from other design Codes. In these applications, using ASME Section VIII, Division 2 (VIII-2) may result in lesser required thicknesses and opening reinforcement. These savings will be partially offset by the additional testing and QA requirements of ASME VIII-2.