The GSFC PVS Program provides Center organizations with inspection, certification, recertification and consultation of ground-based pressure vessels and pressurized systems (PVS). This center program is implemented by the PVS Program manager and improves safety, and minimizes personnel injury or fatality, or damage to, or loss of, hardware and facilities.
The PVS program has successfully merged with the Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS) for online referencing of all PVS under GSFC. Owners/Operators of PVS can now find all critical information about their PVS online at the following website, https://lqms.gsfc.nasa.gov. This will also serve as a formal certification report, as well as a central database for inspections/modifications made to the PVS. New PVS can now be added by Owners/Operators online and will assist in communicating to the PVS Engineering team that a new system is in progress and requires certification.
For assistance with having your pressure vessel or pressurized system certified/recertified and in compliance with NASA and Goddard requirements, contact PVS Program management or engineering at your facility.
NASA and Goddard Requirements for PVS:*
NPR 8715.3C NASA General Safety Program Requirements
NPD 8710.5D Policy for Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems
GPR 8710.3B Certification of Ground-Based Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems
Goddard Procedures and Guidelines:*
500-PG-8715.1.1B Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate Safety Program Plan
540-PG-8715.1.2C Mechanical Systems Division Safety Manual
*Verify these documents are the latest revisions before using.
OSHA Requirements:
29 CFR 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous Materials
29 CFR 1910 Subpart I, Personal Protective Equipment
29 CFR 1910 Subpart M, Compressed Gas and Compressed Air Equipment
DOT Requirements:
Applicable Codes and Standards (Most available at NASA Technical Standards Program):
For a complete list of applicable codes and standards relevant to your PVS, consult NASA-STD 8719.17, Chapter 5, Table 6.
American Petroleum Institute (API) Standards:
API 510 “Pressure Vessel Inspection Code: Maintenance Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration”
API 570 “Piping Inspection Code: In-service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration of Piping Systems”
API 572 “Inspection Practices for Pressure Vessels”
API 574 “Inspection Practices for Piping System Components”
API 576 “Inspection of Pressure Relief Devices”
API 579 “Fitness-For-Service”
API 580 “Risk-Based Inspection”
API 581 “Risk-Based Inspection Technology”
API 620 “Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low Pressure Storage Tanks”
API 653 “Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction”
API 2000 “Venting Atmospheric and Low-pressure Storage Tanks”
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Codes:
ASME BPVC "Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code"
ASME B16 “Standards for Valves, Flanges, Fittings and Gaskets”
ASME B31 “Pressure Piping Standards
ASME B36 “Piping Specification Standards”
ASME B40.100 “Pressure Gauges and Gauge Attachments”
ASME PTC 25 “Performance Test Codes, Pressure Relief Devices”
Compressed Gas Association (CGA) Standards:
CGA C-6 “Standards for Visual Inspection of Steel Compressed Gas Cylinders”
CGA C-8 “Standard for Requalification of DOT-3HT, CTC-3HT, and TC-3HTM Seamless Steel Cylinders”
CGA E-4 “Standard for Gas Pressure Regulators”
CGA P-1 “Safe Handling of Compressed Gas in Containers”
CGA S-1.1 “Pressure Relief Device Standards-Part 1-Cylinders for Compressed Gases
CGA S-1.2 “Pressure Relief Device Standards-Part 2-Portable Containers for Compressed Gases
Other Applicable Codes and Standards:
MIL-G-18977 “Gauge, Pressure, Dial Indicating”
NBBPVI NB23 "National Board Inspection Code"
NFPA National Fire Protection Association Codes and Standards
STI-SP001 “Standard for Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks”
UL-404 “Gauges, Indicating Pressure, for Compressed Gas Service”