Steel specifications

Pressure vessels are manufactured from plates, sections, tubes and forgings and
steel specifications for these and other product forms have been formulated
specifically for use in pressure vessels. A summary of the relevant BS and
352 Steels: Metallurgy and Applications
Table 4.12 Specifications for boiler and pressure vessel steels
Specification Product form Title
BS EN 10028 Hates
BS 1501
BS 1502 Sections and bars
BS 1503 Forgings
BS EN 10213 Castings
BS 3059 Tubes
BS 3601 Pipes and tubes
BS 3602 Pipes and tubes
BS 3603 Pipes and tubes
BS 3604 Pipes and tubes
BS 3605 Pipes and tubes
BS 3606 Tubes
Part 2: Non-alloy and alloy steels with
specified elevated temperature properties
Part 3: Weldable fine grain steels,
normalized
Part 4: Nickel alloy steels with specified
low temperature properties
Part 3: Corrosion and heat-resisting steels
Steels for fired and unfired pressure vessels
Steel forgings for pressure purposes
Steel castings for pressure vessel purposes
Steel boiler and superheat tubes
Part 1: Low-tensile carbon steel tubes
without specified elevated temperature
properties
Part 2: Carbon, alloy and austenitic stainless
tubes with specified elevated temperature
properties
Steel pipes and tubes for pressure purposes:
carbon steel with specified room
temperature properties
Steel pipes and tubes for pressure purposes:
carbon and carbon manganese steels with
specified elevated temperature properties
Steel pipes and tubes for pressure purposes:
carbon and low-alloy steel with specified
low-temperature properties
Steel pipes and tubes for pressure purposes:
ferritic alloy steel with specified elevated
temperature properties
Seamless and welded austenitic steel pipes
and tubes for pressure purposes
Steel tubes for heat exchangers
European specifications in this sector is given in Table 4.12. Thus, whereas
particular grades of structural steel are specified for use in bridges and
buildings, similar compositions for pressure vessels are also identified in other
specifications, e.g. BS EN 10028. The first reaction to this situation might well be
to suggest that this represents an unnecessary and confusing duplication but, in
fact, the two types of specification deal with the property data that are important to
the specific end use. Whereas both types of specification cover tensile and impact
properties at ambient and sub-zero temperatures, pressure vessel codes may also
specify the tensile and stress rupture properties at elevated temperatures.