scope:

Purpose

The purpose of this standard is to ensure the safety of personnel and manage risk to facilities, operations, and the environment posed by the use of existing ground-based, non-code metallic pressure vessels (PVs) owned by NASA that either do not comply with applicable ASME code requirements specified in OSHA regulations (see Occupational Safety and Health Standards, 29 CFR pt. 1910), or are in a service not covered by specific regulations of 29 CFR pt. 1910. This is accomplished through demonstration of the structural integrity and fitness for service of these PVs through implementation of a minimum set of inspection, testing, and analytical requirements in accordance with this standard to ensure an equivalent or greater level of safety and protection for affected personnel as required by OSHA for Federal Agencies in Alternate Standards, 29 CFR § 1960.17 and Supplementary Standards, 29 CFR § 1960.18.

NASA has implemented Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programs (see Occupational Safety and Health programs for Federal Employees, E.O. 12196 and 29 CFR § 1960.8(c)) at each of its facilities that comply with the OSHA regulations of 29 CFR pt. 1910 to the extent possible. However, due to the unique nature of NASA's mission and accompanying research and development programs, not all regulations concerning PVs of 29 CFR pt. 1910 can be met in all cases.

This NASA technical standard provides uniform engineering and technical requirements for processes, procedures, practices, and methods that have been endorsed as standard for NASA facilities, programs, and projects, including requirements for selection, application, and design criteria of ground-based PVs that do not, or cannot, comply with all applicable 29 CFR pt. 1910 regulations. Letters of Interpretation (LOI)s published by OSHA or sent to NASA without publication, as per OSHA practice for Federal Agencies, are also considered.

While most NASA PVs are ASME code compliant, some are not. For some applications, OSHA regulations in 29 CFR pt. 1910 require that PVs comply with the ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1 or Division 2-1968, Unfired Pressure Vessel. For many NASA PV applications, however, the OSHA regulations of 29 CFR pt. 1910 provide no requirements or guidance. This Standard addresses both situations and provides a tool for NASA to implement the requirements in 29 CFR §§ 1960.17-1960.18 for a safe employment and place of employment.

Applicability

This standard is applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers. This language applies to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center), other contractors, recipients of grants, cooperative agreements, or other agreements only to the extent specified or referenced in the applicable contracts, grants, or agreements for work performed at such NASA facilities, to include programs and other Agency documents as technical requirements for existing non-code metallic PVs located at those facilities.

Operations with non-code PVs controlled by NASA exist at the following sites: Armstrong Flight Research Center, Ames Research Center, Glenn Research Center, Glenn Research Center Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility, Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Langley Research Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Michoud Assembly Facility, Stennis Space Center, Wallops Flight Facility, White Sands Test Facility, and Aerojet Rocketdyne West Palm Beach Test Stand E-6.

This Standard applies only to NASA employees and contractors. NASA requests that OSHA use this standard when evaluating the working conditions of non-NASA employees affected by this equipment and these specified operations for compliance.

This standard applies to the following non-code metallic PVs located on Federal property that are operated by NASA or by contractors performing work for NASA with NASA owned ground-based metallic PVs (this does not include commercial entities or other tenants operating on their own behalf) and which expose personnel to potential hazards:

a. Any NASA owned ground-based metallic PVs existing on the date of publication of this standard which are within the scope of ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1 or Division 2-1968 (as specified in the 29 CFR pt. 1910 regulations), but which were not fabricated in accordance with that code or its later editions.

b. Any NASA owned ground-based metallic PV existing on the date of publication of this standard that was originally compliant with the requirements of the ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1 or Division 2-1968 but, which due to physical modifications, alterations, or service changes, no longer complies with the applicable code or standard.

OSHA Letters of Interpretation

In 2021 OSHA reviewed this standard and indicated it does not require formal submission to OSHA as an Alternate or Supplemental Standard because it is consistent with the applicable OSHA LOIs attached for reference in Appendix A and Appendix B. In accordance with applicable OSHA LOIs (reference from Appendix A):

"In cases where traceability is not possible, OSHA will treat as a de minimis violation any pressure vessel that is required by a specific OSHA standard ... to be built in accordance with the Code, but that does not have the Code-required NRS, provided that the criteria below are met:

1. The employer can demonstrate that it has taken reasonable steps to obtain or retain the required NRS. For example, did the employer contact the previous owner in an attempt to obtain the pressure vessel's NRS; if the employer has the pressure vessel number, did it contact ASME or the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors to obtain the required records; does the employer have a procedure in place to assure that any new or used pressure vessel it purchases or takes control of has the required Code NRS; does the employer routinely purchase used pressure vessels without the NRS; and

2. The employer verifies the fitness-for-operations integrity of the vessels by utilizing the procedure contained in API 510, Section 6.7. This procedure is for pressure vessels with no "traceability," such as those with no nameplate and minimal or no design or construction documentation. This procedure includes items such as: performing inspections and making necessary repairs; defining design parameters, and preparing drawings and calculations; basing calculations on applicable codes/standards; evaluating unidentified materials; use of radiography; marking with nameplate or stamping; and performing pressure testing."

This standard applies the criteria established in the OSHA LOI referenced in 1.2.5.1 for the specific subparagraphs of the OSHA General Industry regulations of 29 CFR cited below only with respect to non-compliance of PVs with ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1 or Division 2-1968:

a. 29 CFR § 1910.103(b)(1)(i) - Hydrogen, Gaseous Hydrogen Systems, Design, Containers; subparagraph 29 CFR § 1910.103(b)(1)(i)(a)(1).

b. 29 CFR § 1910.103(c)(1)(i) - Hydrogen, Liquefied Hydrogen Systems, Design, Containers; subparagraph 29 CFR § 1910.103(c)(1)(i)(a).

c. 29 CFR § 1910.104(b)(4)(ii) - Oxygen, Bulk Oxygen Systems, Storage Containers, Construction - Liquid; subparagraph 29 CFR § 1910.104(b)(4)(ii).

d. 29 CFR § 1910.104(b)(4)(iii) - Oxygen, Bulk Oxygen Systems, Storage Containers, Construction - Gaseous; subparagraph 29 CFR § 1910.104(b)(4)(iii)(a).

e. 29 CFR § 1910.106(b)(1)(iv) - Flammable Liquids, Tank Storage, Design and Construction of Tanks, Low Pressure Tanks; subparagraph 29 CFR § 1910.106(b)(1)(iv)(b)(2).

f. 29 CFR § 1910.106(b)(1)(v) - Flammable Liquids, Tank Storage, Design and Construction of Tanks, Pressure Vessels; subparagraph 29 CFR § 1910.106(b)(1)(v)(b).

g. 29 CFR § 1910.169(a)(2) - Air Receivers, General Requirements, New and Existing Equipment; subparagraph 29 CFR § 1910.169(a)(2)(i).

Supplementary Requirements

This Standard applies to those non-code metallic PVs, described in 1.2.4 which are in a service not covered by the 29 CFR pt. 1910 sections identified in 1.2.5.2 or any other sections, for which the Occupational Safety and Health Act, General Duty Clause § 5(a)(1) applies.

This standard applies to non-code metallic Layered Pressure Vessels (LPV), operated by NASA, for which no existing OSHA regulations apply.

Non-code metallic PVs containing compressed air, other compressed gases or pressurized fluids (other than oxygen, hydrogen, acetylene, and flammable liquids, which are covered by specific regulations), and including Highly Hazardous Chemicals below the threshold quantities listed in Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, 29 CFR § 1910.119.

These supplementary requirements may apply to other non-code metallic PVs as determined and documented by each PSM.

Out of Scope PVs

This standard does not apply to:

a. Non-code metallic PVs that are not owned by NASA, such as leaseholder or contractor owned PVs.

b. Non-code metallic PVs that are owned by NASA but are not operated for NASA, regardless of whether or not they are operated on NASA property.

c. Non-metallic PVs, including PVs having a metal liner reinforced by non-metallic outer wrappings.

d. PVs not within the jurisdiction of the ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1 or Division 2-1968, such as vessels operated at 15 psig or less internal or external pressure, vessels 6 inches or less inside diameter, and pressurized water vessels of 120 gallon or less capacity.

e. Fired or unfired metallic PVs within the jurisdiction of ASME BPVC Sections I or IV.

The principal application of this standard is to permit the continued use of existing ground based non-code metallic PVs that were placed into service prior to the publication of this standard that cannot be replaced with fully ASME compliant PVs for technical or economic reasons, while providing an equivalent or greater level of protection to affected employees as would be provided in 29 CFR pt. 1910 regulations.

It is NASA's specific intent that this standard not be used to justify procurement or transfer from outside the agency of any new non-code ground based metallic PVs subsequent to March 18, 2021.

In this standard, all mandatory actions (i.e., requirements) are denoted by statements containing the term "shall." The term "may" denotes a discretionary privilege or permission, "can" denotes statements of possibility or capability, "should" denotes a good practice and is recommended, but not required, "will" denotes expected outcome, and "are/is" denotes descriptive material.