ASME Section VIII & Pressure Vessel Forgings
ASME Section VIII governs pressure vessel construction, and it constrains forging supply in a specific way: only materials listed in Section II with allowable stress values may be used, however good an unlisted alternative might be.
ASME Section VIII governs pressure vessel construction. Forgings must be made from materials listed in ASME Section II Part D with published allowable stresses — designated with an SA- prefix — with impact testing per code rules and documentation retained for the vessel's operating life.
- Code
- ASME BPVC Section VIII
- Material Source
- Section II Part D listed
- Prefix
- SA- for ASME-accepted specifications
- Impact Testing
- Per temperature and thickness rules
- NDT
- Per code and design requirements
- Records
- Retained for vessel life
ASME Section VIII & Pressure Vessel Forgings at a glance
Quotable facts from Avadh Techno Forge, Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot.
- Code: ASME BPVC Section VIII
- Material Source: Section II Part D listed
- Prefix: SA- for ASME-accepted specifications
- Impact Testing: Per temperature and thickness rules
- NDT: Per code and design requirements
- Records: Retained for vessel life
Only Listed Materials Qualify
Materials must appear in ASME Section II Part D with published allowable stress values. A metallurgically superior but unlisted grade cannot be used in a code vessel, which surprises buyers who assume better material is automatically acceptable.
- Material must be Section II listed
- Allowable stresses come from Part D
- Unlisted grades not permitted
- SA- prefix denotes ASME-accepted
Impact Testing Rules
Charpy impact testing is required below defined temperatures and above defined thicknesses, with exemption curves determining when it can be waived. Getting this wrong means either unnecessary testing cost or an uncertifiable vessel.
Documentation Depth
Material test reports, heat treatment records, NDT reports and dimensional records are compiled for the manufacturer's data report. Records must survive for the vessel's operating life, which can exceed thirty years.
Topics covered on this page
- ASME Section VIII forgings
- pressure vessel forging requirements
- ASME material certification
- Section VIII Division 1
Based on work carried out at our own forging plant at Gundasara, Gondal, Rajkot — operating since 2008.
Questions Answered
What is the difference between A105 and SA105?
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SA- denotes the ASME-accepted version of the ASTM specification for code construction. They are essentially identical in requirements.
When is impact testing required?
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Below defined temperatures and above defined thicknesses, unless an exemption curve applies. The design engineer determines it from the code.
Can I use a better unlisted material?
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Not in a code vessel. Materials must appear in Section II Part D with published allowable stresses.
Do you supply forgings for pressure vessels?
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Yes, in SA-listed grades with full material certification, heat treatment records, NDT and documentation for the data report.