Requirements for Relief of Overpressure in Vessels Exposed to Fire

Abstract Pressure-vessel codes and regulations prescribe pressure-relief equipment but do not completely specify the necessary relief capacity to insure safety. Investigations show that the most effective cause of pressure increase is fire exposure as encountered in accidental conflagrations, and tests of the effects of such fire exposure on pressure vessels have been made and analyzed. Part 1 of the paper details these tests and analyzes the results. Parts 2 and 3 develop the necessary formulas to determine the sizes and capacities of the relief connections and apparatus and also present detailed statements of the applications of these formulas to pressure vessels and atmospheric tanks.