-1 - Technical Regulation for Safety of Special Equipment  
 
Technical Supervision Regulation for  
Safety of Stationary Pressure Vessels  
 
 1 General provisions  
1.1 Regulation aims  
This regulation is enacted in accordance with the Regulations on Safety Supervision of 
Special Equipment  in order to ensure the safe operation of stationary pressure vessels, to 
protect the s afety of people’s lives and property, and to promote national economic 
development.  
 
1.2 Stationary pressure vessel  
 Stationary pressure vessels refer to pre ssure vessels  with the  except ion of  portable pressure 
vessels (rail tanks, tank cars, tube trailers, tank containers etc.), gas cylinders and medical 
oxygen chambers.  
 
1.3 Applicable scope  
This regulation applies to stationary pressure vessels  (hereinafter  referred to as pressure 
vessels) within the scope of the Regulation on Safety Supervision of Special Equipment, 
which must  meet the following requirements:  
 
(1) has a working pressure  greater than or equal to 0.1MPa (gauge pressure, liquid 
hydrostatic pressur e is excluded, idem below); (Note 1)  
(2) the product of the volume and the working pressure is greater than or equal to 
2.5MPa x L; (Note 2)  
(3) the medium contained  therein  should be gas, liquefied gas, or liquid with its 
maximum working temperature  higher than o r equal to its standard boiling point. 
(Note 3)  
 
In addition,  Ultra -high Pressure Vessels should meet the provisions set out in “Technical 
Supervision Regulation for Safety of Ultra -high Pressure Vessels”; Non -metallic Pressure 
Vessels should meet the prov isions set out in “Technical Supervision Regulation for Safety 
of Non -metallic Pressure Vessels”; Simple Pressure Vessels should meet the provisions set 
out in “Technical Supervision Regulation for Safety of Simple Pressure Vessels”. Pressure 
vessels which  are not within the jurisdiction of the above -mentioned regulations shall  adhere 
to all of the provisions specified in this regulation.  
 
1.4 Special provisions of applicable scope  
 
1.4.1  Pressure vessels which only need to  meet the requirements for materia ls, des ign and 
the manufacturing process specified in this regulation  
 
The p ressure vessels listed below, and  those which are within the applicable scope of this 
regulation, must only  meet the relevant provisions specified in Clause 2, Clause 3, Clause 4 
of this regulation:  
 
(1) vehicle gas storage tank s which are not  simple pressure vessel s, and gas storage 
tanks for  portable air compressors;  
(2) non-independent pressure vessel s in cryogenic installation s, pressure vessel s in -2 - direct -fired absorption chiller insta llation s, aluminium  plate -fin heat exchangers;  
(3) spiral plate heat exchangers, brazed plate heat exchangers;  
(4) air-pressure tank s in automatic hydraulic pneumatic water supplement installation s 
(non-tower water supply), gas or pneumatic water supplement pressu re tank s (foam) 
of fire prevention installation s; 
(5) pressure vessel s in water treatment installation s used for ion exchanging or filtering, 
water expansion tank s for hot water boiler s; 
(6) totally enclosed composite equipment  for special use in the electric powe r industry 
(such as capacitance pressure vessels);  
(7) tyre vulcani sing tank s and pressure bearing rubber moulds used in  the rubber 
industry.  
 
1.4.2 Pressure vessels which only need to meet the design requirements and requirements 
of administrative licence for manuf acturing  
 
For pressure vessel s within the applicable scope of this regulation, if the volume is greater 
than 1L and smaller than 25L, or the inner diameter  (for non -circular cross -section,  this  
refers to its  width, height or diagonal line;  if it is a recta ngle shaped cross -section, then this 
refers to its diagonal line ; if  it is  an ellipsoidal shaped cross -section, this refers to its major 
axis) is smaller than 150mm, then the pressure vessel should meet the relevant provisions 
specified in Section 3.1 and  Section 4. 1.1 of this regulation only; its design and 
manufacturing should be processed in accordance with the Standards of relevant products.  
 
1.5 Non-applicable pressure vessels  
 
This regulation does not apply to the following pressure vessels:  
(1) pressure ves sels with a volume of less  than or equal to 1L;  
(2) waste heat boilers which are within the applicable scope of the Technical Supervision 
Regulation for Safety of Boilers;  
(3) pressure vessel s, the working pressure of which - under  normal operat ing condition s 
- is smaller than 0.1MPa (including pressure vessels for which during  the feeding 
process or discharging process  the instantaneous pressure  is greater than or equal to 
0.1MPa);  
(4) non-independent pressure bearing component of machines (including air cylinder or 
pressure -bearing casing  of any compressors, generators, pumps, diesel engines);  
(5) dismountable gasket plate heat exchangers (including semi -welded plate heat 
exchangers),  and air-cooled heat exchangers.  
 
1.6 Scope definition of pressure vessel  
 
For p ressure vesse ls within  the jurisdic tion of this regulation, the scope  thereof  include s: 
 
1.6.1 Main pressure -bearing components  
 
The main pressure -bearing components of a pressure vessel include the tube body, head  (end 
cover), manhole cover, manhole flange, manhole nozzles,  expansion joint, equipment flange, 
shell plate of spherical tank, tube plate and heat exchanging tube of heat exchanger, 
equipment main stud bolt which  is more than M36 (include M36) , nozzle and tube flange 
with their nominal diameter greater than or equa l to 250mm.  
 
1.6.2 Related parts and positions  
 -3 - (1) the weld groove of the first circumferential welding joint between the welding 
connecting of the equipment or outer piping and pressure vessel, the first threaded 
joint of the threaded connecting, the first flange sealing surface of the flange 
connecting, the first sealing surface of special connector or pipe connecting;  
(2) the pressure -bearing cover and its fastener for those parts of the pressure vessel  
which open and close ; 
(3) the connection welding seam between non -pressure bearing components and the 
pressure vessel.  
 
1.6.3  Safety accessories  
 
The safety valve, bursting disc device, emergency shut off device, safety interlocking 
device, pressure gauge, liquid level gauge, temperature gauge which are directly connected 
to the pressure vessel.  
 
1.7 Supervision and management  
(1) The design, manufacture (including assembly welding, idem  below), installation, 
alternation, maintenance, use, inspection and testing of pressure vessels  should 
conform strictly to the  provisions of t his regulation.  
(2) The safety supervision organisations for sp ecial equipment at all levels ( hereinafter 
referr ed to as the Safety Supervision Organisation) should be responsible for the safe  
supervision of pressure vessels, and  should  supervise the im plement ation of this 
regulation.  
(3) The manufacturing unit (manufacture, installation, alternation, and maintenance), use 
unit, inspection and testing organi sation etc ., should conform  to the relevant 
provisions for information management of special equipment, and should timely 
enter any required data into the information management system of special 
equipment.  
 
1.8 Connection  with technical standards and administrative regulations  
 
This regulation specifies the compulsory essential safety requirements for pressure vesse ls; 
any technical Standards or administrative regulations of ente rprises and institutions which 
relate to pressure vessels  should not be fewer  than the requirements set out in  this regulation.  
 
1.9 Categori sation of pressure vessels  
 
According to different haz ard levels, the pressure vessels which are within the applicable 
scope of this regulation shall be divided into three categories by administrative supervision 
(see Appendix A for the categori sation method), and implement supervisory administration.  
 
1.10 Specia l provisions for new materials, new technologies and new manufacturing 
process es 
 
For pressure vessel s which adopt  new materials, new technologi es, new manufacturing 
processes  and which  may ne ed special service requirements,  but which are not able to meet 
the requirements set out in this regulation, the concerned organisations should submit the 
relevant technical information such as evidence, data, results from the designs, research, and 
tests, as well as inspection and testing reports etc . to the General A dministration of Quality 
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (hereinafter referred to as AQSIQ) ; AQSIQ entrusts 
the Technical Committee for Safety of Special Equipment (hereinafter referred to the Safety  
Technical Committee) to organis e and conduct tech nical evaluation s. Once the results of the -4 - technical evaluation ha ve been approved by  AQSIQ , they can then  be used for trial 
production and trial service.  
 
1.11 Reference Standards  
 
The Standards listed below are the reference Standards of this regulation (here inafter 
referred to as the Reference Standards):  
 
(1) GB 150 Steel pressure vessels  
(2) JB 4732 Steel pressure vessels – Design by analysis  
(3) GB 151 Tubular heat exchangers  
(4) GB 12337 Steel spherical tanks  
(5) JB/T 4710 Steel vertical vessels – Supported by skirt  
(6) JB/T 473 1 Steel horizontal vessels on saddle supports  
(7) JB/T 4734 Aluminium  welded vessels  
(8) JB/T 4745 Titanium welded vessels  
(9) JB/T 4755 Copper pressure vessels  
(10) JB/T 4756 Nickel and nickel alloy pressure vessels  
 
Note 1: (1) Working pressure refers to pressure ve ssels under normal working conditions, 
the maximum pressure which the vessel top reache s (gauge pressure).  
 
(2) For pressure vessels which are equipped with multi -cavities (such as heat exchangers, 
waste heat boilers, jacketed pressure vessels), the higher  category pressure cavity should be 
used as the category of the pressure vessel, and service administration  should be conducted 
accord ing to this category , however, design  requirements and manufacturing technology 
requirements respecti vely should be propos ed according to the category of each pressure 
cavity. When conducting categoris ation to a pressure cavity, the design pressure of that 
pressure cavity shall be used as the design pressure, and the geometric volume of that 
pressure cavity should be used as the volume.  
 
Note 2: The volume refers to the geometric volume of the pressure vessel,  which  is 
calculated and rounded  off using the dimensions indicated in the design drawings 
(manufacturing tolerance is not taken into consideration). The volume of the in ner parts 
which are permanently connected to the inside of the vessel can be deducted.  
 
Note 3: When the main medium contained within the vessel is a liquid, and where its 
maximum working temperature is lower than its standard boiling point, if the product  of the 
gas spatial volume (non -instantaneous) and the design pressure is greater than o r equal to 
2.5MPa x L, then it should be considered as within the applicable scope of this regulation.  
 -5 -  
Appendix A  
 
Categori sation of pressure vessels and  determinati on of pressure grade and variety  
 
A1 Categoris ation of pressure vessels  
 
A1.1  Media categories  
 
The media of pressure vessels are divided into the following two categories, including gas, liquefied 
gas or liquid where its maximum working temperature is hig her than or equal to its standard boiling 
point.  
 
(1) Category 1 media: chemical media, flammable media, or liquefied gas where the toxicity 
levels are extremely or highly harmful;   
(2) Category 2 media  consist s of media with the except ion of  those  belonging to Ca tegory 1, 
such as water vapour, nitrogen gas , etc. 
 
A1.2  Media perniciousness  
 
Media perniciousness refers to, during the manufacturing process of a pressure vessel, due to an 
accident causing a large  quantity of medium to come into contact with the human body, leading to 
an explosion  or a serious level of occupational chronic disease due to frequent leakage;  it is 
indicated by the toxicity level and explosion hazard level of the medium.  
 
A1.2.1  Toxicity level: comprehensively consider s factors such as acut e toxicity, maximum 
allowable concentration and industrial chronic disease. The maximum allowable concentration of 
extremely harmful product should be lower than 0.1mg/m3; the maximum allowable concentration 
of highly harmful  product  should be within the r ange of 0.1~ 1.0mg/m3; the maximum allowable 
concentration of medium harmful  product  should be within the range of 1.0 ~ 10.0mg/m3; the 
maximum allowable concentration of l ess harmful  product  should be greater than or equal to 
10.0mg/m3.  
 
A1.2.2  Flammable  media: refers to media such as gas, or the explosive mixture formed by the 
vapour of liquid, thin mist and air, with its lower explosive limit  smaller than 10%, or the 
differential value between its upper explosive limit and lower explosive limit is great er than or 
equal to 20%.  
 
A1.2.3  The toxicity hazard level and explosion hazard level of a medium should be determined in 
accordance with the two Standards GB 5044 -1985, Classification of health hazard levels from 
occupational exposure to toxic substances and HG 20660 -2000, Classification of toxicity hazard 
levels and explosion hazard levels from the chemical media of pressure vessel s. When both hazards 
do not agree , then the higher level hazard (danger) should be taken as criteria.  
 
A1. 2  Categori sation  
 
A1.2.1  General categori sation  
 
The categori sation of pressure vessels should choose the categori sation diagram according to the 
characteristics of the medium first, then on the basis of design pressure p (unit MPa)and volume V 
(unit L) to indicate the coord ination point, and finally determine the categori sation of the vessel.  
 -6 - (1) For Category 1 media, see to Diagram A1 for the categori sation of the pressure vessels.  
(2) For Category 2 media, see to Diagram A2 for the categori sation of the pressure vessels.  
 
A1.2.2  Categoris ation method for pressure vessels equipped with multi -cavities  
 
For pressure vessels which are equipped with multi -cavities (such as tube pass and shell pass of 
heat exchangers, and jacketed pressure vessels), the higher category pressure cavity should be taken 
as the category of the pressure vessel, and service administration  should be conducted accord ing to 
this category, however,  the design requirements and manufacturing technology requirements 
respectively should be proposed  according to the ca tegory of each pressure cavity. When 
conducting categori sation  of a pressure cavity, the design pressure of that pressure cavity shall be 
used as the design pressure,  and the geometric volume of that pressure cavity should be used as the 
volume.  
 
A1.2.3  Categori sation method for pressure vessels with multi -medium contained in a single cavity  
 
Where  multiple types of media are contained in a single pressure cavity, then categori sation should 
be determined in accordance with the higher level of medium group.  
 
A1.2.4  Categori sation method for pressure vessels with very low quantity of medium contents  
 
When the quantity of a certain harmful substance is only of a very low amount in the medium, the 
hazard level and quantity of the medium should be taken into com prehensive consideration, and the 
category of the medium should be determined by the design company of the pressure vessel.  
 
A1.2.5  Categori sation method for pressure vessels of special circumstances  
(1) When the coordination point is placed on the categori sation line in Dia gram 1 or Diagram 2, 
then categori sation should be determined in accordance with the higher categori sation.  
(2) In the case of a medium whi ch is not clearly indicated in Standards GB5044 or HG 20660, 
the chemical properties, hazard level and th e quantity of the medium  should be taken  into 
comprehensive consideration and the category of the medium should be determined on the 
basis thereof by the design company of the pressure vessel.  
-7 - Diagram A1 Categori sation diagram of pressure vessels – Categor y 1 media  
 
 
Diagram A2 Categori sation diagram of pressure vessels – Category 2 media  
 
A2 Determination of pressure grades  
 
The design pressure (p) of pressure vessels are divided into four pressure grades  –  low pressure, 
medium pressure, high pressure a nd ultra -high pressure:  
(1) Low pressure (code L) vessels 0.1MPa  p < 1.6MPa;  
(2) Medium pressure (code M) vessels 1.6MPa  p < 10.0MPa;  
(3) High pressure (code H) vessels 10MPa  p < 100MPa;  
(4) Ultra -high pressure (code U) vessels  p  100MPa;  
 
A3 Variety determination  of pressure vessels  
 
In accordance with the function ing principles of the production and processing technology of the 
pressure vessels, the vessels can be divided  into Reactor Pressure Vessels, Heat -exchanger Pressure 
Vessels, Separator Pressure Vessels, and Collector Pres sure Vessels. They are divided as below:  
(1) Reactor Pressure Vessels (code: R): the type of pressure vessels mainly used to complete the 
physical and chemical reaction of the medium, such as reactors, reaction ves sels, 
decomposing pots, sulf urising tanks, decomposing towers, polymeri sers, high pressure 
autoclaves, ultra -high pressure autoclaves, synthetic towers, shift furnaces, steaming pots, 
spherical digester, still kettles, gas generators , etc. 
(2) Heat -exchanger Pressure Vessels (code: E): t he type of pressure vessels mainly used to 
complete the heat exchanging of medium, such as tubular waste heat boilers, heat 
exchangers, coolers, condensers, vaporizers, heaters, sterili zers, stainers, dryers, 
steamers/fryers, preheat pans, solvent pre -heaters, steamers, desolventi ser toasters, electric 
steam generators, gas generator water jackets,  etc. 
(3) Separator Pressure Vessels (code: S): the type of pressure vessels mainly used to complete 
the cushioning of the pressure balance in liquid medi a and to com plete  gas purification and 
separation, such as separators, filters, oil collectors, buffers, scrubbers, absorption towers, 
-8 - copper washing towers, dry towers, stripping towers, gas -distributing cylinders, de -aerators 
etc. 
(4) Collector Pressure Vessels  (code: C , among which the code of the spherical tank is B): the 
type of pressure vessels mainly used to store, hold media such as gas, liquid, or liquefied 
gas, example different models of storage tanks.  
 
For pressure vessels  of the same type , if they have more  than two function principles of process 
technology at the same time, then the variety of the pressure vessel should be determined by the 
main function of the processing technology.  
 -9 -  
(1)  
 
 
 
-10 -  
 
-11 - Appendix C  
 
Product Qualification Certificate of Pressure Vessels  
 
Manufacturer   
Manufacturing 
Licence No   
Product Name   Product No   
Equipment Code   Product Drawing No   
Category of 
Pressure Vessel   Manufacturing Grade   
Design Unit   
Design Licence 
No  
Manufacturing 
Date  Year             Month              Date  
The quality of this product is verified during the manufacturing process and  it has met 
the requirements set out in the Technical Supervision Regulation for Safety of 
Stationary Pressure Vessels, relevant Standards, Design Drawings and the 
requirements speci fied in the Contract for Goods.  
Signature and Stamp of Quality Assurance 
Engineer  
 
 
 Day                  Year            Month              Special seal for quality inspection of 
product  
 
 
 Day                            Year            Month          
 -12 -  
Product data sheet of pressure vessels  
 
Product Name   Product No   
Product 
Standard   Design Life  Year 
Vessel Inner 
Diameter  mm Tube Material   Head Material   
Lining Material   Jacket Material   Tube Thickness  mm 
Head Thickness  mm Lining Wall 
Thickness  mm Jacket Thickness  mm 
Vessel Volume  m3 Vessel Height 
(Length)  mm Shell Weight  kg 
Inner -parts 
Weight  kg Filling Weight  kg Heat Preservation/ 
Insulation 
(Yes/No)   
Design Pressure 
of Shell Pass  MPa  Design 
Temperature of 
Shell Pass  o C Maximum 
Allowable 
Working Pressure 
of Shell Pass  MPa  
Design Pressure 
of Tube Pass  MPa  Design 
Temperature of 
Tube Pass  o C Maximum 
Allowable 
Working Pressure 
of Tube Pass  MPa  
Design Pressure 
of Jacket  MPa  Design 
Temperature of 
Jacket  o C Maximum 
Allowable 
Working Pressure 
of Jacket  MPa  
Medium of Shell 
Pass  Medium of 
Tube Pass   Medium of Jacket   
Structure Type   Nondestructive 
Testing Ratio  % 
Installation Type   Support Type   
Heat Treatment   Temperature of 
Heat Treatment  o C 
Pressure -tight 
Test  Pressure of 
Pressure -tight 
Test MPa  
Seal Test   
Safety Accessories and relative devices  
Name  Model  Specification  Quantity  Manufacturer  
     
     
     -13 -  
Appendix D Code numbering methods of special equipment  
 
D1 Basic numbering method  
 
The equipment code is the code name of the  equipment, which  must be unique, and consists of the 
basic code of the equipment, the code of the manufacturer, the manufacturing year, and the 
manufacturing sequence number.  
 
D2 Meaning of the code  
 
D2.1  The basic code of the equipment  
 
Compiled a ccord ing to the equipment code  (4 Arabic numerals) of the variety type listed in the 
Special Equipment Catalogue. For e xample , for High Pressure Vessels it should be “2120”.  
 
D2.2  Manufacturer Code name  
 
The code name of the manufacturer should be formed by the  code of the administrative region  (2 
Arabic numerals) where the Approval Authority of Production Licence is located and the 
Manufacturer Sequence Number  (3 Arabic numerals) which is included in the Manufacturing 
Licence Number of the manufacturer. For exa mple, for a manufacturer of pressure vessels  that  is 
situated in Heilongjiang Province, after being examined and approved by AQSIQ, the code of its 
Manufacturing Licence Number is “TS2210890 – 2008”, of which  the number 10  is used  to indicate 
the code of t he administrative region for AQSIQ, the sequence number of the licence is 890, and the 
code of the manufacturer should be “10890”; if it is examined and approved by the Quality & 
Technology Supervision Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, then its Production L icence Number 
code should be “TS2223010 – 2008”, of which  the number 23 is used to indicate the code of the 
administrative region for Heilongjiang Province, the sequence number of  the licence is 10, and the 
code of the manufacturer should be “23010”.  
 
D2.3  Manufacturing year  
 
The manufacturing year of the product manufactured (4 Arabic numerals). For e xample , for 
products manufactured in 2008, the manufacturing year should be “2008”.  
 
D2.4  Manufacturing sequence number  
 
The product sequence number made by t he manufacturer itself ( 4 Arabic numerals). For e xample , 
for any variety type of pressure vessels which are manufactured in 2008, if the manufacturing 
sequence number for this product is 89, then  it should be numbered as “0089”.  
 
If the manufacturing seque nce number exceeds  9999, then it can be replaced by phonetic alphabet. 
-14 - For example, if  the manufacturing sequence number for a certain variety pressure vessel product is 
10000 or 11000, then the manufacturing sequence number should be A000 or B000. The res t may 
be inferred.