46 CFR §162.018-4
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)Safety relief valves shall be of either the internal or external spring-loaded type, suitable for the intended service.
- (b)Safety relief valve body, base, bonnet and internals shall be designed for a pressure of not less than the set-pressure of the valve.
- (c)All safety relief valves shall be so constructed that the failure of any part cannot obstruct the free and full discharge of vapors from the valve.
- (d)The nominal size of a safety relief valve shall be the inside diameter of the inlet opening to the individual valve disk. No safety relief valve shall be smaller than 3/4 inch nor larger than 6 inches. Safety relief valves shall have flanged or welded end inlet connections and either flanged or screwed outlet connections, except outlets exceeding 4 inches in diameter shall be flanged.
- (e)Safety relief valves shall be of the angle or straight-through type, fitted with side or top outlet discharge connections.
- (f)
- (1)Springs shall not show a permanent set exceeding 1 percent of their free length 10 minutes after being released from a cold compression test closing the spring solid.
- (2)Springs may not be re-set for any pressure more than 10 percent above or 10 percent below that for which the valve is marked.
- (3)If the operating conditions of a valve are changed so as to require a new spring under paragraph (f)(2) of this section for a different pressure, the valve shall be adjusted by the manufacturer or his authorized representative.
- (g)The design and construction of safety relief valves shall permit easy access for inspection and repair.
- (h)Safety relief valves shall be tapped for not less than 1/4 inch pipe size drain at the lowest practicable point where liquid can collect.