APPENDIX E

SUGGESTED GOOD PRACTICE REGARDING

CORROSION ALLOWANCE1
E-1

to some degree in the service for which the vessel is

to be used, or when corrosion is incidental, localized,
and /or variable in rate and extent, the designer must
exercise his best judgment in establishing a reasonable
maximum excess shell thickness. This minimum allowance may, of course, be increased according to the
designers judgment.

From the standpoint of corrosion, pressure vessels

may be classified under one of the following groups:
(1) vessels in which corrosion rates may be definitely established from information available to the
designer regarding the chemical characteristics of the
substances they are to contain. Such information may,
in the case of standard commercial products, be obtained
from published sources, or, where special processes are
involved, from reliable records compiled from results
of previous observations by the user or others under
similar conditions of operation.
(2) vessels in which corrosion rates, while known
to be relatively high, are either variable or indeterminate
in magnitude;
(3) vessels in which corrosion rates, while indeterminate, are known to be relatively low;
(4) vessels in which corrosion effects are known
to be negligible or entirely absent.

E-4
When corrosion effects can be shown to be negligible
or entirely absent, no excess thickness need be provided.

E-5
When a vessel goes into corrosive service without
previous service experience, it is recommended that
service inspections be made at frequent intervals until
the nature and rate of corrosion in service can be
definitely established. The data thus secured should
determine the subsequent intervals between service inspections and the probable safe operating life of the
vessel.

E-2
When the rate of corrosion is closely predictable,
additional metal thickness over and above that required
for the initial operating conditions should be provided,
which should be at least equal to the expected corrosion
loss during the desired life of the vessel.

E-6
For parts which are essential to vessel strength such
as stiffener rings, the attachment of the part to the
shell must provide adequate corrosion allowance or
protection to assure the required strength throughout
the service life. Some attachments, such as intermittent
welds, require protection on both face and root sides;
alternatively, continuous welds or a suitably sized seal
weld between the strength welds will provide protection
for the root side.

E-3
When corrosion effects are indeterminate prior to
design of the vessel, although known to be inherent
1 When

using high alloys and nonferrous materials either for solid

wall or clad or lined vessels, refer to UHA-6, UCL-3, and UNF-4,
as appropriate.

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