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British StandardSpecification for

Inspection, accessand entry
openings for pressure vessels

British Standards Institution

BS 470 : 1984

Contents Page Page

0
Foreword Inside front Cover Tables
Committees responsible Back Cover 1. Maximum lengths of manholes 2
2. Minimum number of openings 2
Specification
1. 1
2. Definitions 1
3. General 1
4. 1 Figures
5. Minimum number of openings and their Length 1. of hole 1
Positions 2 2. Viewing for sightholes,handholesandheadholes 3

Foreword
T h i s revision of this British Standard has been prepared
under the direction of the Pressure Vessel Standards
Committee. It supersedes BS 470 : 1976, which is
withdrawn.
This Standard has been revised in Order to clarify the size
and length requirements of access and inspection openings.
Opportunity has also been taken to clarify the text in
general.
The BSI committee responsible for this Standard is firmly
of the view that, for adequate safety, the openings in vessels
should be either sufficiently large for rescue Operations or
too small for entry. Considerationswhich Support the
committee view are as follows:
(a) a User, having specified a manhole On the basis that
rescue from a vessel is not foreseeable, may find thatdue
to some unforeseen Change in the vessel usage it becomes
necessary to provide a larger openingfor rescue;
(b) experimental work has indicated that 460 mm
diameter is a reasonable minimum for rescue by persons
weariny air-line breathing apparatus but it is not large
enough for persons entering with self-contained
breathing apparatus;
( C ) sectiort 30 of the Factories Act 1961 requires an
opening of 18 in (now interpreted as 460 mm) as a
minimum wherever a Person is liable to be overcome
in a vessel.
Access to a vessel by any opening cther than that
specifically provided for the purpose i s deprecated;
responsibility for such entry rests with the User.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself
confer immunity from legal Obligations.

British Standard Specification for
Inspection, accessand entry openings for pressure vessels
1. Scope
This British Standard specifies requirements for the
Provision and dimensionsof sighthole, handhole, headhole
and manhole openings into static and mobile pressure
vessels requiring inspection facilities. I t does not include
openings for steam raising plant because of the different
Problems associated with these vessels, which may require
separate consideration.
2. Definitions
For the purposes of this Standard the following definitions
aPPlY.
2.1 access. Insertion into a vessel of no more than a
Person's head and arm.
2.2 entry. Insertion into a vessel of more than a
Person's head and arm.
2.3 sightholes. Holes that are intended for viewing only.
2.4 handholes. Holes that are intended for insertion of
one hand gripping a lamp during viewing.
2.5 headholes. Holes that are intended for insertion of
the head and one arm.
2.6 manholes. Holes that permit a Person entry and exit.
2.7 length of hole. The perpendicular distance from the
face of the flange to the inside of the opening including
lining or any projection of the branch within the vessel.
In the case of a hole in a cylindrical shell the length is
measured as the shortest distancea t the intersection,
accepting that thelength of the hole increases to a
maximum a t a plane a t 90" to this to an extent dependent
on the diameter of the vessel (See figure 1).
Length o f hole-.
( a ) Projecting branch (b) Flush branch
Figure 1. Length of hole
1
BS 470 : 1984
2.8 purchaser. The organization or individual who buys
the finished pressure vessel for its own use or as an agent
for the owner.
2.9 manufacturer. The organization that designs and
fabricates the pressure vessel in accordance with the
purchaser's specification. The design and fabrication may
be carried out by separate organizations.
2.10 inspecting authority. The body or association that
Checks that the design, materials and construction comply
with the purchaser's specification.
3. General
3.1 Holes shall be either large enough to permit entry and
the rescue of persons, or so small that persons cannot enter.
NOTE. I t is for this reason that the headhole sizes given in this
Standard are maximum values.
3.2 Detachable ends, or Covers, or branches and fittings
that are easily removed shall be used as access openings,
if their dimensions are a t least equal to the minimum
dimensions required by this Standard, and permit a general
view of the interior a t least equal to that obtained by the
examination holes that would otherwise be required.
3.3 The dimensions of openings in lined vessels shall be
maintained after the lining is applied.
NOTE. I t is recommended that in large vessels, consideration be
given to the Provision of footholds and/or hand-holds o n t h evessel
surfaces.
4. Sizes
4.1 General. The sizes of inspection, access and entry
openings shall be as specified in 4.2 to 4.5. Diameters and
Length o f hole
1
BS 470 : 1984

axis dimensions refer to alctual internal measurements.
Where lengths of sightholes and handholes exceed the stated
limits, the size shall be modified to give an equivalent
inspection facility, either by increasing the size of the hole
or by providing a conical hole. In the case of vessels having
non-interconnecting pressure compartments, the require-
ments of this Standard shall apply to each compartment as
if it were a separate vessel.
4.2 Sightholes. The minimum diameter shall be 30 mm for
vessels up to 300 mm diameter when the length does not
exceed 30 mm; the minimum diameter shall be 50 mm for
vessels above 300 mm diameter when the lengthdoes not
exceed 50 mm. For greater lengthssee 4.1.
4.3 Handholes. Where one hole only is provided, the
minimum size shall be 180 mm diameter or 180 mm X
120 mm oval; where more than one holeis provided, the
minimum size shall be 130 mm diameter or 130 mm X
110 mm oval.The above sizes are related to a length of hole
not greater than 65 mm. For greater lengthssee 4.1.
4.4 Headholes. The maximum size shall be 320 mm
diameter or 320 mmX 200 mm oval. The maximum length
of hole shall be 100 mm.
NOTE. The rninimurn size should not be substantially less than
320 mrn diarneter or 320 mm X 200 rnrn oval.
4.5 Manholes. The minimum size shall be 460 mm
diameter or 460 mm X 410 mm oval. The minimum size to
afford full rescue facilities with self-contained breathing
apparatus shall be 575 mm diameter or minor axis.
The maximum length of a manhole is dependent on the
diameter, or, if oval, the major axis, and shallbe in the
relationship given in table 1.
Table 1. Maximum lengths of manholes
Diameter or m j o r axis Maximum length
mm mm
460 250
575 500
over 575 not restricted
Maximum lengths shall be interpolated linearly forhole
diameters between460 mm and 575 mm.
NOTE 1. Minimum manhole sizes of 18 in diameter or 18 in X 16 in
oval in line withcurrent practice will be acceptable pending
re-tooling bymanufacturers.
NOTE 2. Lengths should be kept to a practical minimum.
NOTE 3.Where design considerations make it impossible to satisfy
the maxirnum length requirement, the design of the manhole should
be the subject of special consideration and agreement among
manufacturer, purchaser and inspecting authority.
5. Minimum number of openings and their
Positions
5.1 In pressure vessels, the minimum number and type of
openings provided shallbe in accordance with table 2
and 5.2, except where suitableoptical devices (e.9. fibre
optic probes) are to be used.
Spherical vessels shall be treated as vessels with Zero length
of cylindrical section.
NOTE 1. This Standard does not specify requirements for the
minimum number, size and type of openings for optical devices and
these should be agreed by the purchaser, manufacturer and
inspecting authority.
NOTE 2. For optic probe inspection openings, reference may be
made to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas lndustry Technical
Association (UK), Code of practice No. 1, Part 2, 'Inspection and
Testing of Bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas Storage a t Consumers'
Premises'.

-
Table 2. Minimum number of openings
Vessel Length of Minimum number andtype of openings
Inside diameter cylindrical
section SightManholes
Head
Hand

mm mm
Up to 450 Unlimited or 2 1 or 1 0

Over 450 upto 800 Up to 1500 2 or 1 or 1 or 1

Over 1500
0 2 or 1 or 1
u p t o2000
Over 2000 0 3 or 1 or 1

Over 800 upt o 1500 Up to2000 0 2 or 1 or 1

Over 2000 0 3 or 1 or 1

Over 1500 Unlimited 0 0 0 1

2

5.2 All parts subject to inspection by means of sightholes,
handholes or headholes shall be within a distance of
1200 mm of sightholes and handholes, and 1700 mm of
headholes.
NOTE. This facility may be achieved by any cornbination of the
three types of holes, provided that the requirernents of table 1 are
satisfied. The distance should be rneasured along a straight line frorn
the area to be inspected to thecentre of the opening a t the external
face of the flange, taking into account that the path of viewing need
not be in a straight line, e.g. when optical devices are used
(see figure 2).
5.3 Where there are openings provided for entry into
internal compartments of a vessel, the openings shall be
NOTE. This is a typical exarnple illustrating theeffective viewing range provided by sightholes, handholesand headholes (See 5.2).
Hatching indicates the range of viewing for each hole.
All dirnensions are in millirnetres.
Figure 2. Viewing for sightholes, handholes and headholes
3
BS 470 : 1984
not less than the size of the external manhole.
NOTE 1. In view of the difficulties associated with rescue through
side entry rnanholes, their Position should be sited with regard to
platforrn access.
Manholes should be provided a t the location on the vessel which
provides easy entry, especially for rescue.
NOTE 2. The nurnber and siting of holes should take into account
the shape and the internal structure of the vessel, e.g. agitators,
baffles, etc. and the need for adequate illurnination t o be provided.
When cleaning out of a vessel prior t o inspection is required,
the openingk) provided should be of adequate size, and positioned
for cleaning to be carried out.
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This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of
the Pressure Vessel Standards Committee, w a s published under the
authority of the Board of BSI and cornes into effect on
31 January 1984.
@ British Standards Institution, 1984
First published October 1932
First revision September 1957
Second revision February 1976
Third revision January 1984
ISBN 0 580 13452 0
British Standards Institution
lncorporated by Royal Charter, BSI is the independent national
body for the preparation of British Standards. It is the UK member
of the International Organization for Standardization and UK
Sponsor of the British National Committee of the International
Electrotechnical Commission.
Copyright
Users of British Standards are reminded that Copyright subsists in
all BSI publications. No Part of this publicationmay be reproduced
in any form without the priorpermission in writing ofBSI. This
does not preclude the free use, in the Course of implementing the
Standard, of necessary details such as Symbols and size, type or
grade designations. Enquiries by post should be addressed t o the
Committees responsible for this British Standard
The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the
Pressure Vessel Standards Committee (PVEl-) t o Technical
Committee P V E / l l upon which the following bodies were
represented:
Associated Offices Technical Cornmittee
Association of Consulting Engineers
British Chemical Engineering Contractors' Association
Briiish Gas Corporation
Amendments issued since publication
Amd. No. Date of issue Text affected
British Standards Institution . 2 Park Street London W1A 2BS . Telephone 01-629
8401-3-1.4k-B
BS 470 : 1984
Publications Manager, British Standards Institution, Linford Wood,
Milton Keynes MK14 6LE. The number for telephone enquiries is
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Contract requirements
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible
for their correct application.
Revision of British Standards
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making use of a British Standard, encounters an inaccuracyor
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the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.
The following BSI references relate to the work on this Standard
Committee reference PVEll 1 Draft forcomment 82/77675 DC
Chemical lndustries Association
Electricity Supply lndustry in England and Wales
Engineering Equipment and Materials Users' Association
Health and Safety Executive
Institution of Gas Engineers
Institution
of Mechanical
Engineers
Process Plant Association
- Telex 266933
9000
PVE/11