Maximum allowable operating pressure: Steel or plastic pipelines.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no person may operate a segment of steel or plastic pipeline at a pressure that exceeds the lowest of the following:

(1) The design pressure of the weakest element in the segment, determined in accordance with subparts C and D of this part. However, for steel pipe in pipelines being converted under § 192.14 or uprated under subpart K of this part, if any variable necessary to determine the design pressure under the design formula (§ 192.105) is unknown, one of the following pressures is to be used as design pressure:

(i) Eighty percent of the first test pressure that produces yield under section N5.0 of Appendix N of ASME B31.8, reduced by the appropriate factor in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section; or

(ii) If the pipe is 123/4 inches (324 mm) or less in outside diameter and is not tested to yield under this paragraph, 200 p.s.i. (1379 kPa).

(2) The pressure obtained by dividing the pressure to which the segment was tested after construction as follows:

(i) For plastic pipe in all locations, the test pressure is divided by a factor of 1.5.

(ii) For steel pipe operated at 100 p.s.i. (689 kPa) gage or more, the test pressure is divided by a factor determined in accordance with the following table:

Class location Factors 1, segment— Installed before (Nov. 12, 1970) Installed after (Nov. 11, 1970) Converted under § 192.14 1 1.1 1.1 1.25 2 1.25 1.25 1.25 3 1.4 1.5 1.5 4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1 For offshore segments installed, uprated or converted after July 31, 1977, that are not located on an offshore platform, the factor is 1.25. For segments installed, uprated or converted after July 31, 1977, that are located on an offshore platform or on a platform in inland navigable waters, including a pipe riser, the factor is 1.5.

(3) The highest actual operating pressure to which the segment was subjected during the 5 years preceding July 1, 1970 (or in the case of offshore gathering lines, July 1, 1976), unless the segment was tested in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section after July 1, 1965 (or in the case of offshore gathering lines, July 1, 1971), or the segment was uprated in accordance with subpart K of this part.

(4) The pressure determined by the operator to be the maximum safe pressure after considering the history of the segment, particularly known corrosion and the actual operating pressure.

(b) No person may operate a segment to which paragraph (a)(4) of this section is applicable, unless over-pressure protective devices are installed on the segment in a manner that will prevent the maximum allowable operating pressure from being exceeded, in accordance with § 192.195.

(c) Notwithstanding the other requirements of this section, an operator may operate a segment of pipeline found to be in satisfactory condition, considering its operating and maintenance history, at the highest actual operating pressure to which the segment was subjected during the 5 years preceding July 1, 1970, or in the case of offshore gathering lines, July 1, 1976, subject to the requirements of § 192.611.

[35 FR 13257, Aug. 19, 1970]

Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting § 192.619, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and on GPO Access.