Meca;
First off, your client should discuss this situation with their Authorized Inspection Agency, if they have a contract with one, and the Jurisdiction where the object is located.

If the Jurisdiction does NOT regulate pressure vessels, which some do not, you would have to review the specifics of the pressure vessel with whomever is going to insure it or if the owner is self-insured, will be willing to take the risk of operation. If the client excepts the risk (in other words they are self insured), I would recommend a detailed "fitness for service" evaluation be performed by a competent engineering organization. If the client is not self insured, they would have to seek approval from the insurance agency that will insure the vessel and would most likely would require a "fitness for service" evaluation. The ASME code deals only with new construction NOT with in service vessels. The vessel will not be stamped.

If your Jurisdiction does have regulations requiring a code stamped vessel, the only choice you may have is to ask the Jurisidiction to have the vessel listed as a "state special". This would require a "fitness for service" evaluation as recommended by the Jurisdiction to determine if the vessel meets the current code requirements. This will require material certification and code calcs as a minimum.

I had a similar case several years ago. Contact the Chief Boiler & Pressure Vessel inspector for your jurisdiction., see the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspector website for contact information. http://www.nationalboard.org/members/mb_index.html . Each Jurisdiction has there own rules.

We get this all the time from clients with old, outdated PVs (I've seen some built in the early 50s still in service!!!) that were built under the old code so they are usually a great deal thicker than they would need to be if built today and they now want them code stamped now for whatever reason.  We tell them it is time to build a new PV if they need one in service that is code stamped.  I'm afraid your client is out of luck unless they want to build a new PV.

Good luck!

Brian

meca,

Regarding your question #1)  This is a common problem and the vessel often remains in operation subject to approval by the Jurisdiction.  As you would guess, most jurisdictions would not want such a situation, but most have provisions for the safe operation of these mystery vessels.  The ASME Code does not address this situation.

Regarding your question #2)  Regardless of age, an existing vessel may not be ASME Code stamped on retro-active basis.

You may be interested to know that API-510, Pressure Vessel Inspection Code, addresses the situation you querried.  It takes  essentially same approach that most Jurisdictions use already.  The vessel must be inspected, documented and verified by calculation as meeting the Jurisdiction's criteria (similar to ASME, but not same).

Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com