Section VIII - Division 2 contains mandatory requirements, specific prohibitions, and nonmandatory guidance for the design, materials, fabrication, examination, inspection, testing, overpressure protection, and certification of pressure vessels.

In the scope of this Division, pressure vessels are containers for the containment of pressure, either internal or external. This pressure may be obtained from an external source or by the application of heat from a direct or indirect source as a result of a process, or any combination thereof.

Vessels with an internal or external design pressure not exceeding 103 kPa (15 psi) and multichambered vessels of which the design pressure on the common elements does not exceed 103 kPa (15 psi) were not considered when the rules of this Division were developed and are not considered within the scope.

Careful application of this Section will help users to comply with applicable regulations within their jurisdictions, while achieving the operational, cost and safety benefits to be gained from the many industry best-practices detailed within these volumes.