NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 8715.1B Effective Date: February 01, 2021 Expiration Date: February 01, 2026

Subject: NASA Safety and Health Programs

Responsible Office: Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

Chapter 7. Ground-based Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems Safety

7.1 Ground-based Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems Program

Each Center shall document and implement a Center Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems (PVS) Program to manage risk to people and facilities posed by ground-based PVS in accordance with NASA STD 8719.17.

Note: See section 12.5 of this document for requirements pertaining to PVS in space and aeronautical flight programs and projects.

7.2 Institutional Safety Discipline Lead Designation - Pressure Systems

7.2.1 Each Center Director shall appoint in writing a qualified person as the PSM who is the Institutional Safety Discipline Lead for PVS.

7.2.2 In addition to the responsibilities outlined in 2.6.3, the PSM is responsible for verifying the Center conforms with this chapter, Federal regulations and state and local PVS regulations when not operating under exclusive federal jurisdiction.

7.3 Referenced Standards

Each Center shall design, acquire, operate, repair, and maintain all ground-based PVS in accordance with NASA-STD-8719.17, NASA Requirements for Ground-Based Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems (PVS).

7.4 Pressure Vessels and Pressurized Systems Unique Requirements

7.4.1 Center Directors shall direct application of NASA-STD-8719.17 to non-NASA-owned PVS that pose risks to NASA personnel, facilities, equipment, or property through contract provisions or other means (agreements, memoranda of agreement, joint use agreements) based on guidance from the PSM.

7.4.2 The PSM shall ensure Center compliance with applicable PVS regulations and with NASA-STD-8719.17 by:

a. Verifying that Center-specific procedures are developed and implemented for PVS design, acquisition, fabrication, inspection, testing, installation, repair, alteration, operation, maintenance, certification, and documentation of noncompliance.

b. Reviewing and approving design and procurement specifications for compliance.

c. Specifying voluntary consensus standards that apply to ground-based PVS consistent with the requirements of NASA-STD-8719.17 and interpret voluntary consensus standard application(s) to the Center.

d. Advising the Contracting Officer and Center Director on the application of this NPR and NASA-STD-8719.17 to contractor or tenant operations, if a non-NASA-owned PVS operated on NASA property poses risk to NASA personnel, facilities, or equipment.

e. Reviewing for equivalency and acceptance of non-NASA PVS safety programs with the potential to impact NASA operations or workforce.

f. Identifying, reviewing, and evaluating specific PVS or categories of PVS that may be excluded from Center PVS programs on the basis of negligible operational risk or hazard to personnel under any foreseeable failure, and documenting the rationale for the exclusion in the PVS configuration management system.

g. Verifying that periodic inspection and recertification is performed for all ground-based PVS to assure their ongoing fitness for service and to document and assess relevant changes in condition or knowledge that materially affect risk assessment.

h. Documenting and maintaining the certification status of PVS in the configuration management system, including indication of all exceptions, waivers, nonconformances, special constraints, or instructions required for safe operation of the PVS.

i. Ensuring all non-excluded PVS are evaluated and either certified or covered by approved waiver prior to operation.

7.4.3 Organizations involved with Ground-based PVS shall:

a. Design, acquire, fabricate, inspect, test, install, repair, alter, operate, and maintain all PVS items in accordance with NASA-STD-8719.17, and design specifications.

b. Develop and implement operation, inspection, and maintenance procedures to comply with the operational limits of the PVS.

c. Ensure that all PVS are certified prior to operation or covered by approved waiver prior to operation.

d. Ensure that all existing uncertified PVS are assessed and documented as sufficiently safe to operate by the PSM.

e. Employ personnel trained, qualified, and certified to operate a specific PVS.

f. Submit designs or procurement specifications for new PVS or modifications to existing PVS for review and approval by the PSM or designee prior to initiating the procurement action or the modification.

g. Control the configuration of PVS, including the engineering and maintenance changes made to PVS, through the use of a configuration management system.

7.5 Pressure Systems Manager Qualifications

7.5.1 The following represent the recommended minimum attributes for this position:

7.5.1.1 Education and experience (or demonstrated equivalent):

a. BS degree in an appropriate engineering field (e.g., mechanical, civil, structural, or aerospace engineering),

b. Ten years of combined experience in the design, operation, maintenance, or repair of pressure vessels or pressure piping systems, and

c. Five years of experience managing projects.

7.5.1.2 Knowledge requirements:

a. Thorough understanding of:

(1) American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) stress analysis, including pressure, external, thermal, dynamic loadings, etc.,

(2) Statics and dynamics,

(3) Fracture Mechanics,

(4) PVS fabrication, welding, inspection, etc. techniques and processes, and

(5) PVS failure modes and damage mechanisms, and the NDE techniques and analyses that are used to identify precursors to those failure modes and to determine acceptable limits on operations to avoid them.

b. Knowledge of ASME and other PVS Codes and standards, related Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and DOT regulations, and NASA policies, requirements, and procedures associated with PVS.

7.5.1.3 Ability to:

a. Advise the Center Director, the Contracting Officer, and other management and project management personnel on PVS issues, including budgets, procurements, certification and training requirements, operations, disposition of requests for relief from requirements, etc.

b. Represent the Center on the Agency-wide Pressure Systems Managers Working Group and to the Headquarters Office of Safety and Mission Assurance.

c. Develop and maintain Center PVS policies.

d. Plan and manage the Center PVS program, including developing budgets, schedules, a certification program, and work plans in order to manage risk associated with Center pressure systems.

e. Function as Center Institutional Safety Discipline Lead for PVS, including decisions regarding systems safety.

f. Work effectively with other high-level Center technical and management personnel.

g. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, in technical and project management scenarios.

h. Develop, review and assess PVS designs, drawings, and procurement specifications and statements of work for clarity, accuracy, and compliance with applicable requirements.

i. Assess and document PVS for adequate design and quality for the intended function, and ensure their fitness for service and safety for continued operation in accordance with the requirements of NASA-STD-8719.17.

j. Access PVS in the field for inspection and assessment as needed.

k. Incorporate results of field inspections and assessments of service-related degradation and accumulated cyclic fatigue and fracture damage into PVS certification decisions.

l. Fulfill all of the roles and responsibilities delineated in this NPR for the PSM.

7.5.1.4 Be conversant with the Federal procurement process, NASA and Center standards, directives, and processes, and hazard analysis processes.

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