A Berkeley Lab Safety Note is generally used to document engineering calculations
or tests of specific equipment or activities where there is a safety concern.
The following guidelines have been prepared to assist in writing Safety Notes
for pressure vessels and pressure systems.
In preparing a Safety Note, consider the following:
DescriptionHazardsCalculationsTests and/or CertificationsLabelingAssociated ProceduresReferencesSignature Authority
Distribution (see Safety Note Template title page)
SAFETY NOTE TEMPLATE
(Sample Title Page Format)
(Appropriate Department Title) Safety Note
Title
Safety Note Serial Number: _____________
Date:
_____________
Prepared by: _______________________________________________________
Responsible
Designer
Reviewed by: _______________________________________________________
Project
Mechanical Engineer, Physicist, etc.
Approved by: _______________________________________________________
Engineering
Division Director or Designee
Standard Distribution:
Author
EH&S Field Support Department
Project Mechanical Engineer, Physicist, etc.
Engineering Division Director
Responsible User
Appropriate Safety File
A. DESCRIPTION
- What kind of vessel is it? What is its configuration? Its size?
- What will be its use?
- What are the vessel's pressure ratings, Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
(MAWP), and Maximum Operating Pressure (MOP)?
- Is it an ASME-coded vessel?
- What are its operating temperature and environment?
- Is the vessel DOT-approved?
- Are there drawing numbers or sketches of the vessel you can cite?
- Where will the vessel be located? Building ________ Room ________.
- Who will be the responsible experimenter or user?
- From the above description, could a person find this vessel or system several
years from now?
B. HAZARDS
- What are the hazards in using this vessel?
- What is the stored energy (in gas-filled vessels)?
- Is a flammable, cryogenic, radioactive, toxic and/or corrosive material
involved? Identify the material and the amount used in the equipment, etc.
- What happens if a loss of power, coolant, instrument, air, etc., occurs?
- What can be done to eliminate or lessen the hazards, e.g., hoods, barricades,
protective clothing, design, special operating procedure?
C. CALCULATIONS
- What are the design specifications of the vessel?
- What are the material specifications?
- Are materials certifications required?
- Include calculations for the MAWP (see ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code,
Section VIII, Division 1, UG-98).
- Where applicable, show calculations for parameters such as:
- Weld shear stress
- Tensile stress on bolts, plates, etc.
- Hoop stress
- Thread shear
- Safety factors
- All components rated at or above MAWP do not require calculations.
- Cite manufacturers' ratings, stores-catalog ratings, and identifications.
- Show calculations for barricades or shields, if used.
D. PRESSURE TESTING
All pressure testing requires a procedure. Use this section to write the test
procedure. Specify: barricade requirements, test sequence, test pressure, test
fluid, test temperature, hold time, and acceptance leak rate. Record actual
test procedure and results.
Is a retest procedure required? Is it different from the original procedure?
Should the frequency of inspection or retest be specified?
E. LABELING
Attach a copy of the completed LBNL Pressure Tested label here.

F. ASSOCIATED PROCEDURES
List all procedures to be read and understood by all personnel operating the
equipment.
G. REFERENCES
List the references you have cited in your Safety Note.
H. SIGNATURE AUTHORITY AND DISTRIBUTION
The signature authority and standard distribution are shown on the sample title
page. Distribute the Safety Note to others having safety responsibility for
this equipment, such as Building Managers, Division Safety Coordinators, and
Area Operations Management.
_____________________
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