PD 5500-2024 + A2-2025 PDF

Full title and description

STB PD 5500-2024 + A2-2025 — Specification for unfired pressure vessels (PD 5500:2024 with Amendment A2:2025). This product entry refers to the PD 5500 suite published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and catalogued in some vendor/catalog systems with the STB/СТБ prefix. The document covers technical requirements, design rules, material tables, fabrication and inspection practices for unfired (non-fired) pressure vessels fabricated from steels and selected non-ferrous/alloy materials.

Abstract

PD 5500:2024 (with Amendment A2:2025) is the current BSI specification providing a consolidated code of practice for the design, manufacture, inspection, testing and assessment of unfired pressure vessels. The 2024 edition started a new publishing cycle and Amendment A2 (published in 2025) introduces technical and editorial updates including new material entries (duplex and nickel alloys), clarifications to nozzle reinforcement and drawing details, and guidance to reflect modern fabrication techniques such as certain additive manufacturing processes.

General information

• Status: Current / Definitive (active specification).
• Publication date: PD 5500:2024 — 31 January 2024; Amendment A2 — 2025 (A2 published in 2025, part of the 2024 three‑year cycle).
• Publisher: British Standards Institution (BSI).
• ICS / categories: 23.020.30 (Gas pressure vessels, pressure vessels) and related fluid storage ICS codes.
• Edition / version: PD 5500:2024 + A2:2025 (set edition including amendments).
• Number of pages: Approximately 1,080 pages for the main set (page counts reported by distributors vary slightly by format/SET).

Key bibliographic details and catalogue entries are published by BSI and shown by multiple standards distributors and resellers; distributors may show slightly different page-counts or set packaging.

Scope

This specification sets out mandatory and recommended requirements for the design, materials, fabrication (including welding), examination, testing, inspection, marking and certification of unfired pressure vessels constructed from carbon, ferritic alloy and austenitic steels, with material supplements and rules applicable to aluminium, copper, nickel, titanium and duplex alloys where referenced. It is intended for vessels operating under internal pressure and for use across industrial sectors where unfired vessels are employed. Amendment A2 updates material tables and adds technical clarifications to support current fabrication and verification practices.

Key topics and requirements

• Design rules and calculation procedures for shell, head, nozzles, and reinforcement.
• Material selection and material table entries (carbon/ferritic/austenitic steels plus updated duplex and nickel alloy listings in A2).
• Welding and fabrication requirements including welding procedures, qualifications and fusion welding best practice.
• Non‑destructive examination (NDE) methods and acceptance criteria; mechanical testing requirements.
• Inspection, pressure testing (hydrostatic and pneumatic), and leak testing practices.
• Repair, modification, and assessment procedures for in‑service components.
• Documentation, marking, certification and conformity verification for regulatory compliance (e.g., Pressure Equipment Safety Regulations where applicable).
• New or clarified items in Amendment A2: additions to material tables (duplex, nickel alloys), updated modulus values for some alloys, nozzle reinforcement clarifications, drawing and figure corrections, and guidance for certain additive manufacturing enquiries.

Typical use and users

PD 5500 is used by mechanical and pressure‑vessel design engineers, fabricators, welding coordinators, inspection and testing bodies, plant operators, QA/QC teams, and regulatory/compliance specialists. Industries include oil & gas, petrochemical and chemical processing, power generation (including conventional and certain nuclear applications where applicable), process manufacturing, and food & beverage where pressurised vessels are used. The standard is also consulted by conformity assessment bodies and clients commissioning pressure equipment.

Related standards

Commonly referenced or compared documents include: ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (ASME BPVC) for design and construction in US practice, EN 13445 (unfired pressure vessels) for European alternate rules, national pressure equipment regulations (e.g., UK PE(S)R) and other material‑specific EN/ISO standards referenced within PD 5500. PD 5500 is typically used alongside relevant material and welding standards cited in its normative references.

Keywords

PD 5500, unfired pressure vessels, pressure vessels, design code, welding, inspection, pressure testing, materials, duplex, nickel alloys, BSI, A2 amendment, nozzle reinforcement, NDE, fabrication, certification.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: PD 5500:2024 + A2:2025 is the BSI specification (code) for the design, manufacture, inspection and testing of unfired pressure vessels, issued as the 2024 edition with its second amendment published in 2025.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers technical rules and guidance for materials, design calculations, fabrication (including welding), NDE, testing (hydraulic/pneumatic), inspection, repairs and certification of unfired pressure vessels made from a range of metallic materials. Amendment A2 adds material-table updates and technical clarifications.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Mechanical/design engineers, pressure‑vessel fabricators, welding coordinators, inspection bodies, plant operators, QA/QC teams and regulatory/compliance specialists in industries that use pressurised equipment.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The PD 5500:2024 edition (with registered amendments A1 and A2) is the active/definitive edition that superseded PD 5500:2021+A3:2023. Users should always confirm they hold the latest set and amendments when applying the code.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: PD 5500 is maintained as a living document with a base edition and numbered amendments (A1, A2, etc.). It is part of the wider family of pressure‑vessel and pressure‑equipment standards and is linked to numerous material, welding and testing standards cited in its normative references.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Unfired pressure vessels, PD 5500, design code, pressure testing, welding, materials (duplex, nickel alloys), inspection, BSI, amendment A2:2025.