A technician will pressure-test a system with nitrogen. What limit should the test pressure respect?
Safety · EPA 608 Core. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Exposure risks, protective equipment, the 80% cylinder limit and nitrogen for leak testing.
The question
A technician will pressure-test a system with nitrogen. What limit should the test pressure respect?
- The full pressure available from the nitrogen cylinder
- The rated test pressure for that systemCorrect answer
- Whatever pressure the relief valve allows
- At least twice the system's normal operating pressure
Why “The rated test pressure for that system” is correct
The test pressure must not exceed what the system and its components are built for, as shown on the nameplate or in the manufacturer's instructions. A regulator sets that pressure, and a relief valve protects against regulator failure.
Source: EPA: Test Topics
Why the other answers are wrong
- The full pressure available from the nitrogen cylinder — Full cylinder pressure can be thousands of psig and would burst the system.
- Whatever pressure the relief valve allows — The relief valve is a backup, not the target pressure.
- At least twice the system's normal operating pressure — Doubling operating pressure can exceed the system rating.
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