Abstract
The boiler and pressure vessel industry had its beginning in satisfying the power needs of industrial emergence. Its earliest products, which were built by ‘eye’ and ‘rule-of-thumb’ methods, gave rise to frequent explosions with disastrous results. Out of this, with the cry for safety, came the slow transformation of a manufacturing art into an engineering science, with highly beneficial effects. This was largely achieved by the gradual introduction of construction codes based on technical knowledge and experience. Technological advance, however, outstrips codes; but codes must not be allowed to inhibit creative thought and development. Herein lies a potential source of accident; therefore no new design should be translated into effect without full technical appraisal and practical test. Examples taken from experience indicate the manner of meeting the demand for new criteria and the challenge of new design, while preserving the principles of safety and reliability.
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