How long must hydrostatic pressure be maintained before inspecting pressure parts?

The maintenance of hydrostatic pressure for a specific duration is critical for ensuring the integrity of pressure parts. The correct answer, which specifies a duration of 15 minutes, is established based on industry standards that provide sufficient time for potential leaks to manifest and for the material to stabilize under pressure.

During this 15-minute interval, the pressure parts are subjected to the pressure test, allowing for thorough monitoring. This period is long enough to observe any pressure drop that could indicate a breach, while also giving the material time to adapt to the stress of the hydrostatic conditions. Inspections conducted after this specified duration increase the likelihood of detecting issues that may not surface immediately.

Maintaining pressure for shorter periods, such as 5, 10, or 20 minutes may not give a complete assessment of the integrity of the pressure parts or might result in missed leaks due to insufficient observation time. Thus, the requirement of a 15-minute duration is a balanced approach grounded in safety and reliability practices in pressure testing.