ASTM F1273-21

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F1273 − 91 (Reapproved 2013) F1273 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Tank Vent Flame Arresters
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1273; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification provides the minimum requirements for design, construction, performance, and testing of tank vent flame
arresters.
1.2 This specification is intended for flame arresters protecting systems containing vapors of flammable or combustible liquids
where vapor temperatures do not exceed 60°C. The test media defined in 9.1.1 can be used except where arresters protect systems
handling vapors with a maximum experimental safe gap (MESG) below 0.9 mm. Flame arresters protecting such systems must
be tested with appropriate media (the same vapor or a media having a MESG no greater than the vapor). Various gases and their
respective MESG are listed in Table 1.
NOTE 1—Flame arresters meeting this specification also comply with the minimum requirements of the International Maritime Organization, Maritime
Safety Committee Circular No. 373 (MSC/Circ. 373/Rev. 1).
1.3 The values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
information only.after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test methods portions, Sections 8 and 9, of this specification: This
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.5 This standard should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat
and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire risk
assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end
use
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F25 on Ships and Marine Technology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F25.11 on
Machinery and Piping Systems.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2013May 1, 2021. Published October 2013June 2021. Originally approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 20072013 as F1273
– 91 (2007).(2013). DOI: 10.1520/F1273-91R13.10.1520/F1273-21.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1273 − 21
TABLE 1 Gases and Their MESGs
Inflammable Gas or Maximum Experimental
Vapor Safe Gap
mm in.
Methane 1.170 0.046
Blast furnace gas 1.193 0.047
Propane 0.965 0.038
Butane 1.066 0.042
Pentane 1.016 0.040
Hexane 0.965 0.038
Heptane 0.965 0.038
Iso-octane 1.040 0.041
Decane 1.016 0.040
Benzene 0.99 0.039
Xylene 1.066 0.042
Cyclohexane 0.94 0.037
Acetone 1.016 0.040
Ethylene 0.71 0.028
Methyl-ethyl-ketone 1.016 0.040
Carbon monoxide 0.915 0.036
Methyl-acetate 0.990 0.039
Ethyl-acetate 1.04 0.041
Propyl-acetate 1.04 0.041
Butyl-acetate 1.016 0.040
Amyl-acetate 0.99 0.039
Methyl alcohol 0.915 0.036
Ethyl alcohol 1.016 0.040
Iso-butyl-alcohol 0.965 0.038
Butyl-alcohol 0.94 0.037
(normal)
Amyl-alcohol 0.99 0.039
Ethyl-ether 0.864 0.034
Coal gas (H 57 %) 0.482 0.019
Acetylene <0.025 <0.001
Carbon disulphide 0.203 0.008
Hydrogen 0.102 0.004
Blue water gas (H 0.203 0.008
53 % CO 47 %)
Ethyl nitrate <0.025 <0.001
Ammonia 3.33 0.133
Ethylene oxide ;0.65 ;0.026
Ethyl nitrite 0.922 0.038
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F722 Specification for Welded Joints for Shipboard Piping Systems
F1155 Practice for Selection and Application of Piping System Materials
2.2 ANSI Standard:
B16.5 Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings
2.2 Other Documents:
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code:Code Section VIII, Division 1, Pressure Vessels1
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code:Code Section IX, Welding and Brazing QualificationsIX
International Maritime Organization, Maritime Safety Committee: MSC/Circ. 373/Rev. 1ASME B16.5 Revised Standards for
the Design, Testing and Locating of Devices to Prevent the Passage of Flame into Cargo Tanks in TankersPipe Flanges and
Flanged Fittings: NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 Metric/Inch Standard
International Electrotechnical Commission: Publication 60079-1 International Electrotechnical Commission: Publication 79-
1Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Gas AtmospheresExplosive atmospheres — Part 1: Equipment protection by flameproof
enclosures ‘d’
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME International Headquarters, Two Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
www.asme.org.
Available from International Electrotechnical Commission, 3 rue de Varembe, Case Postale 131, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland.
F1273 − 21
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 flame arrester—arrester, n—a device to prevent the passage of flame in accordance with a specified performance standard.
Its flame arresting element is based on the principle of quenching.
3.1.2 flame passage—passage, n—the transmission of a flame through a flame arrester.
3.1.3 flame speed—speed, n—the speed at which a flame propagates along a pipe or other system.
3.1.4 gasoline vapors—vapors, n—a nonleaded petroleum distillate consisting essentially of aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds
with a boiling range of approximately 65 to 75°C.
4. Classification
4.1 The two types of flame arresters covered in this specification are classified as follows:
4.1.1 Type I—Flame arresters acceptable for end-of-line applications.
4.1.2 Type II—Flame arresters acceptable for in-line applications.
5. Ordering Information
5.1 Orders for flame arresters under this specification shall include the following information, as applicable:
5.1.1 Type (I or II),
5.1.2 Nominal pipe size,
5.1.3 Each gas or vapor in the tank being protected by the flame arrester and the corresponding MESG,
5.1.4 Inspection and tests other than those specified by this specification,
5.1.5 Anticipated ambient air temperature range,
5.1.6 Purchaser’sPurchaser’s inspection requirements (see 10.1),
5.1.7 Description of installation (distance and configuration of pipe between the arrester and the atmosphere or potential ignition
source) (see 8.2.4.2),
5.1.8 Materials of construction (see Section 6), and
5.1.9 Maximum flow rate and the design pressure drop for that maximum flow rate.
6. Materials
6.1 The flame arrester housing, and other parts or bolting used for pressure retention, shall be constructed of materials listed in
Practice F1155, or Section VIII, Division 1, of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
6.1.1 Arrester, elements, gaskets, and seals shall be of materials resistant to attack by seawater and the liquids and vapors
contained in the tank being protected (see 5.1.3).
6.2 Nonmetallic materials, other than gaskets and seals, shall not be used in the construction of pressure-retaining components of
the flame arrester.
6.2.1 Nonmetallic gaskets and seals shall be noncombustible and suitable for the service intended.
F1273 − 21
6.3 Bolting materials, other than those in 6.1, shall be at least equal to those listed in Table 1 of ANSIASME B16.5.
6.4 The possibility of galvanic corrosion shall be considered in the selection of materials.
6.5 All other parts shall be constructed of materials suitable for the service intended.
7. Other Requirements
7.1 Flame arrester housings shall be gastight to prevent the escape of vapors.
7.2 Flame arrester elements shall fit in the housing in a manner that will ensure tightness of metal-to-metal contacts in such a way
that flame cannot pass between the element and the housing.
7.2.1 The net free area through flame arrester elements shall be at least 1.5 times the cross-sectional area of the arrester inlet.
7.3 Housings and elements shall be of substantial construction and designed for the mechanical and other loads intended during
service. In addition, they shall be capable of withstanding the maximum and minimum pressures and temperatures to which the
device may be exposed under both normal and the specified fire test conditions in Section 9.
7.4 Threaded or flanged pipe connections shall comply with the applicable B16 standards in Practice F1155. Welded joints shall
comply with Specification F722.
7.5 All flat joints of the housing shall be machined true and shall provide for a joint having adequate metal-to-metal contact.
7.6 Where welded construction is used for pressure-retaining components, welded joint design details, welding, and nondestruc-
tive testing shall be in accordance with Section VIII, Division 1, of the ASME Code and Specification F722. Welders and weld
procedures shall be qualified in accordance with Section IX of the ASME Code.
7.7 The design of flame arresters shall allow for ease of inspection and removal of internal elements for replacement, cleaning,
or repair without removal of the entire device from the system.
7.8 Flame arresters shall allow for efficient drainage of condensate without impairing their efficiency to prevent the passage of
flame.
7.8.1 Where the design does not permit complete drainage of condensate through its connection to the tank, the housing shall be
1 1
fitted with a plugged drain opening on the side of the atmospheric outlet of not less than ⁄2-in. nominal pipe size (NPS ⁄2).
7.9 All fastenings shall be protected against loosening.
7.10 Flame arresters shall be designed and constructed to minimize the effect of fouling under normal operating conditions.
7.11 Flame arresters shall be capable of operating over the full range of ambient air temperatures anticipated.
7.12 End-of-line flame arresters shall be so constructed as to direct the efflux vertically upward.
7.13 Flame arresters shall be of first class workmanship and free from imperfections
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