What pressure must a hydrostatic test reach during the testing procedure?

In the context of hydrostatic testing, the test pressure is typically set to ensure the integrity and safety of the system being tested. The most common standard is to perform the test at a pressure that is 1.5 times the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) of the component or system. This means that if the system can safely operate at the MAWP, performing a hydrostatic test at 1.5 times that value allows for a substantial safety margin to verify that the system can handle higher pressures without leaking or failing.

The reasoning behind this approach is based on safety and reliability; materials may have slight imperfections or weaknesses that are not apparent during normal operation. The increased test pressure helps to identify these issues by exerting additional stress on the structure.

Choosing other values relative to MAWP, such as 2 times the MAWP, may not be practical or necessary based on industry standards and could lead to unnecessary costs or risks of damaging the system. It's also crucial that the test is not conducted at the exact MAWP to maintain a clear safety margin during testing.