Just found out a 6-inch schedule 80 pipe can hold over 2,000 PSI before it bursts

I was looking up pressure ratings for a job at a chemical plant in Baton Rouge and saw that. Had no idea regular carbon steel could take that much. Any of you guys ever pushed one close to that limit on site?

2 comments

2 Comments

beth_ward8028d agoOG Member

You ever seen a pipe bulge like a snake before it blows?

thea_chen28d agoMost Upvoted

I read somewhere that schedule 80 pipe can actually hold a lot more than its rated pressure in a pinch, but the real danger is the fittings and welds failing first. There was a story from a guy on a pipeline forum who said his crew hydrotested a 6-inch line up to 2500 PSI on a pump station job, and you could see the pipe visibly swell maybe a quarter inch in diameter before they bled it off. He said the trick was to have good safety zones and a remote camera, because if that thing lets go, it's like a bomb going off. I've never been that brave myself, but it's wild to think how much punishment steel can take before it finally gives.