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Air Reservoirs Built to BS 3256 (1960)
Bespoke Services for Bespoke Situations
The issue: our customer had a number of air tanks designed in accordance with BS 3256 (1960), very much in need of some TLC. It’s a design code for small fusion-welded air reservoirs for road and railway vehicles which has since been superseded by BS EN286-3:1995 (rail) and BS EN286-2:1992 (road). After an initial assessment to check their condition, they were hydro-tested and given a new coat of two-pack epoxy paint. Looking like new they were collected by a very happy customer. Do you have pressure vessels with an unusual or superseded design code? As well as the above, we can design and manufacture replacement vessels to current design codes – just give us a call!
BS 3256 specification for small fusion-welded air reservoirs for road and railway vehicles
We manufacture vessels to replace those previously built to BS 3256 in one offs or batches according to customer requirements, we now design build and certify them with a CE or UKCA mark to EN286.
Need one ? -email us on or ring +44 (0)1636 704208
BS3256 covered Air braking reservoirs for rolling stock. including Materials, formulae for calculation of shell and end plate thicknesses, types of welded joint etc.
it was Published By: British Standards Institution (BSI) Published Date: August 1980
Rolling stock brake reservoirs come in all shapes and sizes, most of which we can re-manufacture to fit the space required to suit your space in the chassis.
Specification for Small Fusion-Welded Air Reservoirs for Road and Railway Vehicles
Pressure up to 160 lb/sq in, internal diameter up to 22 inches. Materials, formulae for calculation of shell and end plate thicknesses, types of welded joint, welding procedure, dishing and flanging.
Bs 3256 was Originally published in July 29, 1960 covering Sampling methods, Welded joints, Design, Railway vehicle components, Marking, Testing conditions, Small, Fusion welding, Butt joints, Diameter, Design calculations, Air receivers, Joints, Steels, Pressure vessels, Dimensional tolerances, Bend testing, Specimen preparation, Outlet connections, Road vehicle components, Test specimens, Holes, Welding
It was REPLACED in 1994 by EN286 Simple unfired pressure vessels designed to contain air or nitrogen.
The British Standard was prepared under the direction of the Pressure Vessel Standards Policy Committee and is the English language version of EN 286-3:1994 Simple unfired pressure vessels designed to contain air or nitrogen — Part 3: Steel pressure vessels designed for air braking equipment and auxiliary pneumatic equipment for railway rolling stock, published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). It supersedes BS 3256:1960 which is withdrawn.
EN 286-3 was produced as a result of international discussions in which the United Kingdom took an active part.
Enquiries for this type of pressure vessel can be sent to us by email on or ring +44 (0)1636 704208
This Part of this European Standard is applicable to simple unfired steel pressure vessels, referred to as “vessel” in this standard, designed for air braking equipment and auxiliary pneumatic equipment for railway rolling stock (see 1.6).
1.6 The requirements of this Part of this European Standard apply to vessels designed to be fitted to rail vehicles used on the main national networks, urban networks, underground railways, trams, private networks (regional railways, company railways, …).
We manufacture Quality Great British Pressure Vessels, Blowdown Vessels, Flash Vessels, Accumulators, Heat Exchangers, Buffer vessels, Expansion Vessels, Surge Vessels and Air Receivers. Please do get in touch with any enquiry you have.
Give Abbott a call on + 44 1636 704208, email or use the enquiry button below.
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