INSTRUCTION MANUAL

GENERAL INFORMATION
Before placing an order, ensure that the equipment has the necessary characteristics for its intended use (temperature, operating pressure, contained product, application).
Do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.

Two Types of Closures:

AUTOCLAVE:
The door opens inward into the vessel.
Sealing is achieved solely through the effect of internal pressure against the door.

EXTERNAL:
The door opens outward from the vessel.
Sealing is achieved by tightening the handwheel, handle, lever, or nuts.


Vertical or Horizontal Orientation:

Vertical: Hinges are on the long side of the door.

Horizontal: Hinges are on the short side of the door.


The closing handwheels must be tightened manually without using tools.

Hydraulic tests are conducted with natural rubber gaskets glued into the groove, at ambient temperatures between 20°C and 60Nm.
The Shore hardness of certain gaskets, such as "Viton," requires stronger tightening to ensure proper sealing.
For these types of gaskets, we recommend using externally sealed doors with peripheral tightening or autoclave doors.

With this type of gasket, the operating pressure must be reduced to one-third of the standard pressure used with elastomer gaskets.

Do not open the door while it is under pressure.

Any modification to the doors or the frame from their original condition will void the warranty and the manufacturer's liability.

CERTIFICATION
This equipment must never be used beyond its specified maximum allowable pressure.
Doors marked CODAP 2005 in our catalog have been designed based on the most demanding sizing calculations according to CODAP 2005, specifically following Division 1, Category C, with a welding coefficient of z = 0.7 (deep-drawn door, welded flange – the most unfavorable case).
This calculation allows the door to be used for Category I equipment or under §3.3 of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED).

For use in PED Categories II, III, or IV, the sizing remains appropriate.

WARNING: Certificates that were not requested at the time of ordering cannot be provided later.

INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Before positioning the base, always verify:

- The proper functioning of the opening/closing system
- The correct fit of the cover onto the frame
- That the equipment has not suffered any damage or deformation

Remove the cover, the closing system, and the gasket before installation.

Check that there are no damages, defects, or deformations in the opening made in the tank where the door will be installed, as this could compromise overall stability.

Installation must be carried out by qualified personnel.

It is strictly forbidden to modify the door or cut the frame.

Weldable Doors

Do not cut out the door opening before receiving the door. The opening should be made with as little clearance as possible.
When welding the frame, first tack weld at four diagonal points, then weld in a circular and regular manner every 5 cm, and finally weld it completely.
Continuously check the weld seam to prevent deformations that could compromise its tightness.
The welding must be carried out by qualified welders (QS, QMOS).

Doors to be Sealed

Regardless of their shape, doors must always be sealed after the construction of the tanks and before applying the sealing coating.
The opening in the concrete wall of the façade must be reserved according to the template measured from the outer edge of the frame.
The frames must be installed exclusively on cement plaster.
The door leaf should not be placed in the frame until 48 hours after sealing to avoid any deformation of the frame.
The plaster should not extend over the inner face of the frame to ensure perfect application of the seal.
These installation instructions are general and not exhaustive.

MAINTENANCE

Like all manufactured parts, doors and their seals are subject to aging.
Maintenance should be performed every three months to check the wear of the contact surfaces between the lid and the frame, the condition of the opening and closing system, the wear of the seal, and any surface degradation caused by installation in particularly unfavorable environments.
All wear-prone parts (such as the threads of eye bolts, handwheels, and handles) must be cleaned and lubricated regularly.
Seals should be checked each time the door is opened, cleaned to remove any residue, and replaced if necessary.
During long periods of inactivity or when the tank is empty, the lids must remain open to prevent seal expansion, which could lead to seal deterioration and an increased risk of leakage.

The lifespan of seals can be significantly reduced by environmental factors such as oxygen, ozone, heat, humidity, light, UV rays, solvents, or storage under mechanical stress.

For optimal use, seals should be stored:
- Flat, without tension or load
- At room temperature
- In a dry place, away from heat, light, and UV rays

Not near devices that produce ozone

Elastomers with damaged surfaces should no longer be used.
For cleaning, use a clean cloth, water, and soap.

PORTEX SAS – 70 RUE JB COLBERT – 10600 LA CHAPELLE SAINT LUC – France

Note: PORTEX declines all responsibility for damages resulting from improper installation, use, maintenance, or any modification of the supplied equipment.