Final verification of MAWP must consider which factor?

• A. Weakest pressure-retaining component
• B. Average component strength
• C. Total number of components
• D. Overall vessel weight

Answer: (A)

The final verification of MAWP is governed by the weakest pressure-retaining component. In a pressure vessel, all parts that hold or transfer pressure must be able to withstand the operating pressure, and a single under‑strength component creates a leakage path or failure risk that controls the safe limit. So the maximum allowable working pressure is set by the lowest allowable pressure among all pressure-retaining parts—the weakest link dictates the overall MAWP.

The other ideas don’t align with how MAWP is determined: averaging strengths across parts can mask a single weak component, the total number of components doesn’t reflect pressure capacity, and the vessel’s weight has no direct bearing on its ability to contain pressure.