Updated ASME Pressure Vessel Code Raises the Bar for Reactor Fabrication

The July 2025 edition of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code updated Section VIII design and fabrication requirements, tightening how reactor and pressure vessel manufacturers engineer and document pressure-containing equipment. Market analysis reports that suppliers are responding through faster code alignment and stronger aftermarket service — Babcock & Wilcox, for instance, reported strong parts-and-service performance including pressure vessel upgrades in its Q1 2026 results. Demand for custom stainless and alloy reactor vessels remains concentrated in chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical applications, where downtime costs make traceability central to procurement.