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Abstract Prestressing techniques are generally used for the construction of large containment shells to overcome tension and to ensure tightness. Thus, the evaluation of the prestressing force variations considering the geometry and mechanical characteristics of tendons becomes an important matter. This paper considers the effects of time dependent deformations of materials on the circumferential prestress force in prestressed concrete cylindrical containments. Numerical studies are performed using creep and relaxation models presented in different codes of practice after checking the numerical model by experimental data reported elsewhere about a prestressed concrete beam. The effects of vertical prestressing and wall thickness are also studied. Obtained results show an amount of 15% to 22% of prestress loss in tendons, specially in those located around wall’s mid-height , on which relaxation of steel has a dominant effect. Furthermore, the minor effect of vertical prestresssing might be mentioned. Besides, the creep model of Iranian concrete code is studied and some suggestions are made for the modification of the coefficient used for the prestress losses due to relaxation effects.