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What are the ASME

Codes for Pressure
Vessels & Pressure
Piping

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ASME PRESSURE VESSELS

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ASME Section I and Section VIII

The ASME Code design criteria consist of rules for:
• Design method
• Design loads
• Allowable stress
• Acceptable materials
• Fabrication
• Testing
• Certification
• Inspection requirements

The ASME International Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code is made of 12 sections and
contains over 15 divisions and subsections.

Code Sections:
I. Power Boilers
II. Materials
III. Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components
IV. Heating Boilers
V. Nondestructive Examination
VI. Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers
VII. Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers
VIII. Pressure Vessels
IX. Welding and Brazing Qualifications
X. Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels
XI. Rules for In-service Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
XII. Rules for Construction and Continued Service of Transport Tanks
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SECTION I - Power Boilers:

This Section provides requirements for all methods of construction of power,
electric, and miniature boilers; high-temperature water boilers used in stationary
service; and power boilers used in locomotive, portable, and traction service.

1 GE Steam Boiler

SECTION II – Materials:
• Part A - Ferrous Material Specifications
• Part B - Nonferrous Material Specifications
• Part C - Specifications for Welding Rods, Electrodes, and Filler Metals
• Part D – Properties
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SECTION III - Rules for Construction of

Nuclear Facility Components:
Includes the “NV” (Nuclear Safety and
Pressure Relief Valves), Part A, Ferrous
Materials, Part B, Nonferrous Materials, Part
D, Properties, Customary or Metric and “N3”
(N-Type Certificates of Authorization and
Certificates of Accreditation).

This Subsection contains appendices, both

mandatory and nonmandatory for Section III.
The Division 1 includes the Subsection NCA
through NH as described below.

• DIVISION 1

• Subsection NB- Class 1 Components

• Subsection NC- Class 2 Components
• Subsection ND- Class 3 Components
• Subsection NE- Class MC Components
• Subsection NF - Supports
• Subsection NG - Core Support
Structures
nucleus.iaea.org
• Subsection NH - Class 1 Components in
Elevated Temperature Service

• DIVISION 2

• Code for Concrete Containments

• DIVISION 3

• Containments for Transportation and Storage

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SECTION IV - Heating Boilers:

Requirements for design, fabrication, installation and inspection of steam
generating boilers, and hot water boilers intended for low pressure service that
are directly fired by oil, gas, electricity, or coal.

It contains appendices which cover approval of new material, methods of

checking safety valve, safety relief valve capacity, definitions relating to boiler
design and welding and quality control systems.

SECTION V - Nondestructive Examination:

Requirements and methods for nondestructive examination which are referenced
and required by other code Sections.

It also includes manufacturer's examination responsibilities, duties of authorized

inspectors and requirements for qualification of personnel, inspection and
examination.
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SECTION VI - Recommended Rules for the

Care and Operation of Heating Boilers:
It defines general descriptions, terminology and guidelines applicable to steel
and cast iron boilers limited to the operating ranges of Section IV Heating Boilers.

It includes guidelines for associated controls and automatic fuel burning

equipment.

SECTION VII - Recommended Guidelines for

the Care of Power Boilers:
Guidelines to promote safety in the use of stationary, portable, and traction type
heating boilers.

The section provides guidelines to assist operators of power boilers in

maintaining their plants as safely as possible.

Contains fuels for routine operation; Operating and maintaining boiler

appliances; Inspection and prevention of boiler failure; Design of installa tion;
Operation of boiler auxiliaries; Control of internal chemical conditions
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SECTION VIII - Pressure Vessels:

• Division 1 - Provides requirements applicable to the design, fabrication,
inspection, testing, and certification of pressure vessels operating at either
internal or external pressures exceeding 15 psig.
• Division 2 - Alternative rules, provides requirements to the design,
fabrication, inspection, testing, and certification of pressure vessels
operating at either internal or external pressures exceeding 15 psig.
• Division 3 - Alternative rules for Construction of High Pressure Vessels,
provides requirements applicable to the design, fabrication, inspection,
testing, and certification of pressure vessels operating at either internal or
external pressures generally above 10,000 psi.

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SECTION IX - Welding and Brazing

Qualifications:
Rules relating to the qualification of welding and brazing procedures as required
by other Code Sections for component manufacture. Covers rules are related to
the qualification and re-qualification of welders and welding and brazing
operators in order that they may perform welding or brazing as required by other
Code Sections in the manufacture of components.

SECTION X - Fiber-Reinforced Plastic

Pressure Vessels:
Requirements for construction of FRP (Fiber-Reinforced Plastic) pressure
vessels in conformance with a Manufacturer's design report. It includes
production, processing, fabrication, inspection and testing methods required.

SECTION XI - Rules for In-service Inspection

of Nuclear Power Plant Components:
Requirements for the examination, in-service testing and inspection, and repair
and replacement of components and systems in light-water cooled and liquid-
metal cooled nuclear power plants.

SECTION XII - Rules for Construction and

Continued Service of Transport Tanks:
Requirements for construction and continued service of pressure vessels for the
transportation of dangerous goods via highway, rail, air or water at pressures
from full vacuum to 3,000 psig and volumes greater than 120 gallons.
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ASME PRESSURE PIPING

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ASME-ANSI B31 Codes:

• ASME B31 was earlier known as ANSI B31. The B31 Code for Pressure
Piping, covers Power Piping, Fuel Gas Piping, Process Piping, Pipeline
Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids,
Refrigeration Piping and Heat Transfer Components and Building Services
Piping.
• Piping consists of pipe, flanges, bolting, gaskets, valves, relief devices,
fittings and the pressure containing parts of other piping components. It
also includes hangers and supports, and other equipment items necessary
to prevent overstressing the pressure containing parts. It does not include
support structures such as frames of buildings, buildings stanchions or
foundations.

B31.1 - Power Piping:

• Required piping for industrial plants and marine applications. This code
prescribes requirements for the design, materials, fabrication, erection,
test, and inspection of power and auxiliary service piping systems for
electric generation stations, industrial institutional plants, central and
district heating plants. The code covers boiler external piping for power
boilers and high temperature, high pressure water boilers in which steam
or vapor is generated at a pressure of more than 15 PSIG; and high
temperature water is generated at pressures exceeding 160 PSIG and/or
temperatures exceeding 250 degrees F.

B31.2 - Fuel Gas Piping:

• This has been withdrawn as a National Standard and replaced by
ANSI/NFPA Z223.1, but B31.2 is still available from ASME and is a good
reference for the design of gas piping systems (from the meter to the
appliance).
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B31.3 - Process Piping:

• Code rules for design of chemical, petroleum plants, refineries,
hydrocarbons, water and steam. This Code contains rules for piping
typically found in petroleum refineries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile,
paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; and related processing plants
and terminals. It prescribes requirements for materials and Components,
design, fabrication, assembly, erection, examination, inspection, and
testing of piping. Also included is piping which interconnects pieces or
stages within a packaged equipment assembly.

B31.4 - Pipeline Transportation Systems for

Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids:
This Code prescribes requirements for the design, materials, construction,
assembly, inspection, and testing of piping transporting liquids such as crude oil,
condensate, natural gasoline, natural gas liquids, liquefied petroleum gas,
carbon dioxide, liquid alcohol, liquid anhydrous ammonia and liquid pe troleum
products between producers' lease facilities, tank farms, natural gas processing
plants, refineries, stations, ammonia plants, terminals (marine, rail and truck) and
other delivery and receiving points. The requirements for offshore pipelines are
found in Chapter IX. Also included within the scope of this Code are:

• Primary and associated auxiliary liquid petroleum and liquid anhydrous

ammonia piping at pipeline terminals (marine, rail and truck), tank farms,
pump stations, pressure reducing stations and metering stations, including
scraper traps, strainers, and proper loops;
• Storage and working tanks including pipe-type storage fabricated from
pipe and fittings, and piping interconnecting these facilities; Liquid
petroleum and liquid anhydrous ammonia piping located on property which
has been set aside for such piping within petroleum refinery, natural
gasoline, gas processing, ammonia, and bulk plants;
• Those aspects of operation and maintenance of liquid pipeline systems
relating to the safety and protection of the general public, operating
company personnel, environment, property and the piping systems.
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B31.5 - Refrigeration Piping and Heat

Transfer Components:
• This Code prescribes requirements for the materials, design, fabrication,
assembly, erection, test, and inspection of refrigerant, heat transfer
components, and secondary coolant piping for temperatures as low as -
320 °F (-196 °C), whether erected on the premises or factory assembled,
except as specifically excluded in the following paragraphs.
• Users are advised that other piping Code Sections may provide
requirements for refrigeration piping in their respective jurisdictions.

This Code shall not apply to:

• Any self-contained or unit systems subject to the requirements of

Underwriters Laboratories or other nationally recognized testing
laboratory:
• Water piping and piping designed for external or internal gage pressure
not exceeding 15 psi (105 kPa) regardless of size; or
• Pressure vessels, compressors, or pumps, but does include all connecting
refrigerant and secondary coolant piping starting at the first joint adjacent
to such apparatus.

B31.8 - Gas Transmission and Distribution

Piping Systems:
This Code covers the design, fabrication, installation, inspection, and testing of
pipeline facilities used for the transportation of gas. This Code also covers safety
aspects of the operation and maintenance of those facilities.

B31.8S - Managing System Integrity of Gas Pipelines:

This Standard applies to on-shore pipeline systems constructed with ferrous

materials and that transport gas. Pipeline system means all parts of physical
facilities through which gas is transported, including pipe, valves, appurtenances
attached to pipe, compressor units, metering stations, regulator stations, delivery
stations, holders and fabricated assemblies.
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The principles and processes are applicable to all pipeline systems. This
Standard is specifically designed to provide the operator (as defined in section
13) with the information necessary to develop and implement an effective
integrity management program utilizing proven industry practices and processes.
The processes and approaches within this Standard are applicable to the entire
pipeline system.

B31.9 - Building Services Piping:

This Section has rules for the piping in industrial, institutional, commercial and
public buildings, and multiunit residences, which does not require range of sizes,
pressures, and temperatures covered in B31.1. This Code prescribes
requirements for the design, materials, fabrication, installation, inspection,
examination and testing of piping systems for building services. It includes piping
systems in the building or within the property limits.

B31.11 - Slurry Transportation Piping

Systems:
Rule for design, construction, inspection and security requirements of slurry
piping systems. This code covers piping systems that transport aqueous slurries
of no hazardous materials, such as coal, mineral ores and other solids between
a slurry processing plant and the receiving plant.

B31G - Manual for Determining Remaining

Strength of Corroded Pipelines:
The scope of this Manual includes all pipelines within the scope of the pipeline
codes that are part of ASME B31 Code for Pressure Piping, ASME B31.4, Liquid
Transportation Systems for Hydrocarbons, Liquid Petroleum Gas, Anhydrous
Ammonia, and Alcohols; ASME B31.8, Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping
Systems; and ASME B31.11, Slurry Transportation Piping Systems. Parts 2, 3,
and 4 are based on material included in ASME Guide for Gas Transmission and
Distribution Piping Systems, 1983 Edition.