The ASME B31 Code for Pressure Piping consists of a number of individually published Sections, each an American National Standard, under the direction of ASME Committee B31, Code for Pressure Piping.
Rules for each Section reflect the kinds of piping installations considered during its development, as follows:
B31.1 Power Piping: piping typically found in electric power generating stations, in industrial and institutional plants, geothermal heating systems, and central and district heating and cooling systems
B31.3 Process Piping: piping typically found in petroleum refineries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; and related processing plants and terminals
B31.4 Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquids and Slurries: piping transporting products that are predominately liquid between plants and terminals and within terminals, pumping, regulating, and metering stations
B31.5 Refrigeration Piping and Heat Transfer Components: piping for refrigerants and secondary coolants
B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems: piping transporting products that are predominately gas between sources and terminals, including compressor, regulating, and metering stations; gas gathering pipelines
B31.9 Building Services Piping: piping typically found in industrial, institutional, commercial, and public buildings, and in multi-unit residences, which does not require the range of sizes, pressures, and temperatures covered in B31.1
B31.12 Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines: piping in gaseous and liquid hydrogen service and pipelines in gaseous hydrogen service
This is the B31.3 Process Piping Code Section. Hereafter, in this Introduction and in the text of this Code Section B31.3, where the word Code is used without specific identification, it means this Code Section.
It is the owner's responsibility to select the Code Section that most nearly applies to a proposed piping installation. Factors to be considered by the owner include limitations of the Code Section; jurisdictional requirements; and the applicability of other codes and standards. All applicable requirements of the selected Code Section shall be met. For some installations, more than one Code Section may apply to different parts of the installation. The owner is also responsible for imposing requirements supplementary to those of the Code if necessary to assure safe piping for the proposed installation.
Certain piping within a facility may be subject to other codes and standards, including but not limited to
ANSI Z223.1 National Fuel Gas Code: piping for fuel gas from the point of delivery to the connection of each fuel utilization device
NFPA Fire Protection Standards: fire protection systems using water, carbon dioxide, halon, foam, dry chemicals, and wet chemicals
NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities: medical and laboratory gas systems
building and plumbing codes, as applicable, for potable hot and cold water, and for sewer and drain systems
The Code sets forth engineering requirements deemed necessary for safe design and construction of pressure piping. While safety is the basic consideration, this factor alone will not necessarily govern the final specifications for any piping installation. The Code is not a design handbook. The requirements of this Code generally employ a simplified approach. Many decisions that must be made to produce a sound piping installation are not described in detail by this Code. The Code does not eliminate the need for sound engineering judgments by the owner and the designer.
To the greatest possible extent, Code requirements for design are stated in terms of basic design principles and formulas. These are supplemented as necessary with specific requirements to ensure uniform application of principles and to guide selection and application of piping elements. The Code prohibits designs and practices known to be unsafe and contains warnings where caution, but not prohibition, is warranted. This Code Section includes the following:
(a) references to acceptable material specifications and component standards, including dimensional requirements and pressure-temperature ratings(b) requirements for design of components and assemblies, including piping supports(c) requirements and data for evaluation and limitation of stresses, reactions, and movementsassociated with pressure, temperature changes, and other forces(d) guidance and limitations on the selection and application of materials, components, and joining methods(e) requirements for the fabrication, assembly, and erection of piping(f) requirements for examination, inspection, and testing of piping
ASME Committee B31 is organized and operates under procedures of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers that have been accredited by the American National Standards Institute. The Committee is a continuing one, and keeps all Code Sections current with new developments in materials, construction, and industrial practice. New editions are published at intervals of two years.
Code users will note that paragraphs in the Code are not necessarily numbered consecutively. Such discontinuities result from following a common outline, insofar as practical, for all Code Sections. In this way, corresponding material is correspondingly numbered in most Code Sections, thus facilitating reference by those who have occasion to use more than one Section.
It is intended that this edition of Code Section B31.3 not be retroactive. Unless agreement is specifically made between contracting parties to use another issue, or the regulatory body having jurisdiction imposes the use of another issue, the latest edition issued at least 6 months prior to the original contract date for the first phase of activity covering a piping installation shall be the governing document for all design, materials, fabrication, erection, examination, and testing for the piping until the completion of the work and initial operation.
Users of this Code are cautioned against making use of Code revisions without assurance that they are acceptable to the proper authorities in the jurisdiction where the piping is to be installed.
The B31 Committee has established an orderly procedure to consider requests for interpretation and revision of Code requirements. To receive consideration, such request must be in writing and must give full particulars in accordance with Appendix Z.
The approved reply to an inquiry will be sent directly to the inquirer. In addition, the question and reply will be published as part of an Interpretation supplement.
A Case is the prescribed form of reply when study indicates that the Code wording needs clarification, or when the reply modifies existing requirements of the Code or grants permission to use new materials or alternative constructions. The Case will be published as part of a Case supplement.
Code Cases remain available for use until annulled by the ASME B31 Standards Committee. A request for revision of the Code will be placed on the Committee's agenda. Further information or active participation on the part of the proponent may be requested during consideration of a proposed revision.
Materials ordinarily are listed in the stress tables only when sufficient usage in piping within the scope of the Code has been shown. Requests for listing shall include evidence of satisfactory usage and specific data to permit establishment of allowable stresses, maximum and minimum temperature limits, and other restrictions. Additional criteria can be found in the guidelines for addition of new materials in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section II. (To develop usage and gain experience, unlisted materials may be used in accordance with para. 323.1.2.)