ASME B31, Code for Pressure Piping is developed, published, and maintained by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The code covers a number of individual sections including Power Piping, Process Piping, Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids, Refrigeration Piping and Heat Transfer Components, Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems, Building Services Piping, and Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines.
The ASME B31 committee was originally formed in 1926. The code has a long history beginning as early as 1935. Some sections have been folded into others while others were superseded by other standards. The following outline lists when currently active sections were first published:
Each section includes a brief description of what piping systems are covered.
This section covers the minimum requirements for the design, materials, fabrication, testing, inspection, operation, and maintenance of piping applications for steam, water, oil, gas, air, and other services. Power piping applications are found in electric power generating stations, industrial and institutional plants, geothermal heating systems, and central and district heating and cooling systems. This section also covers external piping attached to an ASME Section I power boiler.
Superseded by ANSI Z223.1.
This section covers the minimum requirements for the design, materials, fabrication, testing, inspection, operation, and maintenance of piping applications involving the transportation and storage of all fluids found in petroleum and chemical processing refineries, as well as pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants. Fluids covered include:
This section covers the minimum requirements for the design, materials, components, fabrication, testing, inspection, operation, and maintenance of pipeline transportation systems. Transportation pipelines include all piping systems between the production fields or facilities including above- or below-ground storage facilities, refineries, processing facilities, pump stations, terminals, and tank farms. The section also covers the pipelines transporting slurries of nonhazardous materials.
This section covers the minimum requirements for the design, materials, components, fabrication, testing, inspection, operation, and maintenance of piping for refrigerants, heating transfer components, and secondary coolant piping.
Combined with B31.3.
Superseded by ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III.
This section covers the minimum requirements for the design, materials, components, fabrication, testing, inspection, operation, and maintenance of pipelines used for the transportation of gas.
This section covers the minimum requirements for the design, materials, components, fabrication, testing, inspection, operation, and maintenance of piping applications for industrial, institutional, commercial, and public buildings. This section is not as detailed or conservative in regards to the sizes, pressures, and temperatures of piping systems covered in B31.1.
Combined with B31.3.
Superseded by B31.4.
This section covers piping applications for gaseous and liquid hydrogen services. All components up to and including the point where the joint connects to the equipment are included. However, the equipment itself is not covered under this section.
B31G is a manual that supplements all parts of the ASME B31 Code for Pressure Piping. Its primary purpose is to serve as a guideline for evaluating metal loss in pipelines.
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May/June 2018 Inspectioneering Journal
By Ralph E. King P.E. at Stress Engineering Services Inc., John Norris, P.E. at Stress Engineering Services, Dr. Kannan Subramanian, Ph. D., P.E. at Stress Engineering Services Inc., and Daniel Ayewah, P.E. at Stress Engineering Services Inc.
There is concern in the industry over recent findings of reduced toughness fittings and flanges at risk of brittle fracture. This article provides an overview; possible contributors; measures taken to address; and a proposed FFS approach to address the issue. |
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January/February 2018 Inspectioneering Journal
By Phillip E. Prueter at The Equity Engineering Group, Inc.
Given the concern throughout industry regarding the potential for brittle fracture failures, PWHT guidance to address potential issues arising from the recent changes in PWHT code requirements for carbon steel is examined in this article, and commentary on the potential reduction in fracture toughness due to PWHT is provided based on a review of published literature. |
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July/August 2016 Inspectioneering Journal
By Mark Geisenhoff at Flint Hills Resources, Jonathan D. Dobis at The Equity Engineering Group, Inc., Phillip E. Prueter at The Equity Engineering Group, Inc., and Dr. Michael S. Cayard at Flint Hills Resources
This article summarizes a recent finite element analysis (FEA)-based study that employs creep simulation techniques to investigate the elevated temperature response of piping with peaked longitudinal weld seams. |
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September/October 2013 Inspectioneering Journal
By Joe Pikas at Technical Toolboxes
Even though oil and gas pipelines and their related facilities are generally safer for people and the environment compared to other means of transportation, occasional leaks and failures due to corrosion and other defects have become an issue in maintaining pipeline integrity. |
