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ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code 2021 Edition

ASME

The ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) is an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard that regulates the design and construction of boilers and pressure vessels. The ASME works as an accreditation body and entitles independent third parties (such as verification, testing and certification agencies) to inspect and ensure compliance to the BPVC. ASME codes and standards are used from small to medium-sized businesses, throughout the world. It is used by designers, constructors, plant operators, facility ownwrs, manufacturers, inspection bodies, insurers,research institute ,and even local and national governments.These codes and standards are used and developed throughout the world by enterprises of all sizes, ranging from , in developed and developing nations, to large, multi-national corporations. Manufacturers, facility owners, plant operators, designers, constructors, inspection bodies, insurers, research institutes, local and national governments follow ASME codes and standards.


ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code:

In 1880, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers was founded. First performance test code: Code for the Conduct of Trials of Steam Boilers was issued by ASME in1884. Later in 1990, First revision of an ASME standard, Standard Method of Conducting Steam Boiler Tests.


Anticipated release, June 2021. ASME’s BPVC is a truly international set of standards includes 30 books and 18,500+ pages and recognized by 116 countries. The standards cover industrial and residential boilers as well as nuclear reactor components, transport tanks, and other forms of pressure vessels. These standards are kept current by nearly 5,000 volunteer technical experts from industry, government, and R&D in a fully open & transparent manner. It Allows companies to use the ASME stamp to demonstrate their commitment to both safety & quality and fosters international sales while mitigating trade barriers.


BPVC is continuously evolving, providing essential rules & requirements across new materials, applications and technologies. These includes Materialproperties and specifications forconstruction, including ferrous & nonferrousmaterials, Proper care and maintenance requirements forNuclear and Non-Nuclear pressure devices, Customary and metric measurements, Safetyrules & guidelines for new constructionof Nuclear and Non-Nuclear pressuredevices and Design and construction criteria across devices& components.


The following are the ASME Codes & Standards:

Nuclear

• Nuclear Codes and Standards, Sections III & XI

• Standards committee on Cranes for Nuclear facilities

Pressure Technology

• BPVC Sections I, II, IV, V, VIII, IX, X, XII

• B31 Code

• Bioprocessing Equipment (BPE)

Safety

• A17 Elevators and Escalators

• B20 Safety Standards for conveyors and related equipment

• Rail Transit Vehicle Standard Committee

Standardization & Testing

• Y14 Engineering Drawings and related documents

• EA Industrial Energy Assessment Standards Committee

• Performance Test Codes


List of Sections of BPV code

  • Section I Power Boilers

    • S - Power Boilers

    • A - Assembly of Power Boilers

    • E - Electric BoilersE - Electric Boilers

    • M - Miniature Boiler

    • PP - Pressure Piping

    • V - Boiler Pressure Relief Valves

    • PRT - Parts Fabrication Heating Boilers

  • Section IV Heating Boilers ​

    • H - Heating Boilers/Cast Iron Sectional Heating Boiler

    • HLW - Lined Potable Water Heaters

    • HV - Heating Boiler Safety Valves

    • PRT - Parts Fabrication Pressure Vessels

  • Section VI Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers​

  • Section VII Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers

  • Section VIII Pressure Vessels

    • Section VIII Division 1

      • U - Pressure Vessels

      • UM - Miniature Pressure Vessels

      • UV - Pressure Vessel Pressure Relief Valves

      • UD - Pressure Vessel Pressure Relief Devices

      • PRT - Parts Fabrication Pressure Vessels

    • Section VIII Division 2

      • U2 - Pressure Vessels (Alternative Rules for Pressure Vessels

    • Section VIII Division 3

      • U3 - High-Pressure Vessels

      • UV3 - HP Vessel Pressure Relief Valves

      • UD3 - HP Vessel Pressure Relief Devices

      • RTP - Reinforced Plastic Vessels

  • Section X Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels

    • RP - Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Vessels Transports Tank

  • Section XII Rules for Construction and Continued Service of Transport Tanks

    • T - Transport Tanks

    • TV - Transport Tanks Pressure Relief Valves

    • TD - Transport Tanks Pressure Relief Devices

    • PRT - Parts Fabrication

  • Section XIII Rules for Rules for Overpressure Protection


The ASME Certification Mark

Companies and regulating authorities all over the world are using ASME Certification Mark as a standard of the company towards commitment to public safety and quality. The ASME Single Certification Mark (The MARK) is the international mark of safety and quality. It is used by customers, industry, supply chain and regulators. Equipments having The MARK proclaim its eminent public safety and quality. The applicants of ASME certification must be on the latest release of the standard 6 months after its release to be in compliance with certification.


U & UM Certifications

  • BPVC Section II-Materials-Part A-Ferrous Materials Specifications (2 Volumes)

  • BPVC Section II-Materials-Part B-Nonferrous Material Specifications

  • BPVC Section II-Materials Part C-Specifications for Welding Rods Electrodes and Filler Metals

  • BPVC Section II-Materials-Part D-Properties-(Customary or Metric)

  • BPVC Section V-Nondestructive Examination

  • BPVC Section VIII-Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels Division 1

  • BPVC Section IX- Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Qualifications

  • CA-1 Conformity Assessment Requirements

Section I Power Boilers

Section I 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

• Traction service

The rules are applicable to boilers in which steam or other vapor is generated at pressures exceeding 15 psig, and high-temperature water boilers intended for operation at pressures exceeding 160 psig and/or temperatures exceeding 250◦ Fahrenheit.


Section IV Rules for Construction of Heating Boilers

Section IV provides requirements for the design, fabrication, installation, and inspection of steam heating, hot water heating, hot water supply boilers, and potable water heaters, intended for low-pressure service and that are directly fired by oil, gas, electricity, coal or other solid or liquid fuels. Section IV contains appendices that cover:

• Submission of new materials for approval

• Definitions relating to boiler design and welding

• Quality control systems

• Methods along with examples of

o Checking safety-valve and safety-relief-valve capacity

o Calculation and computation


Section VI Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers

This Section covers general descriptions, terminology, and operation guidelines applicable to steel and cast-iron boilers that are limited to the operating ranges of Section IV Heating Boilers. Section VI includes:

• Guidelines for associated controls and automatic fuel-burning equipment

• Illustrations showing typical examples of available equipment.

• A glossary of terms commonly associated with boilers, controls, and fuel-burning equipment


Section VII Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers​

This Section provides recommended guidelines to promote safety in the use of power boilers. The term “power boiler”, in this Section, includes stationary, portable, and traction-type boilers, but does not include locomotive and high-temperature-water boilers, nuclear power-plant boilers, heating boilers, pressure vessels, or marine boilers. Emphasis has been placed on industrial-type boilers because of their extensive use. Section VII includes:

• Guidelines to assist those directly responsible for operating, maintaining, and inspecting power boilers.

• Operation of auxiliary equipment and appliance guidelines that affect the safe and reliable operation of power boilers.


Section VIII, Division 1​ Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels

Division 1 is very important from a design perspective because of the compulsory requirements, specific prohibitions, and impulsive, guidelines for materials, design, fabrication, inspection, and testing, markings and reports, overpressure protection, and certification of pressure vessels having an indoor or external pressure more than 15 psi (100 kPa) The Division isn’t numbered within the traditional method (Part 1, Part 2, etc.) but is structured with Subsections and Parts, which contains letters followed by variety. “Design-by-Rule” philosophy


Section VIII, Division 2 Alternative Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels

  • Division 2 provides requirements applicable to the design, fabrication, inspection, testing, and certification of pressure vessels operating at either internal or external pressures exceeding 15 psig.

  • This pressure may be obtained from an external source or by the application of heat from a direct or indirect source, or any combination thereof.

  • These rules provide an alternative to the minimum requirements for pressure vessels under Division 1 rules. These rules may also apply to human occupancy pressure vessels typically in the diving industry.

  • Both “Design-by-Rule” and “Design-by-Analysis” (a methodical approach for demonstrating the adequacy of a pressure vessel component design. It provides detailed rules for performing analyses.) philosophy

Difference between Section VIII ​ Division 1 & 2

ASME Section VIII, Division 2 is intended for purpose-specific vessels with a defined fixed location. Another major difference between the Division 1 and Division 2 lies in failure theory. While Division 1 is based on normal stress theory, Division 2 is based on maximum distortion energy.


Section VIII, 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.

  • Division 3 rules cover vessels intended for a specific service and installed in a fixed location or relocated from work site to work site between pressurizations.

  • Division 3 does not establish maximum pressure limits for either Section VIII, Divisions 1 or 2.


Section X Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels

This Section provides requirements for the construction of an FRP pressure vessel in conformance with a manufacturer's design report. It includes production, processing, fabrication, inspection, and testing methods required for the vessel. Section X includes three Classes of vessel design; Class I and Class III - qualification through the destructive test of a prototype and Class II - mandatory design rules and acceptance testing by nondestructive methods. These vessels are not permitted to store, handle or process lethal fluids. Vessel fabrication is limited to the following processes: bagmolding, centrifugal casting, and filament-winding, and contact molding.


Section XII Rules for Construction and Continued Service of Transport Tanks

This section covers 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. "Construction" is an all-inclusive term comprising materials, design, fabrication, examination, inspection, testing, certification, and overpressure protection. "Continued service" is an all-inclusive term referring to inspection, testing, repair, alteration, and recertification of a transport tank that has been in service. This Section contains modal appendices containing requirements for vessels used in specific transport modes and service applications.


Section XIII Rules for Overpressure Protection ​

This section covers 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." Construction" is an all-inclusive term comprising materials, design, fabrication, examination, inspection, testing, certification, and overpressure protection. "Continued service" is an all-inclusive term referring to inspection, testing, repair, alteration, and recertification of a transport tank that has been in service. This Section contains modal appendices containing requirements for vessels used in specific transport modes and service applications.


Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code​

  • Section III Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components

  • Section XI Rules for In-service Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components

Certification Programs

  • N: Vessels, pumps, valves, piping systems, storage tanks, core support structures, concrete containments, and transport packaging

  • NA: Field installation and shop assembly of all items

  • NPT: Parts, appurtenances, welded tubular products, and piping subassemblies

  • NS: Supports

  • NV: Pressure relief valves

  • N3: Transportation containments and storage containments

  • OWN: Nuclear power plant owner

  • QSC- Nuclear Material Organization

Section III (Nuclear)

Section III Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components:

• Subsection NCA: General requirements for Divisions 1 & 2

• Appendices: Mandatory and non-mandatory appendices referenced by all Divisions of Section III

• Division 1: Requirements for Class 1, 2, 3 and MC Components, Supports and Core Support Structures o Subsection NB: Class 1 Components

o Subsection NCD: Class 2 & 3 Components o Subsection NE: Class MC Components

o Subsection NF: Supports

o Subsection NG: Core Support Structures

• Division 2 Code for Concrete Containments

• Division 3 Containment Systems & Transport Packagings

• Division 5 High-Temperature Reactors


Section XI (Nuclear)

Section XI Rules In-Service Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components: Provides requirements to maintain the nuclear power plant while in operation & to return the plant to service following outages.

• Division 1 Rules for Inspection and Testing of Components of Light-Water-Cooled Plants:

Rules for the examination, inspection, and testing; NDE methods, qualifications, and requirements; evaluation and acceptance standards for flaws, defects, and relevant conditions; repair/replacement processes and correction actions/measures in light water-cooled nuclear power plants.

• Division 2 Requirements for Reliability and Integrity Management Programs for Nuclear Power Plants:

Provides requirements for the creation of the Reliability and Integrity Management (RIM) Program, which addresses the entire lifecycle of a plant for all types of nuclear power plants, including advanced nuclear reactor designs.


Service Sections

  • Section II Materials: Contains four parts that efficiently organize the important materials data used in ASME code design and construction of boilers and pressure vessels.

  • Section V Nondestructive Examination: Contains requirements and methods for the 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.

  • Section IX Welding and Brazing Qualifications: This relates to the qualification of welders, welding operators, brazers, and brazing operators, and the procedures that they employ in welding and brazing.

Service Section IX Welding and Brazing Qualifications

Codes listed all refer to Section IX for welding and brazing

  • I Rules for Construction of Power Boilers

  • II Materials

  • III Nuclear Components

  • IV Heating Boilers

  • VIII Pressure Vessels

  • XI Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plants

  • XII Transport Tanks

  • B31.1 Power Piping

  • B31.3 Process Piping

  • B31.4 Liquid Transportation Systems

  • B31.5 Refrigeration Piping

  • B31.8 Gas Transmission & Distribution Piping Systems

  • B31.9 Building Services Piping

  • B31.11 Slurry Transportation Piping Systems

  • B31.12 Hydrogen Piping

Errata

  • Errata to codes and standards may be posted on the ASME Web site under the Committee Pages to provide corrections to incorrectly published items, or to correct typographical or grammatical errors in code and standard. Such errata shall be used on the date posted.

  • On the Committee Page, there is an option available to automatically receive an e-mail notification when errata are posted to a particular code or standard.


Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code​

  • Code Cases are published on the ASME website under the Committee Pages as they are issued. And are included with each edition.

  • Interpretations ASME issues written replies to inquiries concerning interpretations of technical aspects of this Standard. And are included with each edition.

  • Code Cases and Interpretations are published on the ASME Web site



**The content of this article is taken from web open source. The blogs are intended only to give technical knowledge to young engineers. Any engineering calculators, technical equations, and write-ups are only for reference and educational purposes.



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