Introduction to ASME
B31 series
CS B.3 (Introduction to ASME B31 series)
Introduction to ASME
B31 series
CS B.3 (Introduction to ASME B31 series)
Introduction to ASME B31 series
OUT LINES
• Publications
• Participation
• Interpretations
• ASME B31 Codes structure
– Foreword (General statement)
– Committee Roster (ASME B31 committee)
– Introduction (ASME B31 series for pressure piping)
– Summary of Changes
Code level
Introduction to ASME B31 series
OUT LINES
• Publications
• Participation
• Interpretations
• ASME B31 Codes structure
– Foreword (General statement)
– Committee Roster (ASME B31 committee)
– Introduction (ASME B31 series for pressure piping)
– Summary of Changes
Code level
Publication
• New edition every 2 years
Participation
• Meetings open to the public
• Meet 2 times a year in North America
• Ways to participate
– As a visitor
– As a Subgroup member
– As an International Review Group member
– As a Section Committee member
Code level
Introduction to ASME B31 series
OUT LINES
• Publications
• Participation
• Interpretations
• ASME B31 Codes structure
– Foreword (General statement)
– Committee Roster (ASME B31 committee)
– Introduction (ASME B31 series for pressure piping)
– Summary of Changes
Code level
Interpretations
• Are developed in response to inquiries
• Inquires must address Code requirements…The committee
may not
– Provide consulting assistance
– Explain why the requirements are the way they are
– Approve specific designs
• Responding to inquires is a priority, taking us only 2 to 8
months to develop interpretations
• Interpretations are published on B31 Committee page for
each code section
• Code is not a design handbook; it does not eliminate the
need for sound engineering judgment by the owner and the
designer.
• Code requirements are stated in terms of basic design
principles and formulas.
Introduction to ASME B31 series
OUT LINES
• Publications
• Participation
• Interpretations
• ASME B31 Codes structure
– Foreword (General statement)
– Committee Roster (ASME B31 committee)
– Introduction (ASME B31 series for pressure piping)
– Summary of Changes
Code level
General statement
Intent of the Code
• The code set forth engineering requirements deemed necessary
for safe design and construction…
• The code not intended to apply to piping that has been placed
in service.
• The Code never intentionally puts a ceiling limit on
conservatism
• The Code serves to warn a designer, fabricator, or erector
against possible pitfalls; but the Code is not a handbook, and
cannot substitute for education, experience, and sound
engineering judgment.
• The code generally employs a simplified approach, the designer
capable of applying a more complete and rigorous analysis shall.
• The approach and judgment shall have references and must be
consistent with design criteria, and must be accepted by the
owner
Introduction to ASME B31 series
OUT LINES
• Publications
• Participation
• Interpretations
• ASME B31 Codes structure
– Foreword (General statement)
– Committee Roster (ASME B31 committee)
– Introduction (ASME B31 series for pressure piping)
– Summary of Changes
Code level
ASME B31 committee
• The Sectional Committee be drawn from some 40 engineering
societies, industries, government bureaus, institutes, and
trade associations.
ASME B31 COMMITTEE Code for Pressure Piping
STANDARDS COMMITTEE OFFICERS
J. E. Meyer, Chair
J. W. Frey, Vice Chair
A. Maslowski, Secretary
STANDARDS COMMITTEE PERSONNEL
B31.1 POWER PIPING SECTION COMMITTEE
B31.3 PROCESS PIPING SECTION COMMITTEE
B31.4 Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquids
B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping
SUBGROUP ON DESIGN
SUBGROUP ON FABRICATION, EXAMINATION, AND TESTING
SUBGROUP ON GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
SUBGROUP ON MATERIALS
Introduction to ASME B31 series
OUT LINES
• Publications
• Participation
• Interpretations
• ASME B31 Codes structure
– Foreword (General statement)
– Committee Roster (ASME B31 committee)
– Introduction (ASME B31 series for pressure piping)
– Summary of Changes
Code level
ASME B31 series for pressure piping
• In 1926 the American Standards Association (ASA) initiated Project B31 to
develop a piping code. ASME was the sole administrative sponsor.
• From 1942 through 1955 the Code was published as the American
Standard Code for Pressure Piping, ASA B31
• It was composed of separate sections for different industries.
• These Sections were split off, starting in 1955
The various Section designations are as follows:
➢ B31.1 Power Piping
➢ B31.2 Fuel Gas Piping [withdrawn in 1988 and included in B31.3]
➢ B31.3 Process Piping
➢ B31.4 Liquid Transportation Systems
➢ B31.5 Refrigeration Piping
➢ B31.6 Chemical Plant Piping [never published]
➢ B31.7 Nuclear Piping [moved to ASME B&PVC, Section III
➢ B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
➢ B31.9 Building Services Piping
➢ B31.10 Cryogenic Piping [never published]
➢ B31.11 Slurry Piping
ASME B31 series for pressure piping
• Each code start with paragraph number relevant to the
code sequence in the B31 series,
➢ B31.1 Power Piping (paragraphs No. [Link])
➢ B31.3 Process Piping (paragraphs No. [Link])
➢ B31.4 Liquid Transportation Systems (paragraphs No. [Link])
➢ B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
(paragraphs No. [Link])
• Paragraph numbering system EX. 434.8.5(a)(2)(-a)
Introduction to ASME B31 series
OUT LINES
• Publications
• Participation
• Interpretations
• ASME B31 Codes structure
– Foreword (General statement)
– Committee Roster (ASME B31 committee)
– Introduction (ASME B31 series for pressure piping)
– Summary of Changes
Code level
Summary of changes
• Following approval by the ASME B31 Committee and
ASME, and after public review, ASME [Link]-20XX was
approved by the American National Standards Institute
on (date of issuance).
• Example for changes
