Lecture Notes

For
Pipeline Engineering (OG415)
UNIT (2): Pipelines Standards & Codes

2.1 Introduction

Codes usually set forth requirements for design, materials, fabrication, erection,
test, and inspection of piping systems, whereas standards contain design and
construction rules and requirements for individual piping components such as
elbows, tees, returns, flanges, valves, and other in-line items.

Compliance to code is generally mandated by regulations imposed by regulatory

and enforcement agencies. At times, the insurance carrier for the facility leaves
hardly any choice for the owner but to comply with the requirements of a code or
codes to ensure safety of the workers and the general public.

Compliance to standards is normally required by the rules of the applicable code

or the purchaser’s specification. Each code has limits on its jurisdiction, which are
precisely defined in the code. Similarly, the scope of application for each standard
is defined in the standard. Therefore, users must become familiar with limits of
application of a code or standard before invoking their requirements in design and
construction documents of a piping system.

The codes and standards which relate to piping systems and piping components
are published by various organizations. These organizations have committees made
up of representatives from industry associations, manufacturers, professional
groups, users, government agencies, insurance companies, and other interest groups.
The committees are responsible for maintaining, updating, and revising the
codes and standards in view of technological developments, research, experience
feedback, problems, and changes in referenced codes, standards, specifications, and
regulations. The revisions to various codes and standards are published periodically.
Therefore, it is important that engineers, designers, and other professional /
technical personnel stay informed with the latest editions, addenda, or revisions
of the codes and standards affecting their work.

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 Lecture Notes
For
Pipeline Engineering (OG415)
UNIT (2): Pipelines Standards & Codes

While designing a piping system in accordance with a code or a standard, the

designer must comply with the most restrictive requirements which apply to any
of the piping elements.

In regard to applicability of a particular edition, issue, addendum, or revision of a

code or standard, one must be aware of the national, state, provincial, and local
laws and regulations governing its applicability in addition to the commitments
made by the owner and the limitations delineated in the code or standard.

2.2 American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME)

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is one of the leading

organizations in the world which develops and publishes codes and standards. The
ASME established a committee in 1911 to formulate rules for the construction of
steam boilers and other pressure vessels. This committee is now known as the ASME
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee, and it is responsible for the ASME Boiler
and Pressure Vessel Code. In addition, the ASME has established other committees
which develop many other codes and standards, such as the ASME B31, Code for
Pressure Piping. These committees follow the procedures accredited by the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The eight major categories that the code covers are as follows,
1. Scope;
2. Design conditions;
3. Pressure design;
4. Flexibility and stress intensification;
5. Materials;
6. Standards;
7. Fabrication and assembly
8. Inspection, examination, and testing

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 Lecture Notes
For
Pipeline Engineering (OG415)
UNIT (2): Pipelines Standards & Codes

The original ASME B31 Code for Pressure Piping was first introduced in 1935
as the single document for piping design. In 1955, ASME began to separate the
code into sections to address the requirements of specific piping systems, as
follows.
B31.1: Power Piping is for piping associated with power plants and district heating
systems as well as geothermal heating systems.
B31.2: Fuel Gas Piping Code was withdrawn in 1988, and responsibility for that
piping was assumed by ANSI Z223.1.
B31.3: Process Piping (previously called the Chemical Plant and Petroleum
Refinery Piping Code) is the code that covers more varieties of piping systems.
B31.4: Liquid Transportation Systems for Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids
basically is a buried pipeline transportation code for liquid products. It is one of the
three B31 sections that are primarily for transportation systems. As such, they also
have to work with many of the transportation regulatory agencies to be sure that they
are not in conflict with those regulations.
B31.5: Refrigeration Piping and Heat Transfer Components is rather self-
explanatory. It is primarily for building refrigeration or larger heat transfer systems.
B31.7: Nuclear Piping was withdrawn after two editions and the responsibility was
assumed by ASME B&PV Code, Section III, Subsections NA, NB, NC, and ND.
This code had some very good explanations of the requirements of piping design.
B31.8: Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems addresses the
transportation of gases, and it too is primarily for buried piping. It is another pipeline
code. The Code of Federal Regulations (49CFR) is the law for these types of piping
systems. As such, that code must present complementary requirements. Also, a gas
pipeline would generally cover a fair amount of distance, and this may have several
different degrees of safety requirements over the pipeline as it progressively
proceeds through various population densities. Also, since natural gas has so much
inherent risk, it is quite detailed in its safety and maintenance requirements.

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UNIT (2): Pipelines Standards & Codes

B31.8S: Managing System Integrity of Gas Pipelines is a recently published book.

This is a book defining how to establish a plan to handle the problems those inherent
risks present.
B31.9: Building Services Piping addresses typical pressure piping systems that are
designed to serve commercial and institutional buildings
B31.11: Slurry Piping Systems is another transportation pipeline code that mostly
applies to buried piping systems that transport slurries.
B31.12: Hydrogen Piping System—this is a new code. It is in the final stages of
first development. When it is released by ASME, it will have many similar sections
to B31.3 and B31.8. It is planned as a three-part code that will include transportation,
piping, and distribution.
The ASME B16 Standards basically covers flanges, fittings, and valves. The
most familiar of those standards would be the following,

• B16.5 flanges
• B16.34 valves
• B16.9 wrought butt-weld fittings
• B16.11 forged fittings

2.3 American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) was earlier known as the
American Standards Association (ASA). For a short period of time, from 1967 to
1969, it was called the United States of America Standards Institute (USASI).
ANSI provides a forum for development or obtaining a consensus for approval
of standards having national impact and serves as a focal point for distribution of
national and other standards, including those developed and issued by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and foreign governments.
Safety is the basic objective of the engineering design and construction requirements
contained in standards developed, approved, and distributed by ANSI. The ANSI

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For
Pipeline Engineering (OG415)
UNIT (2): Pipelines Standards & Codes

standards include prohibition for practices considered unsafe and cautions where
advisory warnings, instead of prohibitions, are deemed necessary.
Development and approval functions are performed by committees representing a
cross section of affected interests, such as engineering societies, manufacturers,
trade institutes, fabricators, builders, universities, unions, insurance companies, and
government agencies. Many of the committees are chaired or sponsored by
engineering societies, such as ASME and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE). This chapter provides a brief discussion of various sections of
ASME B31, Pressure Piping Code, which was earlier known as ANSI B31, Pressure
Piping Code. It is envisioned that other ANSI standards may eventually become
known as ASME standards; however, they shall be subjected to approval of the
ANSI.
The following ANSI standards contain provisions related to piping,
A13.1-96 : Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems
B16.1-89: Cast Iron Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings
B16.3-92: Malleable Iron Threaded Fittings; Classes 150 and 300
B16.4.92: Cast Iron Threaded Fittings; Classes 125 and 250
B16.5-96: Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings
B16.9-93: Factory-Made Wrought Steel Butt- Welding Fittings
B16.10-92: Face-To-Face and End-To-End Dimensions of Valves
B16.11-96: Forged Steel Fittings, Socket-Welding and Threaded
B16.12-91:Cast Iron Threaded Drainage Fittings
B16.14-91: Ferrous Pipe Plugs, Bushings, and Lock- nuts with Pipe Threads
B16.15-85: Cast Bronze Threaded Fittings; Classes 125 and 250
B16.18-84: Cast Copper Alloy Solder Joint Pressure Fittings (R1994)
B16.36-96: Orifice Flanges
B16.40-85: Manually Operated Thermoplastic Gas Shutoffs and Valves in Gas Distribution Systems
(R1994)

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UNIT (2): Pipelines Standards & Codes

B16.42-87: Ductile Iron Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings; Classes 150 and 300 (R1997)
B16.44-95: Manually Operated Metallic Gas Valves for Use in House Piping Systems
B18.2.3.5M-79: Metric Hex Bolts; Errata-May 1981 (R1995)
B18.2.3.6M-79 :Metric Heavy Hex Bolts (R1995)
B18.18.1M-87 :Inspection and Quality Assurance for General Purpose Fasteners (R1994)
B18.18.4M-87 : Inspection and Quality Assurance for Fasteners for Highly Specialized Engineered
Applications (R1993)
B18.22.1-65 : Plain Washers (reaffirmation and re- designation of ASA 1327.2-1965) (R1990)
B32.5-77 : Preferred Metric Sizes for Tubular Metal Products Other than Pipe (R1988)
B36.10M-96 : Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe (revision of ANSI B36.10)
B36.19M-85 : Stainless Steel Pipe (revision of ANSI B36.19)
MFC-6M-87 : Measurement of Fluid Flow in Pipes Using Vortex Flow Meters
MFC-7M-87: Measurement of Gas Flow by Means of Critical Flow Venturi Nozzles (R1992)
N45.2.1-80: Cleaning of Fluid Systems and Associated Components for Nuclear Power Plants
NQA-1-1997: Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Nuclear Facilities

2.4 American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a scientific and
technical organization that develops and publishes voluntary standards on the
characteristics and performance of materials, products, systems, and services.
The standards published by the ASTM include test procedures for determining or
verifying characteristics, such as chemical composition, and measuring
performance, such as tensile strength and bending properties. The standards cover
refined materials, such as steel, and basic products, such as machinery and fabricated
equipment. The standards are developed by committees drawn from a broad
spectrum of professional, industrial, and commercial interests. Many of the
standards are made mandatory by reference in applicable piping codes.

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UNIT (2): Pipelines Standards & Codes

The ASTM standards are published in a set of 67 volumes. Each volume is

published annually to incorporate new standards and revisions to existing standards
and to delete obsolete standards. Listed here are the 67 volumes, divided among 16
sections, published by the ASTM.
2.5 American Petroleum Institute (API)
The American Petroleum Institute (API) publishes specifications (Spec.),
bulletins (Bull.), recommended practices (RP), standards (Std.), and other
publications (Publ.) as an aid to procurement of standardized equipment and
materials.
These publications are primarily intended for use by the petroleum industry.
However, they can be and are used by others in that they are referenced in a code or
invoked in the purchase order/specification governing the design and construction
of piping systems. Example: API Specification 5L & API Standard 605 are
referenced in ASME B31.1, Power Piping Code.
The following Specifications (Spec.) documents, which relate to piping, are
published by the API.

Spec. 2B-96: Specification for the Fabrication of Structural Steel Pipe

Spec. 6D-94: Specification for Pipeline Valves (Gate, Plugs, Ball, and Check Valves)
Spec. 5L-95: Specification for Pipeline

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UNIT (2): Pipelines Standards & Codes

Navigation in API Publications

END OF UNIT

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