INTERPRETATIONS

NO. 41 - SECTION I
Replies to Technical Inquiries
January 1,1997 through June 30, 1997

FOREWORD

General Information
This publication includes all written interpretations issued between the indicated dates by the ASME
Staff on behalf of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee in response to inquiries concerning
interpretations of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. A contents is also included which lists
subjects specific to the interpretations covered in the individual volume. These interpretations are
not a part of the Addenda or the Code.
These interpretations are taken verbatim from the original letters, except for a few typographical
and editorial corrections made for the purpose of improved clarity. In some instances, a review of the
interpretation revealed a need for corrections of a technical nature. In these cases, a revised interpretation
is presented bearing the original Interpretation Number with the suffix R and the original file number
with an asterisk. Following these revised interpretations, new interpretations and revisions to them
issued during the indicated dates are assigned Interpretation Numbers in chronological order. Interpretations
applying to more than one Code Section appear with the interpretations for each affected Section.
ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of these interpretations when or if additional information ,
is available which the inquirer believes might affect the interpretation. Further, persons aggrieved by
an interpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME committee or subcommittee. As stated in the
Statement of Policy in the Code documents, ASME does not “approve,” “certify,” “rate,” or “endorse’*
any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity.
An interpretation applies either to the Edition and Addenda in effect on the date of issuance of the
interpretation or the Edition and Addenda stated in the interpretation. Subsequent revisions to the Code
may supersede the interpretation.
For detailed instructions on preparation of technical inquiries to the ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Committee, refer to Appendix I.

Subject and Numerical Indexes

Subject and numerical indexes have been prepared to assist the user in locating interpretations by
subject matter or by location in the Code. They cover interpretations issued from Volume 12 up to
and including the present volume, and will be updated with each volume.

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 SECTION I

Subject Interpretation File No.

PG-27.2.2, Piping, Drums, and Headers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-95-35 BC%-184

PC&27.2.2. PG-27.4 Note I. and PG-38. Multiple Openings With Overlapping
Reinforcement Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-95-37 BC96-457
PG-42, Use of Materials Not Listed in PG-9 for Standard Pressure Parts . . . . . . . . . . I-95-38 BC96-459
PG68.4. Required Valve Relieving Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-95-36 BC96-455
PC&lOI.I.1, Heating Surface Computation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-95-39 BC96-460

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Section I - Interpretations No. 41 I-95-35, I-95-36, I-95-37

Interpretation: l-95-35

Subject: Section I, PG-27.2.2, Piping, Drums, and Headers

Date Issued: January 20, 1997

File: BC96- 184

Question: There appears to be a discrepancy between the two formulas in PG-27.2.2. which are
presented in terms of either outside diameter (D) or inside radius (R). If the equivalent of 2R+2t is
substituted into the diameter based formula, the radius based formula cannot be derived from the
results. Are the formulas of PG-27.2.2 correct and consistent with each other?

Reply: Direct your attention to the last sentence of the first paragraph of Note 3 in PG-27.4.
Evaluating the formulas in PG-27.2.2, using either a diameter or radius which has been adjusted by
an amount equal to that part of C which is being applied to the outside diameter or inside radius,
will result in correct and consistent values for maximum allowable working pressure.

Interpretation: l-95-36

Subject: Section I, 1992 Edition Including 1994 Addenda, PG-68.4, Required Valve Relieving
Capacity

Date Issued: January 20, 1997

File: BC96-455

Question: In PG-68.4, does the requirement for 15% of the required relieving capacity refer to
the combined capacity of the valves located along the steam flow path between the reheater outlet
and the first stop valve?

Reply: Yes.

Interpretation: l-95-37

Subject: Section I, PG-27.2.2, PG-27.4 Note 1, and PG-38, Multiple Openings With Overlapping
Reinforcement Limits

Date Issued: January 20, 1997

File: BC96-457

Question: When multiple openings are spaced at less than two times the distance defined in PG-
36.2 and PG-36.3, so that their limits of compensation overlap and the designer chooses to compensate
for the openings in accordance with the rules of PG-38 rather than PG-52, may the formulas of PG-
27.2.2 be applied with a value of E = l.O?

Reply: Yes.

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I-9538, I-95-39 Section I - Interpretations No. 41

Interpretation: l-95-38

Subject: Section I, PG-42, Use of Materials Not Listed in PG-9 for Standard Pressure Parts

Date Issued: January 20, 1997

File: BC96-459

Question: Does PG-9 prohibit the use of ASTM materials for standard pressure parts which are
permitted in PG-11 and which comply with the American National Standard products listed in PG-42?

Reply: No, except for materials specifically prohibited or beyond the use limitations of Section I.

Interpretation: l-85-39

Subject: Section I, PG-101.1.1, Heating Surface Computation

Date Issued: January 20. 1997

File: BC96-460

Question: For firetube boilers with tubes having internal ribs providing extended heating surface,
should the heating surface computation required by PG-101.1.1 account for the actual extended surface
exposed to heat?

Reply: Yes.

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