FOREWORD The Sectional Commitee on the Standardization of Pipe Flanges and Pitngs, B16, organized in 1920 under the procedure of the American Standards Association (ASA), ppainted a subgroup of Subcommittee 3 (0% SheommitteeF) to initate the standardization of welding litngs im May 1037. The first mesting of this grou ters eld Ltr that month, andl tts meting in December 1936, n New Yor, was agreed t undertake the stan Sarlzationof dimensions ef soke.weldng tings and rele thispojetto anew drafngsubgroup. One ofthe most Important dimensions of eis typeof ing requiring standardzaton was considered tobe the dimension fom the enterlne ofthe iting tothe bottom ofthe sek sinc from the standpon ofthe designing engvoethis mension overnsthelecatan of cent pipewith reference tothe entire pipiglayout Aneter important Remo cosidraton teas the welding let dimensions The drain subgroup held meetings in Chicago. Detroit and New Yorkin March 1939 and May and October 1940 especies ani at heart amet meeting the completed dat ofthe proposed standard war dgcare, apd Frher Feri were sugested When apple tothe epee 1940 drat these changes produced tbe May 1941 dra whlch ‘was prepared for dstibution to Indust frees and comment. Taisdstibution resulted in anumber of epfl comments Themembersofthesubgroup agreed by mallthatmay of the changes suggested shouldbe incorporsted inthe revised drat December 1941) Progresso the spprovl of the Standardwas delayed by the World War I fer which afew more changes were added to make the proposal acceptable toalleoncerned Therevsed drat (Apr 1946} wes then submited tothe membersfthesoctonl commie forte ballot ore Following the approval ofthe zectonl commits, the proposed standard as next approved bythe spontor bodice and presented tothe ASA with recommendation for approval ss an America Standard. This designation was gsen on Deceiver 9, 1946 Tn 1960, i'as agreed that he standard needed complete revision an simultaneous that should be expanded to over threaded tings an pugs, then covered by MSS SP-49 and S.A Task Force worked lige for our years Deore arsvng ata draft that was acceptable They aso found tat ratings were outdated abd eliinated the 000-0 lasses of threaded tng, assigned pressure temperature ratings fora numberof mater, andeanverted he scker- ‘welatngratingsto 3000 and 66001, Following approval the Sectional Commitee andSponsos ASAapprval was ranted on Janay 28,1956 Following desigation changes of ASA to ANS and Sectional Gommite to Standards Comite, Sabeomitee 6 began consideration of ehanges in 1968-Esry in 1972, changes inthe presse cts designations, materials nd ar ition of wording were sereed ion and submited for appro. Ths war erated on ne 20. 1973, comment and proposals or change that were received. The development procedure was arduonsinchatanunber of ballots were eaten that ellced many adatonal comments and counterpropocl. The major changes cluded an "expanded scope for eter dfncon, equicementsfor conformance marking 8 Nontandstry Annex with rovsions forprooforburstestngandthelnchsion ofmezicequvalents, Followingopprovalbythe Standards Commitee andCo Secretariat nal approval by ANSI was granted on October 6, 1380 In 1982, American Nations Standards Committe B16 was reorganized as an ASME Comittee operating under eoredures accreted by ANS. The 1991 eiton ofthe standard reted “Forged Fitngs, See Welcing ad ‘ed edtral revisions were made to prove the text Following approval bythe Standards Commits nd ASHE, Anal !pproval by ANSI was ganted on Mare, 1991 11996 metic dimensions were added a ahindependent but equal atandardtatheinch unis Following approval ly ‘he Standards Commitee and ASME. this revision tthe 1991 edon of ds Standard was approved as an AMWFCaN National Standard by ANSI on December 16 1996, withthe new designation ASME B1611-1996 12000, the Standards Committee ASHE. and ANSI approved an addendato ths Standard te remove patil compl- ance itings and nonstandard material reguierent- Due to an ASME pli change concerning the publishing of bends the vended aden changes sere Incorporate ito te 2001 eiton