10/11/2018

Introduction to
ASME Codes and Standards

History

Found in 1880
 discussions were held on standards for shop drawing symbols, pulleys,
and line shafting, machine screws, key seats, and drawing boards. With
the ever-increasing industrialization, lack of interchangeability also
became a problem. Engineers realized the need for standardization – he
need to arrive at universal agreements on how, for example, a consumer
could buy a bolt in California for a nut acquired in New Jersey, or how a
worn boiler connection could be easily replaced by a new one that would
fit into place securely and safely.

In 1883,
 a committee on standards and gauges was created.

1884
 Such a test code was published in became ASME's first standard.

1
 10/11/2018

What is a standard?
 a set of technical definitions and guidelines- “how to” instructions
for designers and manufacturers.
 can run from a few paragraphs to hundreds of pages, are written
by experts.
 considered voluntary because they serve as guidelines, not having
the force of law.
 ASME publishes its standards; accredits users of standards to
ensure that they are capable of manufacturing products that meet
those standards; and provides stamps that accredited
manufacturers place on their products, indicating that a product
was manufactured according to a standard.
 ASME cannot, however, force any manufacturer, inspector, or
installer to follow ASME standards. Their use is voluntary.

Why then are standards effective?

“Standards are a vehicle of communication for

producers and users. They serve as a common
language, defining quality and establishing safety
criteria. Costs are lower if procedures are
standardized; training is also simplified. And consumers
accept products more readily when they can be judged
on intrinsic merit.”

2
 10/11/2018

Codes

What is a code?
A code is a standard that has been adopted by one
or more governmental bodies and has the force of
law, or when it has been incorporated into a
business contract.

What is the involvement of ASME

in codes and standards today?

Since the beginning of industrialization, ASME and many other standards

developing organizations have worked to fulfill the growing need for
standards in today’s world.

Through a voluntary, consensus process ASME standards are developed to

protect the health and welfare of the public.

In addition to developing these standards ASME provides conformity

assessment processes which help to ensure that manufacturers live up to the
relevant specifications and that certain personnel are properly trained.

3
 10/11/2018

ASME, the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), and

the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) are just some of the 200
plus volunteer organizations in the United States that adhere to
procedures accredited by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) for the development of standards. These
procedures must reflect openness, transparency, balance of interest,
and due process.

ASME is one of the oldest and most respected standards developing

organizations in the world. It produces approximately 600 codes and
standards, covering a multitude of technical areas including boiler
components, elevators, hand tools, fasteners, and machine tools.

How is ASME organized to produce codes

and standards?
Within ASME, the Council on Codes and Standards is one of five councils
that report to the Board of Governors. Under this Council, there are six
standards developing supervisory boards and four advisory boards that
manage over 100 committees with 4000 volunteer members.

The supervisory boards are responsible for pressure technology, nuclear

installations, safety codes, performance test codes, conformity assessment
and standardization. The advisory boards deal with metrication, international
standards, hearings and appeals and council operations. constantly revised
to reflect new developments and appeals and council operations.

The standards committee is composed of engineers with knowledge and

expertise in a particular field. They represent users, manufacturers,
universities, testing laboratories, and government regulatory agencies. The
committee maintains a balance of members in various interest classifications
so that no one group dominates. Volunteers must agree to adhere to the
ASME Policy on Conflict of Interest and the Engineer’s Code of Ethics.

4
 10/11/2018

ASME Stamps

ASME stamps issued are

A – FIELD ASSEMBLY OF POWER PP – PRESSURE PIPING

BOILERS

E – ELECTRIC BOILERS RP – REINFORCED PLASTIC PRESSURE

H – HEATING BOILERS, STEEL PLATE OR
CAST IRON SECTIONAL
HV – HEATING BOILER SAFETY VALVES
HLW – LINED POTABLE WATER HEATERS
M – MINIATURE BOILERS
N – NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
COMPONENTS
NPT – NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
COMPONENT PARTIALS
NA – NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
INSTALLATION/ ASSEMBLY
VESSELS
RTP – REINFORCED THERMOSET
PLASTIC CORROSION RESISTANT
EQUIPMENT
S – POWER BOILERS
U,U2,U3 – PRESSURE VESSELS
UD – RUPTURE DISC DEVICES
UM – MINIATURE PRESSURE VESSELS
UV – PRESSURE VESSEL SAFETY VALVES
UV3 – HIGH PRESSURE VESSEL SAFETY
VALVES

NV – NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SAFETY V – BOILER SAFETY VALVES

VALVES

10

5
 10/11/2018

Application of the ASME Certification Mark

11

2010 ASME
BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE
SECTIONS
 I Rules for Construction of Power Boilers
 II Materials
 Part A — Ferrous Material Specifications
 Part B — Nonferrous Material Specifications
 Part C — Specifications for Welding Rods, Electrodes, and Filler Metals
 Part D — Properties (Customary)
 Part D — Properties (Metric)
 III Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components
 Subsection NCA — General Requirements for Division 1 and Division 2
 Division 1
 Division 2 — Code for Concrete Containments
 Division 3 — Containments for Transportation and Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High Level
Radioactive Material and Waste
 IV Rules for Construction of Heating Boilers
 V Nondestructive Examination
 VI Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers
 VII Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers
 VIII Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels
 Division 1
 Division 2 — Alternative Rules
 Division 3 — Alternative Rules for Construction of High Pressure Vessels
 IX Welding and Brazing Qualifications
 X Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels
 XI Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
 XII Rules for Construction and Continued Service of Transport Tanks
12

6
 10/11/2018

ISSUANCE
EDITION:
 ASME BPVC issued every 3 years on July (the latest is 2010 edition, issued on 1 July,2010)

ADDENDA
 Colored-sheet Addenda, which include additions and revisions to individual Sections of
the Code, are published annually

INTERPRETATIONS
 ASME issues written replies to inquiries concerning interpretation of technical aspects of
the Code. The Interpretations for each individual Section will be published separately and
will be included as part of the update service to that Section. Interpretations of Section III,
Divisions 1 and 2, will be included with the update service to Subsection NCA.
 Interpretations of the Code are distributed annually in July with the issuance of the
edition and subsequent addenda.

CODE CASES
 The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee meets regularly to consider proposed
additions and revisions to the Code and to formulate Cases to clarify the intent of
existing requirements or provide, when the need is urgent, rules for materials or
constructions not covered by existing Code rules. Those Cases that have been adopted
will appear in the appropriate 2007 Code Cases book: “Boilers and Pressure Vessels”
and “Nuclear Components.” Supplements will be sent automatically to the purchasers of
the Code Cases books up to the publication of the 2010 Code.

13

NEW
Addenda :
 Started ASME in 2011 will no longer issue addenda (the latest addenda is 2011). The next edition of the
Code will be issued in 2013 and then issued every 2 years
 Become mandatory 6 months after issuance.

Special Notice:
 may be posted on the ASME Web site prior to issuance of edition
 It is an approved revisions to Code requirements
 Such revisions may be used on the date posted and will become mandatory 6 months after the date of
issuance in the next edition
 may also include a revision to a Code Case

Interpretations :
 Issued by ASME as written reply to inquiries concerning interpretation
 Posted in ASME web site http://cstools.asme.org/interpretations.cfm. semiannually (January and July)
 Any Interpretations issued during the previous two calendar years are included with the publication of the
applicable Section of the Code.

Errata :
 Correction to the code ie. Printer or typographical error
 may be posted on the ASME Web site

Code Cases :
 Alternative or New rules to the code
 Only applicable to the code specified
 Not Mandatory
 If used , must apply all requirements and identify in the Data report

Opinion :
 Unofficial interpretation on the intent of the code
 may be given by :NB P/V inspector, AIA, ASME member w/o letter follow up, Jurisdiction

14

7
 10/11/2018

CROSS-REFERENCING AND STYLISTIC CHANGES IN

THE BOILER
AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE
There have been structural and stylistic changes to BPVC, starting with the 2011 Addenda, that should be noted to aid
navigating the contents. The following is an overview of the changes:

Subparagraph Breakdowns/Nested Lists Hierarchy

 First-level breakdowns are designated as (a), (b), (c), etc., as in the past.
 Second-level breakdowns are designated as (1), (2), (3), etc., as in the past.
 Third-level breakdowns are now designated as (-a), (-b), (-c), etc.
 Fourth-level breakdowns are now designated as (-1), (-2), (-3), etc.
 Fifth-level breakdowns are now designated as (+a), (+b), (+c), etc.
 Sixth-level breakdowns are now designated as (+1), (+2), etc.

Footnotes
 With the exception of those included in the front matter (roman-numbered pages), all footnotes are treated as endnotes.
The endnotes are referenced in numeric order and appear at the end of each BPVC section/subsection.

15

CROSS-REFERENCING AND STYLISTIC CHANGES IN

THE BOILER
AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE
Submittal of Technical Inquiries to the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards Committees Submittal of
Technical Inquiries to the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards Committees has been moved to the front
matter. This information now appears in all Boiler Code Sections (except for Code Case books).

Cross-References

It is our intention to establish cross-reference link functionality in the current edition and moving forward. To facilitate this,
cross-reference style has changed. Cross-references within a subsection or subarticle will not include the designator/identifier
of that subsection/subarticle. Examples follow:

• (Sub-)Paragraph Cross-References. The cross-references to subparagraph breakdowns will follow the hierarchy of the
designators under which the breakdown appears.
 If subparagraph (-a) appears in X.1(c)(1) and is referenced in X.1(c)(1), it will be referenced as (-a).
 If subparagraph (-a) appears in X.1(c)(1) but is referenced in X.1(c)(2), it will be referenced as (1)(-a).
 If subparagraph (-a) appears in X.1(c)(1) but is referenced in X.1(e)(1), it will be referenced as (c)(1)(-a).
 If subparagraph (-a) appears in X.1(c)(1) but is referenced in X.2(c)(2), it will be referenced as X.1(c)(1)(-a).
 Equation Cross-References. The cross-references to equations will follow the same logic. For example, if eq. (1) appears
in X.1(a)(1) but is referenced in X.1(b), it will be referenced as eq. (a)(1)(1). If eq. (1) appears in X.1(a)(1) but is
referenced in a different subsection/subarticle/paragraph, it will be referenced as eq. X.1(a)(1)(1)

16

8
 10/11/2018

17