VESSELS/HEAT EXCHANGERS

CODES

History of pressure vessel codes

Boiler explosion on March 20, 1905 in Brockton,
Massachusetts.
58 killed and 117 injured.
Need of legislative rules and regulation for
construction of boilers.
The first Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code was
published in 1915.
Necessary changes made and new sections added
as need arose.

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.
Codes specify requirements of design,
fabrication, inspection and testing of pressure
vessels.
Number of national codes have been developed
for pressure vessels by different countries.
In India, the code for pressure vessels is IS-2825

WHAT ARE ASME CODES?

It is a standard that provides rules for the
design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers
and pressure.
This establishes and maintains design,
construction and inspection standards
providing for maximum protection of life and
property.

ASME Codes - Manufacturer

A manufacturer obtains permission to use one of the
stamps through the ASME conformity assessment process.
The manufacturers quality control system is reviewed by
an ASME team.
If it meets ASME requirements and the manufacturer
successfully demonstrates implementation of the program,
the manufacturer is accredited by ASME.
The manufacturer then may certify the product as meeting
ASME standards and apply the stamp to the product.

Why follow ASME codes?

Excessive elastic deformation including elastic
instability
Excessive plastic deformation
Brittle fracture
Stress rupture or creep deformation (inelastic)
Plastic instability and incremental collapse
High strain and low cycle fatigue
Stress corrosion
Corrosion fatigue

ASME Codes - User

ASME Publications Catalog,
The ANSI Catalog of American National
Standards,
the US governments OSHA General Industry
Standards,
contact a standards organization directly.
http://www.asme.org/catalog

ASME Codes User

Insurance
Replacement

Proper Compliance
- Size specific
- Jurisdiction
Proper ASME stamps

The organization of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code is

as follows:
1. Section I: Power Boilers
2. Section II: Material Specification:
i. Ferrous Material Specifications Part A
ii. Non-ferrous Material Specifications Part B
iii. Specifications for Welding Rods, Electrodes, and Filler Metals
Part C
iv. Properties Part D
3. Section III Subsection NCA: General Requirements for Division 1
and Division 2
i. Section III Division 1:
a. Subsection NA: General Requirements
b. Subsection NB: Class 1 Components

 Subsection NC: Class 2 Components

d. Subsection ND: Class 3 Components
e. Subsection NE: Class MC Components
f. Subsection NF: Component Supports
g. Subsection NG: Core Support Structures
h. Appendices: Code Case N-47 Class 1:
Components in Elevated Temperature Service
Section III, Division 2: Codes for Concrete Reactor
Vessel and Containment
Section IV: Rules for Construction of Heating Boilers
Section V: Nondestructive Examinations

 Section VI: Recommended Rules for the Care and

Operation of
Heating Boilers
Section VII: Recommended Guidelines for Care of Power
Boilers
Section VIII
i. Division 1: Pressure Vessels Rules for
Construction
ii. Division 2: Pressure Vessels Alternative Rules
Section IX: Welding and Brazing Qualifications
Section X: Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels
Section XI: Rules for In-Service Inspection of Nuclear
Power Plant Components

Stamps

Nomenclature

Example
A heat exchanger qualifies as a UM stamped
pressure vessel if:
- Design pressure < 15psig
- Internal volume < 1.5 cubic ft. for 150<P<600
psig
- Internal volume < 5 cubic ft. for design P upto
250 psig

Example
A heat exchanger qualifies as a U stamped
pressure vessel if:
- Design pressure > 600 psig
- Internal volume > 1.5 cubic ft. for 150<P<600
psig
- Internal volume > 5 cubic ft. for design P upto
250 psig

Comparison of pressure vessels

Item
Scope

IS-2825

ASME Code
Section VIII

BS-5500

Unfired fusion
welded pressure
vessels
Pressure < 20
N/mm2
Do/Di < 1.5
Di > 150 mm
Water capacity >
50 litres

Welded, riveted,
forged and brazed
vessels
Water capacity>120
gal
Operating pressure >
15 psi
Di>6

Unfired fusion
welded pressure
vessels
Medium and
high pressure
storage vessels
Excludes
transportable
vessels.

Do/Di < 1.7

Vessels and
vessel parts
predominantly
under static
load.

Same as IS-2825
Cast iron, lined
material cast iron,
ferritic steel

Carbon, ferritic
alloy(low and
high) and
austenitic steels

All metallic
materials and
graphite, glass.

materials Carbon and low

alloy steels, high
alloy steel, Cu and
Cu alloys, Al and
alloys, bolting and
casting alloys

ADMerkblatter

Comparison of pressure vessels

ASME Code
Section VIII

BS-5500

Design
Maximum working
pressure pressure including
static head + 5%
maximum working
pressure.

Maximum
pressure at most
severe conditions

Maximum
pressure at
most severe
conditions

Based on
permissible
service pressure

Design
Highest metal
tempera temperature
-ture
expected under
operating conditions

Actual metal
temperature
expected under
operating
conditions

Actual metal
temperature
expected
under
operating
conditions +
margin for
uncertainties

Highest wall
temperature
expected under
working
conditions

Item

IS-2825

ADMerkblatter

Comparion of pressure vessels

National code

U.T.S

Yield strength

Sr(rupture
stress)

Creep stress

ASME: VIII
Div: 1

1.6

ASME: VIII
Div-2

1.5

BS-1515

BS-1515
Part II

2.5

1.5

1.5

BS-5500

2.35

1.5

1.3

ANCC

1.5

1.5

IS-2825

1.5

1.5

Explosions

 In spite of some of the most rigorous, wellconceived safety rules and procedures ever put
together, boiler and pressure vessel accidents
continue to occur.
In 1980, for example, the National Board of Boiler
and Pressure Vessel Inspectors reported:
- 1972 boiler and pressure vessel accidents, 108
injuries and 22 deaths.
The pressure vessel explosions are of course rare
nowadays and are often caused by incorrect
operation or poorly monitored corrosion.

 Safety in boiler and pressure vessels can be

achieved by:
Proper design and construction

Proper maintenance and inspection

Proper operator performance and vessel operation