ASME B31.

3 - Substantive Changes to 2014 Edition

Saturday, 24 January 2015
Don Frikken
Piping
In addition to the many clarifications, updated references to codes and standards,
updates to basic allowable stresses, and added listed materials, there are several
substantive changes to the 2014 Edition of ASME B31.3, Process Piping.
These changes are:

Category M Fluid Service

The definition was revised in the 2014 edition to provide better guidance on selection of the
Category M Fluid Service designation
(b) Category M Fluid Service: A fluid service in which all of the following apply:
(1) The fluid is so highly toxic that a single exposure to a very small quantity of the
fluid caused by leakage, can produce serious irreversible harm to persons on
breathing or bodily contact, even when prompt restorative measures are taken;
and
(2) If after consideration of piping design, experience, service conditions, and
location, the Owner determines that the requirements for Normal Fluid Service do
not sufficiently provide the leak tightness required to protect personnel from
exposure.
Flared laps are prohibited for use in Category M fluid service in the 2014 edition.

Allowable Stress Range

The 2014 edition explicitly requires that the maximum value of SL considering all conditions
be used in calculating the allowable stress range.

Thermowells
The 2014 edition requires that thermowells comply with ASME PTC 19.3 TW.

Cold Spring
The 2014 edition requires that when cold spring is used, the reactions be computed both
with the assumption that only two-thirds of the design cold spring is present, and with fourthirds of the design cold spring present.

Impact Testing of Carbon Steels

The 2014 edition restricted the use of Fig. 323.2.2B to provide a further basis for the use of
carbon steels without impact testing. It may not be used for:

Piping in elevated temperature service

Piping that is expected to experience shock loading or thermal bowing
Piping that contains welds between dissimilar materials

The Code warns that the calculation of stresses due to cold springing or misalignment
should be included as part of the stress ratio.

Weldolets
The 2014 edition added requirements for and illustrations of welds for integrally reinforced
branch connections.

Preheat
The 2014 edition revised the preheat requirements somewhat. This revision, along with
revisions to ASME B31.1, makes the preheat requirements in the two Codes the same.

Heat Treatment
The 2014 edition significantly revised the heat treatment requirements. This revision, along
with significant revisions to ASME B31.1, makes the heat treatment requirements in the two
Codes the same.

Examination Personnel
The 2014 edition added specific examination personnel qualification requirements, which
are those described in ASME B&PV Code, Section V. The qualifications:

Shall be in accordance with the employers written practice and

Must be in accordance with one of the following documents

SNT-TC-1A, Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive Testing

ANSI/ASNT CP-189, ASNT Standard for Qualification and Certification of Nondestructive
Testing Personnel

National or international central certification programs, such as the ASNT Central

Certification Program (ACCP) or ISO 9712:2012-based programs, may be alternatively
used to fulfill the training, experience, and examination requirements of the documents
listed above.

Magnetic Particle and Liquid Penetrant Examinations

The 2014 edition added specific acceptance criteria for magnetic particle and liquid
penetrant examination.

Hydrotest

The 2014 edition permits the hydrotest pressure to be lowered to the design pressure
while examining for leaks.
The 2014 edition simplified the calculation of hydrotest pressure.

High Pressure Piping

The 2014 edition changed the leak test pressure from 1.5 times the design pressure
corrected for temperature to 1.25 times the design pressure corrected for temperature.

Alternative Rules for Evaluating Stress Range

Because of the potential for misapplication of the alternative rules, and because many of the
provisions of Appendix P had been incorporated into the base Code, Appendix P was
removed in the 2014 edition.