1995 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 Properties
IIISu!section NCA "eneral Re#uire$ents for i%ision & and i%ision '
IIIi%ision &
Su!section NB Class & Co$ponents
Su!section NC Class ' Co$ponents
Su!section N Class ( Co$ponents
Su!section NE Class MC Co$ponents
Su!section NF Supports
Su!section N" Core Support Structures
Appendices
IIIi%ision ' Code for Concrete Reactor )essels and Contain$ents
I) Rules for Construction of *eating Boilers
)Nondestructi%e E+a$ination
)I Reco$$ended Rules for t,e Care and -peration of *eating Boilers
)II Reco$$ended "uidelines for t,e Care of Power Boilers
)III Rules for Construction of Pressure )essels i%ision &
i%ision ' Alternati%e Rules
I. Welding and Bra/ing 0ualifications
.Fi!er1Reinforced Plastic Pressure )essels
.I Rules for Inser%ice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Co$ponents
ADDENDA
Colored1s,eet Addenda, w,ic, include additions and re%isions to indi%idual Sections
of t,e Code, are pu!lis,ed annuall2 and will !e sent auto$aticall2 to purc,asers of
t,e applica!le Sections up to t,e pu!lication of t,e &334 Code5 6,e &337 Code is
a%aila!le onl2 in t,e loose1leaf for$at8 accordingl2, t,e Addenda will !e issued in t,e
loose1leaf, replace$ent1page for$at5
INTERFRETATIONS
ASME issues written replies to in#uires concerning interpretation of tec,nical
aspects of t,e Code5 6,e Interpretations for eac, indi%idual Section will !e pu!lis,ed
separatel2 and will !e included as part of t,e update ser%ice to t,at Section5 6,e2
will !e issued se$iannuall2 9:ul2 and ece$!er; up to t,e pu!lication of t,e &334
Code5 Interpretations of Section $, i%isions & and ', will !e included wit, t,e
update ser%ice to Su!section NCA5 Interpretations are not part of t,e Code or t,e
Addenda5
CODE CASES
6,e Boiler and Pressure )essel Co$$ittee $eets regularl2 to consider proposed
additions and re%isions to t,e Code and to for$ulate Cases to clarif2 t,e intent of
e+isting re#uire$ents or pro%ide, w,en t,e need is urgent, rules for $aterials or
constructions not co%ered !2 e+isting Code rules5 6,ose Cases w,ic, ,a%e !een
adopted will appear in t,e appropriate &337 Code Cases !oo<= 9&; Boilers $al
Pressure )essels and 9'; Nuclear Co$ponents5 Supple$ents will !e sent
auto$aticall2 to t,e purc,asers of t,e Code Cases !oo<s up to t,e pu!lication of t,e
&334 Code5
PERSONNEL
Officers of ASTM Committees
9Cooperating in t,e e%elop$ent of t,e Specifications *erein;
9As of ece$!er (&, &33>;
E-7 ON NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTIN
:5C5 Spanner, Sr5, Chairman
W5C5 Plu$stead, )ice1C,air$an
C5M5 Stuart, Recording Secretar2
65S5 :ones, Me$!ers,ip Secretar2
"5 ?uciw, Staff Manager
CONTENTS
A Detailed Contents Precedes Subsections A and B, and the Appendices
Foreword v
Statements of Policy ix
Personnel xi
Subsection A Nondestructive Methods of Examination 1
Article 1 General Requirements 11
Article 2 Radiographic Eamination 1!
Article " Radiographic Eamination o# $etallic Castings %%
Article & 'ltrasonic Eamination $ethods #or (nser)ice (nspection !%
Article % 'ltrasonic Eamination $ethods #or $aterials and *abrication 11%
Article + ,iquid Penetrant Eamination 1"-
Article ! $agnetic Particle Eamination. 1&-
Article / Edd0 Current Eamination o# 1ubular Products 1+1
Article - 2isual Eamination 1!-
Article 13 ,ea4 1esting 1/%
Article 11 Acoustic Emission Eamination o# *iber5Rein#orced Plastic
2essels 23!
Article 12 Acoustic Emission Eamination o# $etallic 2essels During
Pressure 1esting 2"1
Article 1" Continuous Acoustic Emission $onitoring 2%1
Sub6ection B ocuments Ado!ted by Section " #$%
Article 22 Radiographic Standards 2!!
Article 2" 'ltrasonic Standards "+-
Article 2& ,iquid Penetrant Standards &&%
Article 2% $agnetic Particle Standards &-!
Article 2+ Edd0 Current Standards %"-
Article 2! ,ea4 1esting Standards %!1
Article 2/ 2isual Eamination Standards %/%
Article 2- Acoustic Emission Standards +3"
Article "3 1erminolog0 #or 6ondestructi)e Eaminations Standard +2"
Appendi A 6onmandator0
Standard De#initions o# 1erms +!1
Appendi #i $andator0
Submittal o# 1echnical (nquires to the Boiler and Pressure
2essel Committee +!%
S( 'nits +!!
(nde +/1
FORE!ORD
6,e A$erican Societ2 of Mec,anical Engineers set up a co$$ittee in &3&&
for t,e purpose of for$ulating standard rules for t,e construction of stea$ !oilers
and ot,er pressure %essels5 I!is co$$ittee is now called dic Boiler and Pressure
)essel Co$$ittee5
6,e Co$$ittee@s function is to esta!lis, rules of safet2 go%erning t,e design,
fa!rication, and inspection during construction of !oilers and pressure %essels, and
to interpret t,ese rules w,en #uestions arise regarding t,eir intent5 Iii for$ulating t,e
rules, t,e Co$$ittee considers t,e needs of users, $anufacturers, and inspectors of
pressure %essels5 6,e o!Aecti%e of t,e rules is to afford reasona!l2 certain protection
of life and propert2 and to pro%ide a $argin for deterioration in ser%ice so as to gi%e
a reasona!l2 long, safe period of usefulness5 Ad%ance$ents in design and $aterial
and t,e e%idence of e+perience ,a%e !een recogni/ed5
6,is Code contains $andator2 re#uire$ents, specific pro,i!itions, and
non$andator2 guidance for construction@ acti%ities5 6,e Code does not address all
aspects of t,ese acti%ities and t,ose aspects w,ic, are not specificall2 addressed
s,ould not !e considered pro,i!ited5 6,e Code is not a ,and!oo< and cannot
replace education, e+perience, and t,e use of engineering Audg$ent5 6,e p,rase
engineering judgment refers to tec,nical Audg$ents $ade !2 <nowledgea!le
designers e+perienced in t,e application of t,e Code5 Engineering Audg$ents $ust
!e consistent wit, Code p,ilosop,2 and suc, Audg$ents $ust ne%er !e used to
o%errule $andator2 re#uire$ents or specific pro,i!itions of t,e Code5
6,e Code does not full2 address tolerances5 W,en di$ensions, si/es, or
ot,er para$eters are not specified wit, tolerances, t,e %alues of t,ese para$eters
are considered no$inal and allowa!le tolerances or local %ariances $a2 !e
considered accepta!le w,en !ased on engineering Audg$ent and standard practices
as deter$ined !2 t,e designer5
6,e Boiler and Pressure )essel Co$$ittee deals wit, t,e care and inspection
of !oilers and pressure %essels in ser%ice onl2 to t,e e+tent of pro%iding suggested
rules of good practice as an aid to owners and t,eir inspectors5
6,e rules esta!lis,ed !2 t,e Co$$ittee are not to !e interpreted as
appro%ing, reco$$ending, or endorsing an2 proprietar2 or specific design or as
li$iting in an2 wa2 t,e $anufacturer@s freedo$ to c,oose an2 $et,od of design or
an2 for$ of construction t,at confor$s to t,e Code rules5
6,e Boiler and Pressure )essel Co$$ittee $eets regularl2 to consider
re%isions of t,e rules, new rules as dictated !2 tec,nological de%elop$ent, Code
Cases, and re#uests for interpretations5 -nl2 t,e Boiler and Pressure )essel
Co$$ittee ,as t,e aut,orit2 to pro%ide official interpretations of t,is Code5 Re#uests
for re%isions, new rules, Code Cases, or interpretations s,all !e addressed to t,e
Secretar2 in writing and s,all gi%e full particulars in order to recei%e consideration
and action 9see Mandator2 Appendi+ co%ering preparation of tec,nical in#uires;5
Proposed re%isions to t,e Code resulting fro$ in#uires will !e presented to t,e Main
Co$$ittee for appropriate action5 6,e action of t,e Main Co$$ittee !eco$es
effecti%e onl2 after confir$ation !2 letter !allot of t,e Co$$ittee and appro%al !2
ASME5
Proposed re%isions to t,e Code appro%ed !2 t,e Co$$ittee are su!$itted to
t,e A$erican National Standards Institute and pu!lis,ed in Mechanical Engineering
to in%ite co$$ents fro$ all interested persons5 After t,e allotted ti$e for pu!lic
re%iew and final appro%al !2 ASME, re%isions are pu!lis,ed annuall2 in Addenda to
t,e Code5
Code Cases $a2 !e used Aa t,e construction of co$ponents to !e sta$ped
wit, t,e ASME Code s2$!ol !eginning wit, t,e date of t,eir appro%al !2 ASME5
After Code re%isions are appro%ed !2 ASME, t,e2 $a2 !e used !eginning
wit, t,e date of issuance s,own on t,e Addenda5 Re%isions, e+cept for re%isions to
$aterial specifications in Section II, Parts A and B, !eco$e $andator2 B $ont,s
after suc, date of issuance, e+cept for !oilers or pressure %essels contracted for
prior to t,e end of t,e B $ont, period5 Re%isions to $aterial specifications are
originated !2 t,e A$erican Societ2 for 6esting and Materials 9AS6M;, and are
usuall2 adopted !2 ASME5 *owe%er, t,ose re%isions $a2 or $a2 not ,a%e an2 effect
on t,e suita!ilit2 of $aterial, produced to earlier editions of specifications, for use Aa
ASME construction5 ASME $aterial specifications appro%ed for use in eac,
construction Code are listed la t,e Appendices of Section C, Parts A and B5 6,ese
Appendices list, for eac, specification, t,e latest AS6M edition adopted !2 ASME,
and earlier and later editions considered !2 ASME to !e identical for ASME
construction5
Manufacturers and users of co$ponents are cautioned against $a<ing use of
re%isions and Cases t,at are less restricti%e t,an for$er re#uire$ents wit,out ,a%ing
assurance t,at t,e2 ,a%e !een accepted !2 t,e proper aut,orities in t,e Aurisdiction
w,ere t,e co$ponent is to !e installed5
Eac, state and $unicipalit2 in t,e Cnited States and eac, pro%ince $ Canada
t,at adopts or accepts one or $ore Sections of t,e Boiler and Pressure )essel Coda
is in%ited to appoint a representati%e to act on t,e Conference Co$$ittee to t,e
Boiler and Pressure )essel Co$$ittee5 Since t,e $e$!ers of t,e Conference Co$1
$ittee are in acti%e contact wit, t,e ad$inistration and enforce$ent of t,e rules, t,e
re#uire$ents for inspection in t,is Code correspond wit, t,ose in effect in t,eir
respecti%e Aurisdictions5 6,e re#uired #ualifications for an Aut,ori/ed Inspector under
t,ese rules $a2 !e o!tained fro$ t,e ad$inistrati%e aut,orit2 of an2 state,
$unicipalit2, or pro%ince w,ic, ,as adopted t,ese rules5
6,e Boiler and Pressure )essel Co$$ittee in t,e for$ulation of its rules and
in t,e esta!lis,$ent of $a+i$u$ design and operating pressures considers
$aterials, construction, $et,ods of fa!rication, inspection, and safet2 de%ices5
Per$ission $a2 !e granted to regulator2 !odies and organi/ations pu!lis,ing safet2
standards to use a co$plete Section of t,e Code !2 reference5 If usage of a Section,
suc, as Section I., in%ol%es e+ceptions, o$issions, or c,anges in pro%isions, t,e
intent of t,e Code $ig,t not !e attained5
W,ere a state or ot,er regulator2 !od2, la t,e printing of an2 Section of t,e
Boiler and Pressure )essel Code, $a<es additions or o$issions, Dit is reco$$ended
t,at suc, c,anges !e clearl2 indicated5
6,e National Board of Boiler and Pressure )essel Inspectors is co$posed of
c,ief inspectors of states and $unicipalities la t,e Cnited States and of pro%inces in
Canada t,at ,a%e adopted t,e Boiler and Pressure
)essel Code5 6,is Board, since its organi/ation $ &3&3, ,as functioned to unifor$l2
ad$inister and enforce t,e rules of t,e Boiler and Pressure )essel Code5 6,e
cooperation of t,at organi/ation wit, t,e Boiler and Pressure )essel Co$$ittee ,as
!een e+tre$el2 ,elpful5
6,e Code Co$$ittee does not rule on w,et,er a co$ponent s,all or s,all not
!e constructed to t,e pro%isions of t,e Code5 6,e Scope of eac, Section ,as !een
esta!lis,ed to identif2 t,e co$ponents and para$eters considered !2 t,e
Co$$ittee in for$ulating t,e Code rules5 ?aws or regulations issued !2 $unicipal it2,
state, pro%incial, federal, or ot,er enforce$ent or regulator2 !odies ,a%ing
Aurisdiction at t,e location of an installation esta!lis, t,e $andator2 applica!ilit2 of
t,e Code rules, in w,ole or in part, wit,in t,eir Aurisdiction5 6,ose laws or regulations
$a2 re#uire t,e use of t,is Cede for %essels or co$ponents not considered to !e
wit,in its Scope or $a2 esta!lis, additions or deletions in t,at Scope5 Accordingl2,
in#uires regarding suc, laws or regulations are to !e directed to t,e issuing
enforce$ent or regulator2 !od25
0uestions or issues regarding co$pliance of a specific co$ponent wit, t,e
Code rules are to !e directed to t,e ASME Certificate *older 9Manufacturer;5
In#uires concerning t,e interpretation of t,e Code are to !e directed to t,e ASME
Boiler and Pressure )essel Co$$ittee5 ASME is to !e notified s,ould #uestions
arise concerning i$proper use of as ASME Cede s2$!ol5
6,e specifications for !ase $aterials gi%en la Section II, Parts A and B are
identical wit, or si$ilar to t,ose of t,e A$erican Societ2 for 6esting and Materials5
W,en reference is $ade la as ASME $aterial specification to as AS6M specification
for w,ic, a co$panion ASME specification e+ists, t,e reference s,all !e interpreted
as appl2ing to t,e ASME $aterial specification5 Specifications for welding $aterials
gi%en la Section ll, Part C are identical wit, or si$ilar to t,ose of t,e A$erican
Welding Societ25 Not all $aterials included in t,e $aterial specification la Section II
,a%e !een adopted for Code use5 Csage is li$ited to t,ose $aterials and grades
adopted !2 at least one of t,e ot,er Sections of t,e Code for application under rules
of t,at Section5 All $aterials allowed !2 t,ese %arious Sections and used for
construction wit,in t,e scope of t,eir rules s,all !e furnis,ed la accordance wit,
$aterial specifications contained in Section II or referenced in Appendices A of
Section II, Parts A and B e+cept w,ere ot,erwise pro%ided in Code Cases or in t,e
applica!le Section of t,e Code5 Materials co%ered !2 t,ese specifications are
accepta!le for use la ite$s co%ered !2 t,e Code Sections onl2 to t,e degree
indicated la t,e applica!le Section5 Materials for Cede 5use s,ould prefera!l2 !e
ordered, produced, and docu$ented on t,is !asis8 Appendi+ A to Section C, Part A
and Appendi+ A to 1Section II, Part B5 list editions of ASME and 2ear dates of AS6M
specifications t,at $eet ASME re#uire$ents and w,ic, $a2 !e used in Code
construction5 Material produced to an ASME or AS6M specification wit,
re#uire$ents different fro$ t,e re#uire$ents of t,e corresponding specifications
listed $ Appendi+ A of Part A or Part B $a2 also !e used in accordance wit, t,e
a!o%e, pro%ided t,e $aterial $anufacturer or %essel $anufacturer certifies wit,
e%idence accepta!le to t,e Aut,ori/ed Inspector t,at t,e corresponding re#uire1
$ents of specifications listed lii Appendi+ A of Part A or Part B ,a%e !een $et5
Material produced to an ASME or AS6M $aterial specification is not li$ited as to
countr2 of origin5
W,en re#uired !2 conte+t in t,is Section, t,e singular s,all !e interpreted as
t,e plural, and %ice1%ersa8 and t,e fe$inine, $asculine, or neuter gender s,all !e
treated as suc, ot,er gender as appropriate5
Pu!lication of t,e SI 9Metric; Edition of t,e ASME Boiler and Pressure )essel
Code was discontinued wit, t,e &34B Edition5 Effecti%e -cto!er &, &34B, t,e SI
Edition was wit,drawn as an ASME Boiler and Pressure )essel Code docu$ent5