UNDERSTANDING OF ASME B 31.

3 CODE

PART 4

CODE WISE PUNCH POINTS

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 IMPORTANT PUNCH POINTS
ASME B 31.3 PROCESS PIPING

1. ASME B 31.3 piping is used for construction of new piping

installation and is applicable to all piping within the battery limits of
process plants (except power plants) and petroleum refinery.

2. Revised edition and addenda of ASME B 31.3 Code may be used

from beginning with date of issue. But they become mandatory from
6 months after issue date.

3. Code statements with “shall” mean it is a mandatory requirement.

Code statements with “should” means it is a recommendation and
Code statements with “may” means it is a optional matter.

4. Code B31.3 classifies fluids as Category D (15 – 150 psi design

Pr.) Category M (toxic), and category K (high pressure).

5. The fluids which are not category D, M or K are called “Normal”

fluids.

6. Safe stress values shall be taken from Table A – 1A (stress table).

7. The material can be normally used up to the lower temperature

given in Min. Temp. Column of Table A – 1A (stress table).

8. It can not be used for lower temperature (if double line is to the left)
or higher temperature (if double line is to the right).
9. Table A-1B of B 31.3 Code gives weld joint quality factor for
manufactured pipes. The factor can be increased for Electric

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 Fusion welded pipes by conducting additional radiography (spot or
full) as per Table 302.3.4.

10. Minimum Required Thickness (tm) for a pipe of outside diameter

(D) ,weld point factor (E) and made from material having safe
stress (S), Material co-efficient (Y) and subjected to internal
pressure (P) is given by:
PD

Min.Req.Thickness tm = ------------- + C
2(SE + PY)

where C = corrosion allowance.

11. The thickness calculated shall be corrected for 12.5% negative mill
tolerance.

12. Thickness of a permanent blank for the pipe is given by:

3P
tm  dg C
16 SE

Where, dg = gasket inside diameter

13. Materials can be used up to given minimum temperature in table

A1 (stress table) without impact testing.

14. For lower temperatures, go to Fig. 323.2.2. If temperature &

thickness combination point falls on or above the material curve
(Fig. 323.22), impact testing is NOT required. (If below the curve
– impact testing is required.)

15. To know which material is represented by which curve (Fig.

323.2.2, curves A, B, C, D), go to table A-1 (stress table).

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16. Typically, Curve A materials are Most Brittle.

17. For impact testing, 3 specimens are required. If the average of 3

specimens > = Required Average and value of only one
specimen is less than average but more than minimum for one
specimen — Accept.

18. If two specimens are below required average, or one specimen is

less than average but also less than minimum for one specimen —
Retest.

19. After retest all three must equal or exceed the average.

20. For joining unequal schedule pipe, tapering or step-slot shall be made
inside thicker pipe for weld fit-up.

21. For fillet weld, the throat of fillet weld is calculated as throat = 0.707 size of
weld.

22. All welding shall be done by qualifying procedures and welders according
to ASME Sec. IX.

23. Table 330.1.1 gives required and recommended pre-heat temperature.

Recommendation becomes requirement if ambient temp is <0°C.

24. In dissimilar pipe joints higher temperature of the two is to be used

for pre-heating. The pre-heat zone shall extend at least one inch
beyond the edge of the weld.

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25. Pre-heating, whenever specified ie applied to Strength welds, tack
welds and seal welds.

26. PWHT Table (331.1.1) gives temperature range, minimum holding time
and maximum hardness values.

27. PWHT conducted properly should reduce the hardness in weld and HAZ.
Code gives the maximum Brinell Hardness Values after PWHT

28. Where a hardness limit is specified in Table 331.1.1, at least 10 % of

welds, hot bends, and hot formed components in each furnace heat
treated batch and 100% of those locally heat treated shall be tested for
hardness.

29. All NDT (PT, RT, MT, VT, UT) shall be carried out according to
ASME Sec. V.

30. Acceptance criteria shall be as per Table 341.3.2.

31. If two values are separated by ‘and’ lower value becomes the acceptance
limit. If two values are separated by ‘or’ then higher value becomes the
acceptance limit.

32. According to ASME B 31.3, Owner’s inspector should have 10 years

minimum experience in the design, fabrication, or inspection of industrial
pressure piping.

33. After fabrication and inspection of piping, but before first operation,
hydrostatic pressure test shall be carried out on completed piping.

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34. Only if hydrostatic test is not practicable, pneumatic test may be
conducted.

35. Test pressure in both cases shall be held for minimum 10 minutes.

36. Hydrostatic Pressure = 1.5 x Design Pressure x Stress Ratio

Stress at test temperature ( Ambient )

37. Stress Ratio = Stress at design temperature

38. Pneumatic Test Pressure = 1.1 x Design Pressure

39. Pneumatic Pressure should be initially raised up to 50% of test pressure

or 25 psi (whichever is less) and a preliminary check shall be made. After
preliminary check pressure can be increased slowly to reach up to test
pressure.

40. In pneumatic leak test, final inspection pressure for leak check is Design
Pressure of the Piping System.

41. For category D fluids the leak testing at operating pressure can be
performed with the product itself directly.

42. For pressure testing of piping systems, pneumatic test should be

done using air but other non toxic gases may be used.

43. For hydro testing water should be used as testing medium but other
non toxic liquid may be used if water is not suitable due to
possibility of freezing or due to process reasons .

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44. For pneumatic testing preferred medium is air but other non-toxic
gases also may be used

45. The inspection procedure records shall be retained for at least 5

years.

46. Thermal expansion and contraction for different temperatures is given in

Table C-1. This information is used to decide expansion and contraction
margins required for pipe supports and other purposes.

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 PUNCH POINTS
ASME B 16.5 API 570, PIPE FLANGES AND FLANGED FITTINGS

1. B 16.5 Covers Flanges and flanged fittings with rating class designation 150.
300, 400, 600, 900, 1500, and 2500 in sizes NPS 1/2 through NPS 24

2. ASME B 16.5 permits Blind flanges made from plates .

3. The System Hydrostatic Test pressure for flanges and flanged fittings is 1.5
times the pressure rating at 100 deg. F rounded to higher 25 psi.

4. For finding out the required flange class as per B16.5, first find out which table
(Pressure – Temperature rating table) to refer for that material. Flange rating
then can be read out from that table for given condition of design pressure and
design temperature.

5. Flanges are not required to be pressure tested. Each flanged fitting shall be
given a shell pressure test

6. The shell pressure test for flanged fittings shall be at a pressure no less than
1.5 times the 38°C (100°F) pressure rating rounded off to the next higher 1 bar
(25 psi) increment.

7. Flanged fittings shall be pressure tested for leak tightness using water. Other
test fluids may also be used if required. The test duration shall be:
Size Duration, sec
< NPS 2 60
NPS 21/2 to NPS 8 120
> NPS 10 180