ASME B31.3 Process Piping Standard
Overview
This article discusses:
- The ASME B31.3 process piping standard and its equivalents.
- What ASME B31.3 does.
- How ASME B31.3 is used.
- Why ASME B31.3 is used.
Introduction
The B31.3 American National Standard forms one part (section) of a suite of standards within the B31 Piping Codes. It was first published in 1935 as the ‘American Tentative Standard Code for Pressure Piping’ and was subsequently updated from 1942 to 1955 as the American Standard Code for Pressure Piping.
Latest version of ASME B31.3 – 2018
B31 Piping Codes have 11 separate code sections targeted at different industries. For example:
- B31.1 Power Piping
- B31.2 Fuel Gas Piping
- B31.3 Process Piping
B31.3 was last updated in 2018, adding many changes to the previous 2016 ASME standard. See the below webpage for general changes within ASME B31.3-2018.
https://blog.ansi.org/2019/08/asme-b31-3-2018-process-piping-changes/
European Equivalent Standards
For European facilities, the equivalent standard is the 2002 European Committee for Standardisation EN 13480 (parts 1 to 7), which is generally referred to as the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED).
This PED has two supporting documents (i) ISO 15649 Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries - Piping and EEMUA Publication No. 202:2001 Guide to the use of ISO 15649 and (ii) ASME B31.3 for piping in Europe. These two documents assist engineering industries in facilitating the continued use of ASME B31.3 in Europe in compliance with the PED, and specifically how this will be achieved.
What does ASME B31.3 do?
The B31.3 Process Piping standard prescribes the general requirements for a facility’s piping design and construction in order to prevent failure; or at least reduce the likelihood of failure. This includes the materials, fabrication, assembly, erection, examination (inspection), allowable stress, acceptance criteria and testing within the design limits of the associated facility (e.g. refinery etc.).
ASME B31.3 is often used in conjunction with any facility which processes or handles (transfers) any chemical, petroleum, or related products. However, the standard’s requirements apply to all facility process fluids, from raw chemicals, to gas, steam, air, water, and refrigerants.
Process Piping
ASME B31.3 does not apply to piping systems designed for low pressures of between 0 to 15 psi (0 to 1 bar) provided that the piped fluid is non-flammable, non-toxic (or is not a danger to human tissue), and its design temperature is maintained within the range of -29°C (-2029°F) to 180°C (366°F).
When is ASME B31.3 used?
As discussed previously, the overall suite of ASME B31 Codes for Pressure Piping consists of a number of individually published code sections, relating to different industries. The rules for each code section reflect the typical piping installations found in the target industrial plant or facility. As such, ASME B31.3 is targeted at process piping typically found within:
- Petroleum Refineries
- Oil & Gas Onshore and Offshore Petroleum Plants
- Natural Gas Production Facilities
- Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Textile, Paper, Ore Processing Semiconductor and Cryogenic Plants
- Food and Beverage Processing Facilities
- Any related Processing Plants and/or Terminals
ASME B31.3 is used in two ways:
- To define the facility’s owner and appointed representatives/persons. Then to determine the overall responsibilities in relation to the design, construction, inspection and testing of the facility.
- Set the rules governing the engineering requirements to ensure the safe design and construction of the facilities piping installations.
The B31.3 code does not apply to (or attempt to specify) the routine operation, examination, inspection, testing, maintenance, or ad hoc repair of the piping systems when in service. These aspects will be governed by the owners defined quality system program, following such principles as the ISO 9000 series of standards or PAS55 / ISO5500 Asset Management System (see below image). The details describing the selected quality system shall be documented and shall be available upon request. The registration and/or certification of the appropriate quality system program shall be the decision and responsibility of the facility owner.
PAS 55:2008 Management System Structure
Why is ASME B31.3 used?
The intent of the B31.3 code is to define the engineering requirements necessary for the safe design and construction of the facilities piping installations. As such, the American National Standard, B31.3 Process Piping Standard is used as a minimum standard (for compliance) by a facility owner during the front-end engineering design by his designated competent persons, for example:
- Designer - responsible to the owner for assurance that the piping systems engineering design complies with the requirements of the code, and with any additional requirements specified by the owner. however, this code is not a handbook, and therefore the designer must use competent engineering judgment during the assessment, definition, and application of the concept facility design.
- Manufacturer / Fabricator / Erector – of the Piping systems are responsible to provide suitable materials, components, and workmanship in compliance with the requirements of the B31.3 code and engineering design specifications.
- Owner’s Inspector(s) - responsible to the owner for ensuring that the requirements of this code for the inspection, examination, and testing are met. if a quality system is to be employed, as specified by the owner, then the owner’s inspector is responsible for verifying it is effectively implemented.
Additional Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piping
https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/b31-3-process-piping
https://engstandards.lanl.gov/esm/pressure_safety/process_piping_guide_R2.pdf