ASME - Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes (BPVC) Tests

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an organization that publishes and maintains international boiler and pressure standards that include acceptable safety limits.

Installing a heating system that complies with the ASME-issued boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) is important for two reasons:

• Safety. The boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) was devised after two devastating boiler explosions in the early 1900s. Since then, ASME has enacted regulations that make steam boilers and other mechanical engineering equipment safer and help prevent accidents.
• Quality. Industrial heaters and boiler systems manufactured in accordance with the boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) have been extensively inspected and met defined quality and safety standards.

When purchasing an industrial heating system, there are many factors to consider. There can be many questions, from deciding between a hot oil heating system or a steam boiler system, to understanding the film temperature and batch temperature, and to considering the benefits of coil heaters over helical coil heaters. However, another important factor to consider when purchasing a heating system for the facility is compliance with the ASME code.

The boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) sections described below are generally intended for manufacturers, users, contractors, designers and others involved in the design, manufacture, installation, inspection and testing of pressure vessels, as well as all potential management units.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Part I Construction rules of power boilers

This section describes the requirements for construction methods of power, electric and miniature boilers, high temperature water boilers for fixed service, heat recovery steam generators and certain fired pressure vessels, and power boilers for locomotive, portable and traction service. These requirements apply to boilers producing steam at pressures exceeding 15 psig and high temperature water boilers intended to operate at pressures exceeding 160 psig and temperatures exceeding 121 degrees. Superheaters, economizers and other pressure components connected directly to the boiler without intermediate valves are covered by this section.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Part II Materials

This chapter is divided into four subsections covering materials for the construction of pipes and pressure vessels.

• Subsection A Ferrous material properties. This section contains separate specifications for ferrous materials permitted in the construction of pressure vessels and piping designed to ASME code. Part A covers all types of ferrous material products such as forgings, castings, forgings, plates, pipe valves, bolting. The topics covered for each ferrous material specification vary depending on the material's properties and intended use. Some examples of topics covered are: ordering information, heat treatment, chemical composition, mechanical properties, tests and inspections, dimensions and tolerances, and steel making practice.
• Subsection B Non-ferrous material properties. This section is a service section for other sections and provides material specifications for adequate ferrous materials for safety in the pressure equipment area. These specifications include requirements for chemical and mechanical properties, heat treatment, manufacturing, heat and product analysis, and test methods.
• Subsection C Specifications for welding rods, electrodes and filler metals. This section is a service section for other sections that provide material specifications for fabrication, acceptability, chemical composition, mechanical usability, surface finish, test requirements and procedures, operating properties, and intended uses for welding rods, electrodes, and filler metals.
• Subsection D Properties (traditional). This section is a service section of the code that will be referenced by the construction sections of the code, which provides tables of material properties, including allowable design, tensile and yield stress values, physical properties, and external pressure charts and tables. This section facilitates easy identification of materials to specific parts of the Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC). It also contains appendices with criteria for establishing the allowable stress, the basis for establishing external pressure charts, and information necessary for the approval of new materials.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Part III Rules for the construction of nuclear plant components

This section is divided into two subsections.

• Subsection 1 NE class MC components. This subsection contains requirements for material, design, fabrication, inspection, testing and extreme pressure protection of items intended to comply with MC class construction requirements. The rules of the NE Subsection cover requirements to ensure the structural integrity of items.
• Subsection 2 Concrete containment code. This Chapter contains requirements for the material, design, construction, fabrication, testing, inspection and extreme pressure protection of prestressed or reinforced concrete containment structures. These requirements are applicable only to components designed to provide a pressure retention or holding barrier. They cannot be applied to other support structures, except that they directly affect the components of the systems. This section includes both mandatory and non-mandatory attachments.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Part IV Construction rules of heating boilers

This section provides the latest code states for heating boilers. These approved alternatives cover different construction methods of steam boilers, hot water heating boilers, hot water supply boilers and potable water heaters powered directly by oil, gas, electricity, coal or solid or liquid fuels intended to operate at or below specified pressure and temperature limits. When fully and correctly applied, the guidelines in this section help users achieve continued quality and safety.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Part V Non-destructive testing

This section contains the requirements and methods for non-destructive testing referred to and required by other sections. It also includes the manufacturer's inspection responsibilities, the duties of authorized inspectors, and the qualification, inspection and inspection requirements of personnel. Inspection methods are intended to detect surface and internal discontinuities in materials, welds, and fabricated parts and components.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Chapter VI Recommended rules for the maintenance and operation of heating boilers

This section covers the general descriptions, terminology and operating instructions applicable to steel and cast iron boilers, which are limited to the operating ranges of the heating boilers. It contains instructions for related controls and automatic fuel burning equipment. The drawings show typical examples of available equipment. Also included is a glossary of terms commonly associated with boilers, controls and fuel burning equipment.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Chapter VII Recommended guidelines for maintenance of power boilers

The purpose of these recommended guidelines is to promote safety in the use of power boilers. The term electric boiler in this section includes stationary, portable and traction boilers, but does not include locomotive and high temperature water boilers, nuclear power plant boilers, heating boilers, pressure vessels or marine boilers. This section provides such guidelines to assist those directly responsible for the operation, maintenance, and inspection of power boilers. Due to their widespread use, industrial type boilers are emphasized. Guidelines are also provided for the operation of auxiliary equipment and devices that affect the safe and reliable operation of electric boilers.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Chapter VIII Rules for the construction of pressure vessels

This section is divided into three subsections.

• Subsection 1 General requirements. This subsection includes design, manufacture, inspection, testing and certification requirements. This subsection provides applicable requirements for the design, manufacture, inspection, testing and certification of pressure vessels operating at internal or external pressures in excess of 15 psig. Such pressure vessels can be fire or non-fire. Special requirements apply to the various classes of materials used in pressure vessel construction, as well as to manufacturing methods such as welding, forging, and brazing. Additional design criteria include mandatory and non-mandatory appendices detailing non-destructive testing and testing acceptance standards.
• Subsection 2 Requirements for manufacturing methods of pressure receptacles. This subsection contains requirements for materials, design and non-destructive testing standards.
• Subsection 3 Requirements for material classes. This subsection includes pressure vessels operating at internal or external pressures above 10.000 psi.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Part IX Welding, brazing and melting qualifications

This section contains guidelines for the adequacy of welding, brazing and melting procedures for component manufacture as required by other sections. It also specifies rules for the qualification and requalification of welders, brazing and welding, brazing and melting machine operators so that they can weld, braze or melt plastics in the manufacture of components as required by other divisions. Welding, brazing and melting data covers essential and non-essential variables specific to the joining process used.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Part X Fibre-reinforced plastic pressure vessels

This section provides the requirements for the construction of a pressure vessel in accordance with a manufacturer's design report. It also includes the manufacturing, processing, fabrication, inspection and testing methods required for the ship. This section includes three classes of ship design. Class I and Class III describe proficiency testing through destructive testing of a prototype and Class II describe acceptance testing with mandatory design rules and non-destructive methods. These ships are not allowed to store, handle or handle deadly liquids. Container manufacturing is limited to the following processes: bag molding, centrifugal casting and filament winding, and contact molding. In this section, general properties for glass and resin materials and minimum physical properties for composite materials are given.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Part XI Rules for in-service inspection of nuclear power plant components

This section provides requirements for maintaining the nuclear power plant while it is in operation and returning the plant to service after power plant outages. The rules require a mandatory program to demonstrate adequate safety and manage the effects of deterioration and aging. The rules also specify the authorized nuclear service inspector's duties related to verifying completion of the mandatory program and allowing the facility to return to service safely and quickly. Implementation of this section begins when the requirements of the relevant building code are met.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Chapter XII Transport Rules for the construction and continuation of service of tanks

This section covers requirements for the construction and continuous service of pressure vessels for the transport of hazardous materials by road, rail, air or water at pressures from full vacuum to 3.000 psig and in volumes greater than 120 gallons. Construction is an all-encompassing term that includes materials, design, fabrication, inspection, inspection, testing, certification and overpressure protection. Continuous service is an all-encompassing term that refers to the inspection, testing, repair, replacement and recertification of a shipping tank that is in service. This section contains modal appendices with requirements for ships used in certain modes of transport and service applications.

Boiler and pressure vessel code (BPVC) Section XIII Rules for overpressure protection

This section provides rules for overpressure protection of pressure equipment such as boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems. This standard provides requirements for design, material, inspection, assembly, testing and marking for pressure relief valves, rupture disc devices, pin devices, spring actuated non-reclosing devices, and temperature and pressure relief valves. This standard also covers devices in combination, capacity and flow resistance certification, authorization to use the ASME certification mark, overpressure protection according to installation and system design.

Our organization also provides testing services within the scope of ASME, boiler and pressure vessel codes (BPVC) with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.