PROCESS PIPE

PROCESS PIPE

Oleh : Bayu Nurwinanto

GENERAL STATEMENTS

Identification

This Process Piping Code is a Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code for Pressure Piping, ASME B31, an American National Standard. It is published as a separate document for convenience of Code users.

Responsibilities

Owner : The owner of a piping installation shall have overall responsibility for compliance with this Code, and for establishing the requirements for design, construction, examination, inspection, and testing that will govern the entire fluid handling or process installation of which the piping is a part. The owner is also responsible for designating piping in Category D, Category M, High Pressure, and High Purity Fluid Services, and for determining if a specific Quality System is to be employed.

Designer : The designer is responsible to the owner for assurance that the engineering design of piping complies with the requirements of this Code and with any additional requirements established by the owner.

Manufacturer, Fabricator, and Erector : The manufacturer, fabricator, and erector of piping are responsible for providing materials, components, and workmanship in compliance with the requirements of this Code and of the engineering design.

Owner’s Inspector : The owner’s Inspector is responsible to the owner for ensuring that the requirements of this Code for inspection, examination, and testing are met. If a Quality System is specified by the owner to be employed, the owner’s Inspector is responsible for verifying that it is implemented.

Intent of the Code

It is the intent of this Code to set forth engineering requirements deemed necessary for safe design  and construction of piping installations.

This Code is not intended to apply to the operation, examination, inspection, testing, maintenance, or  repair of piping that has been placed in service. The provisions of this Code may optionally be applied for those purposes, although other considerations may also be necessary.

Engineering requirements of this Code, while considered necessary and adequate for safe design, generally employ a simplified approach to the subject. A designer capable of applying a more rigorous analysis shall have the latitude to do so; however, the approach must be documented in the engineering design and its validity accepted by the owner. The approach used shall provide details of design, construction, examination, inspection, and testing for the design conditions of para. 301, with calculations consistent with the design criteria of this Code.

Piping elements should, insofar as practicable, conform to the specifications and standards listed in this Code. Piping elements neither specifically approved nor specifically prohibited by this Code may be used provided they are qualified for use as set forth in applicable Chapters of this Code.

The engineering design shall specify any unusual requirements for a particular service. Where service requirements necessitate measures beyond those required by this Code, such measures shall be specified by the engineering design. Where so specified, the Code requires that they be accomplished.

Compatibility of materials with the service and hazards from instability of contained fluids are not within the scope of this Code.