Standards

Process plants designed and constructed to the ASME B31.3 code also rely on the standardization of the components used for piping systems and the method of process plant fabrication and construction. There are numerous standards, many of which are interrelated, and they must be referred and adhered to by design engineers and manufacturers in the process industry. These standards cover the following:

• Material: chemical composition, mechanical requirements, heat treatment, etc.

• Dimensions: general dimensions and tolerances.

• Fabrication codes: welding, threading.

Standards covering the preceding were drawn up by the following major engineering bodies:

• American Petroleum Institute (API).

• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

• American Water Works Association (AWWA).

• American Welding Society (AWS).

• Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS).

• National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE).

• Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

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Periodically, these standards are updated to bring them in line with the latest industry practices. Most of the standards have been in circulation for a number of years, and the changes are rarely dramatic; however, such changes must be incorporated into the design. It is essential that the latest revision is the ﬁnal reference point.

Other countries publish comprehensive standards containing data on material, dimensions of components, and construction procedures; however, the standards mentioned previously are discussed here.

American standards are not superior to other national standards, but they are the ones most commonly used in the process industry. They are based on a long track record with a very low failure rate, so there is a high degree of conﬁdence in these publications.

Following is devoted to a list of the most-used speciﬁcations for Pipes & Tubes:

Material Standard for Pipes and Tubes

API Spec 5B: Speciﬁcation for Threading, Gauging and Thread Inspection of Casing, Tubing and Line Pipe Threads

API Spec 5L: Speciﬁcation for Line Pipe

ANSI/API Std 1104: Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities

ANSI/API RP 1110: Pressure Testing of Liquid Petroleum Pipelines

B31.3, Process Piping: This code covers the design of chemical and petroleum plants and reﬁneries processing chemicals and hydrocarbons, water, and steam. It contains rules for the piping typically found in petroleum reﬁneries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; and related processing plants and terminals. The code prescribes requirements for materials and components, design, fabrication, assembly, erection, examination, inspection, and testing of piping. This code applies to piping for all ﬂuids, including (1) raw, intermediate, and ﬁnished chemicals; (2) petroleum products; (3) gas, steam, air, and water; (4) ﬂuidized solids; (5) refrigerants; and (6) cryogenic ﬂuids. Also included is piping that interconnects pieces or stages within a packaged equipment assembly.

B36.10: This standard covers the standardization of dimensions of welded and seamless wrought steel pipe for high or low temperatures and pressures. The word pipe is used as distinguished from tube to apply to tubular products of dimensions commonly used for pipeline and piping systems. Pipe NPS 12 (DN 300) and smaller have outside diameters numerically larger than corresponding sizes. In contrast, the outside diameters of tubes are numerically identical to the size number for all sizes.

B36.19: This Standard covers the standardization of dimensions of welded and seamless wrought stainless steel pipe for high or low temperatures and pressures. The word pipe is used, as distinguished from tube, to apply to tubular products of dimensions commonly used for pipeline and piping systems. Pipes NPS 12 (DN 300) and smaller have outside diameters numerically larger than their corresponding sizes. In contrast, the outside diameters of tubes are numerically identical to the size number for all sizes. The wall thicknesses for NPS 14 through 22, inclusive (DN 350–550, inclusive), of Schedule 10S; NPS 12 (DN 300) of Schedule 40S; and NPS 10 and 12 (DN 250 and 300) of Schedule 80S are not the same as those of ASME B36.10M. The suffix “S” in the schedule number is used to differentiate B36.19M pipe from B36.10M pipe. ASME B36.10M includes other pipe thicknesses that are also commercially available with stainless steel material.

AMERICAN WELDING SOCIETY A3.0: Standard welding terms and deﬁnitions, including terms for adhesive bonding, brazing, soldering, thermal cutting, and thermal spraying.

A5.01-93R: Filler metal procurement guidelines.

A5-ALL: Filler metal speciﬁcations series plus ﬁller metal procurement guide.

AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION C200-97: Steel water pipe—6 in. (150 mm) and larger.

MANUFACTURERS STANDARDIZATION SOCIETY SP-69: Pipe hangers and supports—selection and application.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORROSION ENGINEERS MR0175: Metals for sulﬁde stress cracking and stress corrosion cracking resistance in sour oilﬁeld environments.

RP0170: Protection of austenitic stainless steels and other austenitic alloys from polythionic acid stress corrosion cracking during shutdown of reﬁnery equipment.

RP0472: Methods and controls to prevent in-service environmental cracking of carbon steel weldments in corrosive petroleum reﬁning environments.

SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS SAE J 518: Hydraulic ﬂanged tube, pipe, and hose connections, four-bolt split ﬂange type.

American Society of Testing and Materials The American Society of Testing and Materials speciﬁcations cover materials for many industries, and they are not restricted to the process sector and associated industries.