ASME B31.

8 INTERPRETATIONS
VOLUME 1 5
Replies to Technical Inquiries
January 2007 Through September 2009
Interpretations 15-1 Through 15-11

It has been agreed to publish interpretations issued by the B31 Committee concerning
ASME 831.8 as part of the update service to the Code. The interpretations have been asssigned
numbers in chronological order. Each interpretation applies either to the latest Edition or Addenda
at the time of issuance of the interpretation or the Edition or Addenda stated in the reply.
Subsequent revisions to the Code may have superseded the reply.
These replies are taken verbatim from the original letters, except for a few typographical and
editorial corrections made for improved clarity.
ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of these interpretations when or if additional
information that the inquirer believes might affect the interpretation is available. Further, persons
aggrieved by an interpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME committee or subcommittee.
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Copyright 2010 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

No reproduction may be made of this material without written consent of ASME.

B31.8
Subject

Interpretation

Allowable Hoop Stress for Offshore Hydrotest. Para . A847.2. .................

Alternate Acceptance Standard for Girth Welds in Appendix A of
API1104 ..............................................................
Para . 831.41Q-1). Seal Welding Vent Holes ....................................
Para.834.5 ..............................................................
Para . 841.11(c). Fracture Control and Arrest for Steel Pipe ....................
Para . 841.32 and Table 841.322(f). Testing Coefficients ........................
Para . 844.32 .............................................................
Paras . A801. A802. and A803. Minimum Temperature Application . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table841.115A ...........................................................
Table 841.322(f). Maximum Test Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table A842.11. Note (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Copyright
2010 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers .
No reproduction may be made of this material without witten consent of ASME .

File No

ASME B31.8 INTERPRETATIONS VOLUME 1 5

Interpretation: 15-1

Subject: ASME 831.8-2003, Sections A801, A802, and A803, Minimum Temperature Application
Date Issued: June 27,2005
File: 04-1649
Question (1): We would like to know if "General Provisions and Definitions" (in particular,
para. 802.12(b)) is completely replaced by Chapter VIII, sections A801, A802, and A803.
Reply (1): No. As stated in para. A802.2, the provisions of paras. A801, A802, and A803 only
supplement the provisions of paras. 801, 802, and 803. They do not replace them.
Question (2):If so, which is the minimum applicable temperature for Offshore Gas Transmission
Installation?
Reply (2): As stated in para. 802.12(b), the B31.8 Code is only applicable to pipelines having
a metal temperature down to and including -20F.

Interpretation: 15-2

Subject: ASME B31.8, Para. 841.32 and Table 841.322(f), Testing Coefficients
Date Issued: December 12, 2005
File: 04-94
Question: Why is the coefficient for the Location Class 1, Division 1 higher than 1.1?
Reply: The coefficient reflects the Committee's opinion about the minimum test level necessary
to establish the pipeline's integrity for pipelines operating at a hoop stress above 72% of the
SMYS.

Interpretation: 15-3

Subject: ASME B31.8, Table 841.115A

Date Issued: May 21, 2007
File: 05-215
Question: Would helical (spiral) welded pipe have the same joint efficiency factor (E = 1.0) as
SAW pipe manufactured under API 5L?
Reply: Yes.

1-3

Copyright @ 2010 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

No reproduction may be made of this material without witten consent of ASME.

ASME B31.8 INTERPRETATIONS VOLUME 15

Interpretation: 15-4
Subject: ASME B31.8, Para. 831.41(h), Seal Welding Vent Holes
Date Issued: November 8,2007
File: 06-259
Question (1): Is seal welding acceptable for plugging vent holes?
Reply (1): No. The Code recommends against the use of any material or techniques that would
contain pressure for plugging vent holes in rings or saddles used for reinforcement of branch
connections [see para. 831.41(h)].
Question (2):Can seal welding of vent holes on wear pads for pipe supports be used to prevent
crevice corrosion?
Reply (2): The Code does not address wear pads.

Interpretation: 15-5
Subject: ASME B31.8, Para. 841.11(c), Fracture Control and Arrest for Steel Pipe
Date Issued: September 9, 2009
File: 03-105
Question (1): Is material testing required to confirm that fracture toughness criteria specified
in accordance with para. 841.11(c)has been achieved?
Reply (1): Yes. Testing in accordance with paras. 841.11(c)(l)and (c)(2) is required.
Question (2): Is material testing required to confirm that the all-heat average Charpy energy
value meets or exceeds the required energy value as determined in accordance with
para. 841.11(~)(2)?
Reply (2): Yes.

Interpretation: 15-6
Subject: ASME B31.8-2003, Para. 844.32
Date Issued: September 9, 2009
File: 04-1083
Question (1):Is gas process piping (such as pipelines, headers, manifolds, etc), whether installed
above or below ground, defined as a pipe-type or bottle-type holder?
Reply: (1) No.
Question (2): If the answer to Question (1) is negative, then does the Code provide criteria for
establishing the distance from gas process piping to property and/or fence lines?
Reply (2): No.
Question (3): Do the requirements of para. 844.32(b) prohibit the installation of pipe-type and
bottle-type holders less than 100 ft from a fenced site boundary when the maximum operating
pressure is greater than or equal to 1,000 psig?
Reply (3): Yes.
1-4

Copyright 2010 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

No reproduction may be made of this material without witten consent of ASME.

@)

ASME B31.8 INTERPRETATIONS VOLUME 1 5

Interpretation: 15-7
Subject: ASME B31.8, Table 841.322(f), Maximum Test Pressure
Date Issued: September 9, 2009
File: 06-1146
Question (1): Is there a maximum test pressure prescribed for location class-2 when the test
medium is water?
Reply (1): No.
Question (2): Is there a maximum test pressure prescribed for location class3 and 4 when the
test medium is water?
Reply (2): No.

Interpretation: 15-8
Subject: ASME B31.8, Para. 834.5
Date Issued: September 9, 2009
File: 07-1468
Question (1): For piping that is operating at 50% or more of SMYS, and a welded pipe support
connection is desired, is it necessary to provide a full encirclement sleeve, continuously welded
to the pipe, for attachment of the welded pipe support?
Reply (1): Yes.
Question (2): For piping that is operating at 50% or more of SMYS, is it necessary to provide
a full encirclement sleeve (welded or not welded) to the pipe when a nonwelded support connection is desired (such as a clamp)?
Reply (2): No.

Interpretation: 15-9
Subject: ASME B31.8-2007 Edition, Table A842.11, Note (1)
Date Issued: September 9, 2009
File: 09-1072
Question: Note (1) in Table A842.22 says combined stress for platform piping and risers shall
be based upon specified minimum wall thickness, including manufacturing, corrosion, and erosion
allowances. Is combined stress for pipeline to be based on nominal wall thickness?
Reply: Yes.

1-5

Copyright 2010 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

No reproduction may be made of this material without written consent of ASME.

ASME B31.8 INTERPRETATIONS VOLUME 1 5

Interpretation: 15-10

Subject: ASME B31.8-2007, Alternate Acceptance Standard for Girth Welds in Appendix A of
API 1104
Date Issued: September 9, 2009
File: 09-1073
Question: Can the alternative acceptance standard for girth welds described in Appendix A
of API 1104 be applied for onshore pipeline construction according to ASME B31.8?
Reply: Yes. Meeting the standards of acceptability of API 1104 implies the use of the document
in its entirety, including the appendices.

Interpretation: 15-11

Subject: ASME B31.8-2007 Edition, Allowable Hoop Stress for Offshore Hydrotest, Para. A847.2
Date Issued: September 11, 2009
File: 09-1503
Question: In ASME B31.8-2007, para. A847.2, it is addressed in the CAUTION section that
"When an external pressure, Pe, greater than zero is used in the hoop stress formula in para.
A842.221, there is a possible combination of conditions where the yield strength of the pipe could
be exceeded during the hydrostatic test. The hoop stress shall be checked to see that it is within
allowable limits considering both the internal and external pressures when determining the
maximum hydrostatic test pressure." However, it is not specified in the code what should be the
allowable limit for the hoop stress during hydrotest. Is there an allowable limit for the hoop
stress during hydrotest of an offshore pipeline?
Reply: No. The Code does not limit the hoop stress during hydrotest of an offshore pipeline
to a certain percentage of SMYS. The purpose of the cautionary note is only to alert the user that
under certain conditions, the hoop stress during hydrotest could be higher than anticipated.

Copyright 2010 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

No reproduction may be made of this material without witten consent of ASME.