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ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

SECTION I

INTERPRETATIONS
Volume 48
The Interpretations to the Code will be issued twice a year (July and December) up to the
publication of the 2004 Edition of the Code. The Interpretations for each individual Section are
published separately and are part of the update service to that Section; Interpretations of Section
III, Divisions 1 and 2, are part of the update service to Section III, Subsection NCA.

Interpretations Volumes 42 through 47 were included with the update service to the 1998 Edition
of the Code; Volume 48 is the first Interpretations volume to be included with the update service
to the 2001 Edition.

Section Vol. 48 Vol. 49 Vol. 50 Vol. 51 Vol. 52 Vol. 53

I 7 /01
II-A 7 /01
II-B 7 /01
II-C ...
II-D ...
III-NCA 7 /01
III-3 ...
IV 7 /01
V ...
VI ...
VII ...
VIII-1 7 /01
VIII-2 ...
VIII-3 7 /01
IX 7 /01
X ...
XI 7 /01

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 Copyright © 2001
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
All Rights Reserved

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 INTERPRETATIONS
VOLUME 48 — SECTION I
Replies to Technical Inquiries
July 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000

FOREWORD

General Information
This publication includes all written interpretations issued between the indicated dates by the ASME
Staff on behalf of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee in response to inquiries concerning
interpretations of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. A contents is also included which lists
subjects specific to the interpretations covered in the individual volume.
These interpretations are taken verbatim from the original letters, except for a few typographical
and editorial corrections made for the purpose of improved clarity. In some instances, a review of the
interpretation revealed a need for corrections of a technical nature. In these cases, a revised interpretation
is presented bearing the original Interpretation Number with the suffix R and the original file number
with an asterisk. Following these revised interpretations, new interpretations and revisions to them
issued during the indicated dates are assigned Interpretation Numbers in chronological order. Interpretations
applying to more than one Code Section appear with the interpretations for each affected Section.
ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of these interpretations when or if additional information
is available which the inquirer believes might affect the interpretation. Further, persons aggrieved by
an interpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME committee or subcommittee. As stated in the
Statement of Policy in the Code documents, ASME does not “approve,” “certify,” “rate,” or “endorse”
any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity.
An interpretation applies either to the Edition and Addenda in effect on the date of issuance of the
interpretation or the Edition and Addenda stated in the interpretation. Subsequent revisions to the Code
may supersede the interpretation.
For detailed instructions on preparation of technical inquiries to the ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Committee, refer to Appendix I.

Subject and Numerical Indexes

Subject and numerical indexes have been prepared to assist the user in locating interpretations by
subject matter or by location in the Code. They cover interpretations issued from Volume 12 up to
and including the present volume, and will be updated with each volume.

381
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 SECTION I
Subject Interpretation File No.

Figs. PG-36 and PG-36.4, Some Representative Configurations

Describing the te Reinforcement Dimension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-01-01 BC00-413
PFT-43, Requirement for Inspection Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-01-02 BC00-513
PG-73.4.2, Testing by Manufacturers or Assemblers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-01-04 BC00-462
PG-105.5, Code Construction Before Receipt of Certificate of Authorization . . . . . . . . I-01-03 BC00-515
PW-11 and PW-41, Requirements for NDE of Butt Welds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-98-20R BC98-529*

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382

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 Section I — Interpretations Vol. 48 I-98-20R, I-01-01

Interpretation: I-98-20R

Subject: PW-11 and PW-41, Requirements for NDE of Butt Welds

Date Issued: June 23, 1999

File: BC98-529*

Question (1): Are circumferential welds in pipes, tubes, or headers, which are exempted from
radiographic examination, by PW-41, required to have complete joint penetration?

Reply (1): Yes.

Question (2): In production of circumferential butt welds, both with and without radiographic
examination, is it a requirement of PW-34 that the inside surfaces of the items be joined and aligned
so as to facilitate complete joint penetration?

Reply (2): Yes.

Question (3): For circumferential joints produced using a single welded butt joint without backing,
is it required that the finished weld comply with the requirements of PW-35 on both the inside and
outside surface?

Reply (3): Yes.

Question (4): Is “further examination,” such as RT or UT, that is not mandated by the rules of
Section I within the scope of the Code?

Reply (4): No. Supplemental NDE and acceptance standards are beyond the requirements of Section
I and outside the scope of the Code. The extent of supplemental NDE and its acceptance criteria shall
be a matter of agreement between the manufacturer and the user. All applicable rules regarding welds,
however, must be met.

Interpretation: I-01-01

Subject: Figs. PG-36 and PG-36.4, Some Representative Configurations Describing the te
Reinforcement Dimension

Date Issued: October 25, 2000

File: BC00-413

Question: In Fig. PG-36.4, sketch (e), if the thickened portion of a nozzle extends to or past the
outer limit of reinforcement (see dimension “y” in Fig. PG-36), is tn to be taken as the nominal
thickness of the nozzle within the zone of reinforcement and te equal to zero?

Reply: Yes.

383

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 I-01-02, I-01-03 Section I — Interpretations Vol. 48

Interpretation: I-01-02

Subject: PFT-43, Requirement for Inspection Openings

Date Issued: October 25, 2000

File: BC00-513

Question: A one-pass firetube boiler is constructed with a shell and tube bundle. There is no
furnace and no significant space above or below the tubes to allow installation of a manway. An
elevated steam drum is connected to the tube bundle by risers and downcomers. Do the inspection
opening requirements in any of the paragraphs in PFT-43 apply to this boiler?

Reply: No. PG-44 would apply.

Interpretation: I-01-03

Subject: PG-105.5, Code Construction Before Receipt of Certificate of Authorization

Date Issued: October 25, 2000

File: BC00-515

Question: A Manufacturer holding the appropriate ASME Certificate of Authorization fabricates

parts for an organization that has applied for a Certificate of Authorization as an Engineering Contractor.
After the Engineering Contractor receives the Certificate of Authorization, may the Engineering
Contractor’s Authorized Inspector accept the parts from the Manufacturer by reviewing the proper
Code Certification in the form of Stamping and the signed Manufacturers’ Data Report?
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Reply: Yes.

384

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 Section I — Interpretations Vol. 48 I-01-04

Interpretation: I-01-04

Subject: PG-73.4.2, Testing by Manufacturers or Assemblers

Date Issued: October 29, 2000

File: BC00-462

Question (1): Does Section I require testing of all safety valves to demonstrate blowdown?

Reply (1): Yes.

Question (2): Can “generic” valve settings based on experience be utilized to meet requirements
of PG-73.4.2 in lieu of an actual valve test?

Reply (2): No.

385
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