Working Group Case Study I

What action should an AIA take when a Certificate Holder terminates a

contract because the AI does not provide a favourable decision?

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Scenario

• A welded plate heat exchanger, the Manufacturer would like to reduce the
thickness of the panel by using the criteria 1.5 x S with UG-34 calculation.

• The AI searches for a suitable Interpretation

• The HSB Pressure Points of

June 2007 addresses this issue

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Interpretation: VIII-1-07-02

Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (2004 Edition, 2005 Addenda); UG-34,

Unstayed Flat Heads and Covers
Date Issued: August 21, 2006
File: BC06-667
Question (1): Is it permitted to use 1.5S, as provided in UG-23(c), in lieu of S in
the equations of UG-34 in order to determine the required
thickness of flat heads and covers?
Reply (1): No. For those configurations for which it is appropriate to use an
allowable stress equal to 1.5S, the 1.5S stress multiplier has been
built into the C factor.
Question (2): May a finite element analysis be used to determine the required
thickness of a flat head or cover instead of the rules provided in
UG-34?
Reply (2): No.

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Interpretation: VIII-1-07-02

Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (2004 Edition, 2005 Addenda); UG-34,

Unstayed Flat Heads and Covers

Explanation:

The inquirer is asking if 1.5 S should be used in the equations for flat heads and
covers designed to UG-34 requirements. The correct answer is no, the C factors
in Fig UG-34 already incorporate provisions for letting the primary bending
stress go to 1.5S for welded covers. The factor of 1.00 is maintained for bolted
covers in order to minimize leakage probabilities.

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Interpretation: VIII-1-01-78

Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (1998 Edition, 2000 Addenda); UG-34 and
Appendix 2
Date Issued: July 2, 2001
File: BC01-407

Question (1): When applying formula (5) of UG-34 in Section VIII, Division 1 for the
design of a cover, with a geometry as shown in sketch (k) of Fig. UG-34,
is it permissible to use 1.5 times S in that portion of the equation
applicable to the bolt load W instead of S?

Reply (1): No.

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Interpretation: VIII-1-83-327

Subject: Section VIII, Division 1; UG-23 and UG-34 C Factor for a Flat Circular Head
Date Issued: November 19, 1984
File: BC84-592

Question: For a flat circular head of the configuration shown in Fig, UG-34 sketch (p)
is it permissible to increase the allowable stress to 1.5S in the formulas of
UG-34?

Reply: No.

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HSB Pressure Points, June 2007

Q When designing flat heads and covers, bending stresses

at the edge or in the centre of the cover typically control
the design thickness. Per UG-23(c), when loads subject a
component to a combination of primary membrane stress plus
primary bending stress, the stress in the component shall not
exceed 1-1/2 times the maximum allowable stress value in
tension from Section II, Part D. Does this mean that I can use
1.5S for the allowable stress when calculating the required
thickness?

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HSB Pressure Points, June 2007

A No. When you look at the thickness equations for welded

and bolted flat heads given in UG-34, S represents the
maximum allowable stress value in tension as given in the
allowable stress tables from
Section II, Part D. However
for the case of welded
covers [Eq. (1) of UG-
34(c)], an adjustment is
made to this allowable
stress within the C factor, effectively increasing the allowable
stress to 1.5S.

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HSB Pressure Points, June 2007

A The C factor also accounts for the edge condition

(from simply supported to fixed). But in the case of bolted
covers, this adjustment is not made since the Code takes a very
conservative design approach for bolted components to
minimize the chance of leakage in service. So, in summary, the
allowable stress used in the UG-34 thickness equations should
be taken directly from the allowable stress tables given in
Section II, Part D, since any necessary adjustments related to a
higher allowable stress for a bending condition is automatically
built into the C factors.

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Consequence

• The AI advised as per the applicable Interpretations, which were also

confirmed by the views of another AIA

• The Certificate Holder terminates Agreement with their AIA

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Question

• What can the AIA do?

• What must the AIA do?

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René Uebel
Technical Manager – Accredited Services
Lloyd‘s Register Energy
T +49 (0)172 9418 407 E rene.uebel@lr.org

Lloyd’s Register Group Services Limited

71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS

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