ASME BOILER AND

PRESSURE VESSEL
CERTIFICATION

BENEFITS OF ASME STANDARDS

“THE GOLD STANDARD”

BANGKOK, THAILAND

PAUL LANG

1
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

ASME Standards and Certification Today

700 technical committees
Over 5800 Volunteers (~1200 International and growing,
representing almost 50 countries)
Over 500 Codes and Standards published and maintained
ASME Codes and Standards accepted in over 100 countries
Administers over 40 U.S. Technical Advisory Groups to ISO
10 Conformity Assessment Program

2
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

3
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

4
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

S&C Supervisory Boards

Responsible for:

1. Assessing the need for S&C activity

2. Structuring the necessary committees
3. Ensuring procedures for due process
4. Approving & discharging committee personnel
5. Approving codes & standards for ASME
6. Hearing appeals
7. Recommending disbanding of committees

5
 ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

Standards Committees and Subordinate Groups

Standards Committee:

–Where the relevant technical expertise resides.

–Responsible for developing consensus on proposed standards

actions.

–May delegate certain standards development activities to one or

more Subordinate Groups.

6
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

Subordinate Groups

Subordinate Group(s):
–Develop specific proposals for the committee’s formal consensus
consideration.

–May draw on the expertise of individuals outside of the

standards committee.

–Include Project Teams, Subcommittees, Task Groups, Working

Groups and Ad-hoc Groups

7
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

How are Standards Developed?

Standards are a “living document” that are constantly being
developed and revised
Developed using a series of checks and balances
Written by volunteers
Approved by a consensus process
Follow procedures set by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI)

8
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

Voluntary Consensus Process

ASME standards actions are approved by consensus.
This means:
- There is substantial agreement by affected interest categories on
the proposed action.
- All views have been considered and attempts have been made to
resolve any objections from the consensus body or any other
source.
- Unanimity is not required. For example, ASME’s accredited
procedures require a 2/3 affirmative vote of the committee
membership.
- Agreements are reached when a specified majority, but not
necessarily all of the participants, concur on a proposed solution.

9
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION
Key Principles of Consensus Process
Openness – The process is fair, open, and transparent. Decisions
are reached by consensus among participants. Information on the
process and progress is made available to all inquirers.
Balance – Participants represent diverse interests and categories;
no single group may dominate. Participation is open to all
materially affected and interested parties with no membership fees
or requirements.
Due Process – Requires one or more attempts to resolve all
objections. Parties who believe they have been treated unfairly
have a right to appeal.

10
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION
ASME Committee Participation
ASME standards development is truly an open system:

Full participation by volunteer members based in the U.S. and

many countries; all working to improve the ASME Code’s
technical excellence and global usability.
Our international volunteer members participate at all levels of
standards development - including the highest supervisory
Boards and Committees.

11
 ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION
ASME Committee Participation- con’t
As technology development, industry and commerce are increasingly
globalized:
The number and geographic diversity of volunteer participants in
ASME’s standards development is steadily increasing year-over-year.
Participation experts based outside North America has also risen
consistently.

Many participate in a traditional way.

Others are members of International Working Groups.

12
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION
ASME Codes and Standards Consensus Process
Board Provides procedural oversight for all activities

Standards Establishes consensus on all technical matters

Committees
Provides recommendations on technical matters to the
Subcommittees standards committee in a given subject area – e.g. nuclear
components

Subgroups Develops proposal in a given specialty – e.g., design

Working Groups,
Develops detailed proposals in a specific field –
Task Groups,
valve design
Project Teams
13 13
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION
Benefits of Participation
- Interact and network with other experts in field
- Direct input into Standards requirements
- Early understanding of Standard requirements/revisions
- Acquire greater knowledge of Standard for application
- Lessons learned in similar industry issues
- Develop technical leadership skills
- Enhance persuasion skills in technical forum

14
 ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION
ASME Codes and Standards Products
• Code – A standard which has been adopted by governmental
bodies, either local, state, or federal, or which is cited in a
contractual agreement, and which has the force of law
• Case – Documents that clarify the intent of existing Code
requirements or provide alternative requirements
• Standard – A set of technical definitions and guidelines
developed so that items can be manufactured uniformly and
provide for safety and interchangeability
• Guide – A suggested practice, process or method that is not
mandatory and may be used as a whole or in part

15
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE
VESSEL CERTIFICATION

Questions
Its the ASME Mark that Sets You Apart.

The Gold Standard

ASME And You!

16