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    ASME B31.3 vs ASME B31.1

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    Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly

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    ASME B31.3 vs ASME B31.1

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    95 views9 pages

    Guidelines For Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly

    Uploaded by

    cristinelb
    ASME B31.3 vs ASME B31.1

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 9

      780.975.

    4584

    ASME B31.3 vs ASME B31.1: Are


    CRN Registration Requirements
    the Same?
    November 5, 2016 / in CRN Essentials, CRN Resources,

    Pressure Vessels / by Cameron A. Sterling

    Cammar Corp [https://cammarcorporation.com/about-


    us/] was recently asked, “If a fitting has a CRN
    registration
    [https://cammarcorporation.com/2016/08/31/what-is-a-
    crn-number/] with ASME B31.3 as the code of
    construction, it’s likely ok to use it as a ASME B31.1
    design, and vice versa, right?”

    The short answer is a qualified “no”.

    Now for the long answer, with our explanation and point
    of view with some background. For even more detail
    and elaboration, please check with the code texts.
    In General
    Some would say that “if a fitting has a CRN registration,
    what does it matter if it’s registered to a different code of
    construction than another? After all, a CRN registration
    is a registration is a registration.” This response would
    seem to be in line with the idea that, when considered in
    their entirety, both codes are equal. But when
    considering CRN (Canadian Registration Number)
    requirements, this idea is incorrect in many ways.

    For a fitting to be registered at all, a manufacturer must


    attest on a witnessed Statutory Declaration, that the
    fitting it manufactures completely conforms to either a
    referenced North American standard, code of
    construction, or equivalent. This means that the fitting
    must meet all requirements of that standard or code of
    construction. If only some rules of one code are used
    together with some rules of the other, then besides not
    meeting either code, the resulting mix will likely not be
    safe, and will likely not be registerable. Cherry picking
    requirements from various codes is not permitted.

    CRN registrations are tied to codes of construction,


    referenced standards, etc.

    And the specific requirements of B31.3 and B31.1 differ


    significantly from one another. Table 1 compares a
    selection of some of the most commonly encountered
    differences, described here.

    Scope
    ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1 are the most applicable
    ASME codes of construction for many pressure piping
    and fitting CRN designs in Canada. However, their
    scopes are different in at least one major respect.

    ASME B31.1 covers the requirements of boiler external


    piping, and ASME B31.3 does not. So, whereas some
    ASME B31.1 fittings can be used as part of a boiler
    external piping design, ASME B31.3 fittings cannot be.

    For example, if some boiler external piping systems


    needs a valve replacement, the replacement valve must
    be registerable to ASME B31.1, and the material must
    be suitable for boiler external piping. An ASME B31.3
    valve would not be acceptable.

    Allowable Strengths
    ASME B31.3 generally permits higher allowable
    strengths in many cases and thereby somewhat thinner
    pressure boundary thicknesses. For example, in ASME
    B31.3-2014 the allowable strength at 100F of A106B is
    20 ksig and in ASME B31.1-2014 it is 17.1 ksig. Check
    the allowable stress tables and methods of determining
    allowable strengths in each code carefully.

    So as a result, some equipment with a CRN that meets


    the thickness requirements of ASME B31.3 would be too
    thin to meet ASME B31.1 requirements and therefore
    would not be a suitable candidate for a B31.1 based
    CRN.

    Material Specifications
    The available selection of materials in ASME B31.3 and
    ASME B31.1 has overlap, but is not the same. Check to
    ensure that the proposed material is listed in the code
    that you want to use with your CRN application.

    Unlisted materials are defined and treated differently by


    B31.3 and B31.1. ASME B31.3 states that unlisted
    materials can be used provided that they are described
    in a suitable published specification (see ASME
    B31.3-2014 para 323.1.2), and in addition to this ASME
    B31.1 states that their use must be approved, in writing,
    by the end user (see ASME B31.1-2014 paragraph
    123.1.2(D)).
    So, for example, suppose a site glass is to be made with
    unlisted material conforming to the requirements of an
    acceptable published specification. If the use of the
    unlisted material is not accepted by the end-user in
    writing in every instance, then code does not permit the
    equipment to be used as a B31.1 fitting.

    Pressure Testing
    Regardless of design temperature, all non-service
    hydro-static pressure testing for ASME B31.1-2014
    designs is conducted at 1.5 times the design pressure.
    But for ASME B31.3-2014 designs, all non-service
    hydro-static pressure testing is conducted as a function
    of design temperature, to account for any decrease in
    allowable strengths as temperature increases during
    operation, per paragraph 345.

    So, a fitting that is shop hydro tested to only meet ASME


    B31.1 will quite possibly not meet ASME B31.3
    requirements if the allowable strength of the
    construction material decreases at design temperature.

    Only with the regulator’s acceptance and at the owner’s


    option are service tests at design pressures permitted
    for ASME B31.3 Category D fluid (see para 300.2)
    pressure piping systems. But ASME B31.1 has no
    limitation in relation to fluid category for this, and with
    the regulator’s acceptance, pressure piping can be
    service tested “when specified by the owner, when other
    types of tests are not practical or when leak tightness is
    demonstrable due to the nature of the service”, per
    ASME B31.1 para 137.7.1.

    Notwithstanding what ASME B31.1 allows for here,


    service testing should be avoided whenever possible,
    especially when high energy piping systems are
    concerned.
    Pneumatic testing is permitted by both ASME B31.3 and
    B31.1, but only with the regulator’s acceptance, together
    with proper justifications, procedures, and safeguards.
    For ASME B31.3-2014, the pneumatic test pressure
    would be between 1.1Pdesign and 1.33Pdesign, and for

    ASME B31.1-2014 it would be between 1.2Pdesign and

    1.5Pdesign. For details, refer to ASME B31.3 paragraph

    345.5 and ASME B31.1 paragraph 137.5. Pneumatic


    testing is obviously inherently dangerous compared to
    hydrostatic testing due to stored energy.

    Equipment should not leave the manufacturer’s shop


    without being pressure tested. It is difficult to imagine a
    situation where pressure tests are impractical in the
    shop unless, due to size, assembly in the field is
    required. And, even then, field testing will likely be
    required.

    Alternatives to Pressure Testing


    With the regulator’s acceptance, proper justification and
    procedures, closure welds are permitted on ASME
    B31.3 pressure piping systems. An ABSA document,
    AB-519 [http://www.absa.ca/wp-
    content/uploads/2015/04/AB-
    519_Alternative_Test_Methods_Procedure_Requirements.pdf]
    , provides good background in relation to the type of
    information that is required for justification and
    documentation. Weld tolerances and allowable
    imperfections before, during, and after joining should be
    specified, together with the proposed weld locations and
    identification on a numbered list and isometric drawing,
    with post weld heat treatment if any, non-destructive
    testing techniques, etc. All of this information should be
    documented for each weld.

    ASME B31.1 does not permit closure welds.


    Radiography and Ultrasonic Examination
    All ASME B31.3 pressure equipment designs require at
    least 5% acceptable random radiography (RT) or
    ultrasonic examination (UT) of all circumferential butt
    and miter groove welds per B31.3-2014 paragraph
    341.4.1(b). Depending on the category of the service,
    more volumetric examination might well be required.

    For ASME B31.1, the level of radiography or ultrasonic


    examination depends on the design temperature,
    pressure, and size of the piping per ASME B31.1-2014
    paragraph 136.4. So, though in some instances the RT
    and UT requirements of B31.1 could be met in the
    absence of any radiography or ultrasonic testing,
    equipment with circumferential welds would likely not
    meet the requirements of B31.3 unless some RT or UT
    was specified

    Minimum Design Metal Temperature


    As part of the design conditions, ASME B31.3 designs
    require that the minimum design metal temperature
    (MDMT) be specified. It indicates the lowest
    temperature at which the equipment is designed to
    operate at.

    ASME B31.1 does not list minimum design metal


    temperatures even though some material specifications
    listed in B31.1 do have metal transition temperatures
    below which brittle behavior becomes evident with
    ambient conditions in Canada.

    Instead, B31.1 somewhat indirectly includes


    requirements associated with low temperature design
    via a reference to B31T in paragraph 124.1.2. Even
    though ASME B31.1 designs do not ordinarily require
    explicit specification of the MDMT in the application,
    good engineering judgement requires that the MDMT be
    properly considered. B31.1 designs without a specified
    MDMT would not meet ASME B31.3 requirements.

    Impact Testing
    To ensure that materials can withstand the wear and
    tear required at cold, potentially embrittling
    temperatures, ASME B31.3 requires impact testing to
    help ensure safety. Please refer to ASME B31.3 paras
    323.2 and 323.3 for some more details.

    As noted above, ASME B31.1 does not include an


    MDMT as a design condition beyond a reference to
    ASME B31T and in paragraph 124.1.2.

    Table 1:
    Summary of Some Differences Between ASME B31.3
    and ASME B31.1
    (See text above for more information, and codes for full
    details)

    Difference ASME B31.1 ASME B31.3

    Scope includes boiler external see above

    piping systems

    Allowable generally less than B31.3, generally greater than

    Strengths so wall thicknesses are B31.1, so wall thicknesses

    greater are thinner

    Unlisted written, end-user approval see above

    Material is required, see above

    Specifications

    Non-Service Ptest = 1.5Pdesign Ptest = 1.5Pdesign*S

    Hydro

    Pressure

    Testing
    Pneumatic 1.2Pdesign<=Ptest<=1.5Pdesign 1.1Pdesign<=Ptest<=1.33P

    Pressure
    and see above and see above
    Testing

    Service see above category D fluids only, see

    Testing above

    Alternatives no closure welds permitted closure welds permitted,

    to Pressure see above subject to conditions

    Testing see above

    Radiography dependent on size, minimum 5% random

    and pressure and temperature testing for circumferential

    Ultrasonic and miter groove welds

    Testing

    MDMT needs to be considered is a design condition that

    per B31T, and paragraph needs to be specified

    124.1.2

    Impact needs to be considered is a design parameter that

    Testing per paragraph 124.1.2 needs to be specified

    It is possible to design equipment that meets both codes


    of construction, where all ASME B31.1 and B31.3
    requirements are met.

    Registering equipment to meet the requirements of


    more than one code of construction can be done. And
    some manufacturers do this, so that their brand can be
    sold to a wider range of clientele.

    An adequate design and properly prepared CRN


    application
    [https://cammarcorporation.com/2017/07/21/crn-
    number-required/] can assist with the CRN registration
    process.
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