An Introduction to

ASME
Standards
Why they exist and how they are developed
Overview
• What is ASME?
• What is a standard?
• Why do we have standards?
• How are standards developed?
• How are standards used by an engineer?
What is the American
Society of Mechanical
Engineers?
 ASME Mission Statement:
To serve diverse global communities by advancing,
disseminating and applying engineering knowledge for
improving the quality of life; and communicating the
excitement of engineering.

Sectors:
• Technical Events and Content
• Public Affairs and Outreach
• Group Pathways and Support
• Student and Early Career
Development
• Standards and Certification
The American Society of Mechanical
Engineers

• Organization started in 1880 by a small group

of leading industrialists

• Has over 140,000 members in the society

• One of the worlds largest technical publishing

operations
What is a Standard?
 What is a Standard?
A set of technical definitions, instructions, rules,
guidelines, or characteristics set forth to
provide consistent and comparable results,
including:
- Items manufactured uniformly, providing for
interchangeability
- Tests and analyses conducted reliably, minimizing the
uncertainty of the results
- Facilities designed and constructed for safe
operation
Why do we have Standards?
• Safety
• Uniformity/Consistency
• Efficiency
• Commerce and Trade

9
Safety
• Sultana
Safety
• Grover Shoe Factory
Disaster
Safety

• After the Grover Shoe Factory, Massachusetts took

the monumental step and established a 5 man
Board of Boiler Rules.

• ASME formed the Boiler Code Committee in 1911.

• Published the first edition of the Boiler and

Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) in 1915

• Today, BPVC is incorporated into laws in most

states, US territories, and Canadian providences.
 HISTORY

Timeline of Early ASME Standardization Milestones

1884 1905 1914 1916 1921

1880 1918
Issues first Standard for First edition of Safety Code Safety
ASME founded to standard, the Boiler and Founding Code for
address issues Proportions of for Cranes member of
Code for the Machine Screw Pressure Elevat or
with Conduct of Vessel Code American s
industrialization Sizes Engineering
Trials of
and Steam Boilers Standards
mechanization Committee
(later known
as ANSI)

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Uniformity/Consistency
• Standards ensure that various goods and systems
are the same everywhere
• Bolt and Screw Sizes, threading
• Rail gauge
• Material composition
• Plumbing fittings
• Computer Fonts/Typesetting

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ASME Conformity Assessment
• Process by which a product is shown to be in
full compliance with a standard
• ASME accredits manufacturers who produce
products compliant with their codes
and standards
• There are over 9,000 ASME accreditation
account holders worldwide
• ASME offers product certification for the
following programs
• Boiler
• Nuclear
• NQA (Nuclear Quality Assurance)
• QSC (Quality System Certificate for nuclear
material suppliers)
• BPE (Bioprocessing Equipment)
• AIA (Authorized Inspection Agency)
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Summary
• Engineering Standards were developed to
improve public safety, allow for uniform
consistency of products, and help ensure fair
and free commerce and trade
• ASME develops standards using an ANSI
accredited voluntary consensus approach
• Standards help engineers by providing
requirements for design, fabrication,
materials, testing, and other areas
Questions?