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What are CODES & STANDARDS ?

Codes and Standards

What is a code? What is a standard? The earliest use of code is thought to have been developed for construction building ,sometime between 1955 B.C. and 1913 B.C., during the reign of King Hammurabi of Babylon. The code didn’t specify how to build a building - but laid out the consequences of not digging a well besides the building without safeguarding it. If someone fell in the well and gets killed, then the owner of the well or his child would be slain in retaliation.

Today’s codes are more elaborate, and less punitive. But like Hammurabi’s code, they express society’s will on a particular technical issue, specifying a desired outcome.

A code is a model, a set of rules, that knowledgeable people recommend for others to follow. It is not a law, but can be adopted into law.

A standard tends be a more detailed elaboration, the nuts and bolts of meeting a code.

One way of looking at the differences between codes and standards is that a code tells you what you need to do, and a standards tells you how to do it.

As noted in the definition for code, standards are frequently collected as reference information when codes are being prepared. It is common for sections of a local code to refer to nationally recognized standards. In many instances, entire sections of the standards are adopted into the code by reference, and then become legally enforceable.

Purpose of codes and standards

Purpose of codes and standards

The fundamental need for codes and standards in design is based on two concepts.
1- Safety of life and property
2- Interchangeability & Compatibility.

Safety of life and property

Safety of life and property
The need for codes in the industry was not so apparent until the invention of Steam Engine.In 1698,Thomas Savery patented first steam engine,then afterwards numerous engines with improvements followed ,which led a revolution .A new beginning of industrialization began.
These early steam engines were using boilers which were designed with no specific code or standard requirements,inspection. These were the first pressure containing systems,the industries  had to rely on acquired knowledge from expertise and experienced knowledge for safe operation.Their knowledge was inadequate and not safe as it was evidenced from the numerous explotions of the boilers.Refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_boiler_explosions
Later individual companies formulates their own standards for safety and operation of the boiler design.But the legislations and the local government agencies were facing great difficulties in validating the inspection of boilers destined to go out of state use.
Henceforth the ASME was approached for the formation and regulation of the boiler code which at that time was a recognized engineering organization in USA.

Interchangeability & Compatibility.

Interchangeability & Compatibility.
When manufactured articles were made by artisans working individually, each item was unique and the craftsman made the parts to fit each other. When a replacement part was required, it had to be made specially to fit.

However, as the economy grew and large numbers of an item were required, the handcrafted method was grossly inefficient. Economies of scale dictated that parts should be as nearly identical as possible, and that a usable replacement part would be available in case it was needed. The key consideration was that the replacement part had to be interchangeable with the original one.

Standardization of parts within a particular manufacturing company to ensure interchangeability is only one part of the industrial production problem. The other part is compatibility. What happens when parts from one company, working to their standards, have to be combined with parts from another company, working to their standards? Will parts from company A fit with parts from company B? Yes, but only if the parts are compatible. In other words, the standards of the two companies must be the same.

Piping CODES & STANDARDS ?

Codes for Piping Systems.

For Piping Systems proper selection of of Material of Construction along with Specifications, Adherence to Codes and Standards is essential. Standardization reduces cost, confusion and inconvenience. Standards are published by Professional Societies, Committees and Trade Organizations. It is also accepted by Governments.  The main objective is to have Standardization and Safety.

  • CODE    : A group of general rules or systematic procedures for Design, Fabrication, Installation and Inspection methods prepared in such a manner that it can be adopted by legal jurisdiction and made into a law.
  •  
  • STANDARDS   : Documents prepared by a Professional group or Committee which are believed to be good and proper Engineering Practices and which contain mandatory requirement.
  • RECOMMENDED PRACTICES : Documents prepared by professional group or committee indicating Good Engineering Practices but which are optional.


  • Codes and Standards, besides being regulations, might also be considered as Design Aids since they provide guidance from experts.

    Origin of Boiler Code for BOILER CODES & STANDARDS ?


    Earliest use of pressure piping codes dates back to be used in boiler construction and manufacturing beacuse of many boiler explotion resulted to to unsafe design and absence of any specific codes & standards as such.Henceforth  the first set of guidelines to be published ,were for boilers specifically and named as Boiler Code accordingly.

    Boiler code

    On February 15, 1915, SECTION 1, POWER BOILERS, the first ASME boiler code, was submitted to council for ASME approval. Other code sections followed during the next eleven years were:

  • Section III - Locomotive Boilers, 1921
  • Section V - Miniature Boilers, 1922
  • Section VI - Heating Boilers, 1923
  • Section II - Materials and Section VI Inspection, 1924
  • Section VIII - Unfired Pressure Vessels, 1925
  • Section VII - Care and Use of Boilers, 1926

  • After the use of codes ,there was a rapid decline in steam boiler explosions even as steam pressure steadily increased. Each of these code sections was written by committees of individuals with various areas ofexpertise in design, fabrication, and construction of boilers and pressure vessels. The committees’ duty was to formulate safety rules and to interpret these rules for inquirers.

    Effective application of ASME codes and standards resulted in a dramatic decline in boiler explosions.

    The history of the B31 Code

    The history of the B31 Code
    The history of the B31 Code is began during the same era when steam engines were extensively used which led to industralization.The code for Pressure Piping has emerged much the same way as the pressure vessel code. To meet the need for a national pressure piping code, the American Standards Association (ASA) initiated PROJECT B31 in March 1926, at the request of ASME and with ASME being the sole sponsor. Because of the wide field involved, Section Committee B31 comprised some forty different engineering societies,industries, government bureaus, institutions, and trade associations. The first edition of the B31 Code was published in 1935 as the American Tentative Standard Code for Pressure Piping.To keep the Code current with developments in piping design and all related disciplines, revisions,supplements, and new editions of the Code were published as follows: ASA (forerunner of ANSI) initiated project B31 to develop a pressure piping Code. The resulting document, "American Tentative Standard Code for Pressure Piping, ASA B31.1 was issued in 1935.

  • B31.1 - 1942 American Standard Code for Pressure Piping
  • B31.1A - 1944 Supplement
  • 1B31.1B - 1947 Supplement
  • 2B31.1 - 1951 American Standard Code for Pressure Piping
  • B31.1A - 1953 Supplement 1 to B31.1 - 1951
  • B31.1 - 1955 American Standard Code for Pressure Piping

  • The ASME B31 Code for Pressure Piping includes specific “books” for various piping applications.  The Code is dynamic and the “sitting committees” work at keeping the Codes up to date with current standard industry practice – not “cutting edge”, not “trend setting”, not “latest and greatest" - rather current standard industry practice.   The B31 Codes are not the final word, only the latest word.

    During the long history of the B31 Codes various “book section” numbers were assigned for development.  Some of these documents were developed but not used as the work was pulled into another “book”.  Others of them were withdrawn when superceded by another document.  For an overview, a brief list  B31 “projects” and Codes is mentioned below:

  • B31.1 – Power Piping
  • B31.2 – Fuel Gas Piping, WITHDRAWN superceded by ANSI Z223.1
  • B31.3 – Process Piping, (formerly Chemical Plant and Petroleum Refinery Piping)
  • B31.4 – Liquid Hydrocarbon Transportation Piping (for example oil cross country pipelines)
  • B31.5 – Refrigeration Piping
  • B31.6 – Chemical Plant Piping, never issued as a separate document, folded into B31.3
  • B31.7 – Nuclear Power Piping, WITHDRAWN, superseded by ASME Code, Section III
  • B31.8 – Gas Transportation Piping (for example cross country gas pipelines)
  • B31.9 – Building Services Piping (for example office building hot water heating and air conditioning)
  • B31.10 – Cryogenic Piping, never issued as a separate document, folded into B31.3
  • B31.11 – Slurry Transportation Piping (for example cross country coal/water slurries)
  • Intend of the code & Designers Responsibility

    During the developement of the code the main objective was the protection of general welfare and the establishment of a government agency. The purpose of codes is to assist that government agency in meeting its obligation to protect the general welfare of the population it serves. The objectives of codes are to prevent damage to property and injury to or loss of life by persons. These objectives are accomplished by applying accumulated knowledge to the avoidance, reduction, or elimination of definable hazards.

    Designer’s responsibility

    As soon as a designer has been able to establish a solid definition of the problem at hand, and to formulate a promising solution to it, the next logical step is to begin the collection of available reference materials such as codes and standards. This is a key part of the background phase of the design effort. Awareness of the existence and applicability of codes and standards is a major responsibility of the designer.

    One of the designer’s responsibilities in the background phase is to make certain that the collection of reference codes and standards is both complete and comprehensive. Considering the enormous amount of information available, and the ease of access to it, this can be a formidable task. However, a designer’s failure to acquire a complete and comprehensive collection of applicable standards is ill advised in today’s litigious environment. In addition, failure of the designer to meet the requirements set forth in the standards can be considered professional malpractice.

    Designer here is referred to any person who is assigned to design the piping system ,meeting the minimum qualification and experience as adviced by the corresponding code

    What is ASME

    The most populer and comprehensive set of codes and standards used around the globe in mechanical design and construction are the ASME codes & standards.ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization.

    ASME

    Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society.

    The organization’s stated vision is to be the premier organization for promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences to the diverse communities throughout the world.

    Its stated mission is to promote and enhance the technical competency and professional well-being of its members, and through quality programs and activities in mechanical engineering, better enable its practitioners to contribute to the well-being of humankind. As of 2006, the ASME has 120,000 members.

    Core values include:

  • Embrace integrity and ethical conduct 
  • Embrace diversity and respect the dignity and culture of all people
  •  
  • Nurture and treasure the environment and our natural and man-made resources
  • Facilitate the development, dissemination and application of engineering knowledge
  • Promote the benefits of continuing education and of engineering education
  • Respect and document engineering history while continually embracing change
  • Promote the technical and societal contribution of engineers
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