ASME B31.3

Description

ASME B31.3 contains requirements for piping typically found in petroleum refineries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; and related processing plants and terminals. It covers materials and components, design, fabrication, assembly, erection, examination, inspection, and testing of piping.

This Code applies to piping for all fluids, including

• raw, intermediate, and finished chemicals
• petroleum products
• gas, steam, air, and water
• fluidized solids
• refrigerants
• cryogenic fluids

ASME B31.3 excludes the following: (a) piping systems designed for internal gage pressures at or above zero but less than 105 kPa (15 psi), provided the fluid handled is nonflammable, nontoxic, and not damaging to human tissues as defined in 300.2, and its design temperature is from −29°C (−20°F) through 186°C (366°F)

• (b) power boilers in accordance with ASME Section I and boiler external piping that is required to conform to ASME B31.1
• (c) tubes, tube headers, crossovers, and manifolds of fired heaters that are internal to the heater enclosure
• (d) pressure vessels, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, and other fluid handling or processing equipment, including internal piping and connections for external piping

ASME BPVC references here and elsewhere in ASME B31 3 are to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and its various Sections as follows:

ASME Section I, Rules for Construction of Power Boilers

ASME Section II Parts C and ASME Section II Parts D, Materials

ASME Section III, Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components, Division 1, Subsection NH

ASME Section V, Nondestructive Examination

ASME Section VIII, Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels, Divisions 1, 2, and 3

ASME Section IX, Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Qualifications