chnace I happened to came across a very interesting and

important document, which can clear some of the doughts

between the two divisions of sec VIII. Please go through the
attached discussion.
DISCUSSION ON ASME SECTION VIII DIVISIONS
1 AND 2 AND THE NEWDIVISION 3
3rd Annual Pressure Industry Conference, Banff, Alberta, Canada,
February 1999.

Published
Pressure Limits

Organization

Section VIII
Division 1
"Unfired"
Pressure Vessel
Rules
< 1940
Normally up to
3000 psig
General,
Construction
Type & Material
U, UG, UW, UF,
UB, UCS, UNF,
UCI,

Section VIII
Division 2

Section VIII Division 3

Alternative Rules

Alternative Rules for

High Pressure

1968
No limits either way,
usually 600+ psig

1997
No limit; Normally from
10,000 psig

General, Material,
Design, Fabrication
and others
AG, AM, AD, AF, AR,
AI, AT, AS

UCL, UCD, UHT,

ULT
Design Factor 3.5
Design Factor of 3 on
on tensile (4*
tensile
used
Design Factor

previously) and
other yield and
temperature
considerations
Membrane Maximum stress

(lower factor under

reviewed) and other
yield and temperature
considerations
Shell of Revolution Max. shear stress

Generally Elastic
Generally Elastic
analysis
analysis
Design Rules

Very detailed
design rules with
Quality
(joint efficiency)
Factors. Little

Similar to Division 2
KG, KM, KD, KF, KR, KE,
KT, KS

Yield based with reduction

factor for
yield to tensile ratio less
than 0.7

Maximum shear stress

Elastic/Plastic Analyses
and more.

Some design rules

Membrane + Bending.
provided; Fatigue
Fairly detailed
design rules. In
addition to the design
rules, discontinuities,

analysis required;
Fracture mechanics
evaluation required unless

stress

fatigue and other

proven leakbefore-

alaysis required; stress analysis

burst, Residual stresses
pure membrane considerations may be become
without
consideration of
discontinuities

required unless
exempted and
guidance

controlling stress provided for in

concentration to Appendix 4, 5 and 6
a

significant and maybe

positive factors
(e.g. autofrettage)

safety factor of
3.5 or higher
Experimental
Stress
Analysis

Normally not
required

Few restrictions
on materials;
Impact
Material and
Impact
Testing

required unless
exempted;
extensive
exemptions
under UG-20,
UCS 66/67

Introduced and may

be required

Experimental design
verification but may
be exempted
Even more restrictive than
Division 2
with different
requirements.Fracture

More restrictions on
materials; impact

toughness testing
requirement for

required in general
with similar rules as

fracture mechanics
evaluation

Division 1

Crack tip opening

displacement (CTOD)
testing and establishment
of KIc and/or

NDERequirements

Welding and
fabrication

NDE
requirements
may be
exempted

More stringent NDE

requirements;

JIc values
Even more restrictive than
Division 2;
UT used for all butt welds,
RT otherwise,

extensive use of RT as
through
well as UT, MT and PT.
increased design
extensive use of PT and
factor
MT
Extensive
Butt Welds and extensive
use/requirement of
use of other
Different types
butt welds
with butt welds
construction methods
and
and full penetration
such as threaded,
welds including
others
nonpressure
layered, wire-wound,
interlocking stripwound

attachment welds

User

User or
designated agent
to provide
specifications
(see U-2(a))

and others
User's Design
Specification with more

User's Design
Specification with
detailed

specific details (see KG310) including

design requirements
(see AG-301.1)

contained fluid data, etc

with useful

include AD 160 for

fatigue evaluation

operation life expected

and others.
Designer defined

Manufacturer

Manufacturer to
declare
compliance in
data report

Professional
Engineer

Normally not
required

Certification

Manufacturer's Design
Report certifying
Same as Division 2
design specification
and code compliance
in addition to data
report
Professional Engineers'
Same as Division 2 but
Certification of
the Professional
User's Design
Engineer shall be
Specification as well as
experienced in high
Manufacturer's Design
pressure vessel design
Report
and shall not sign
Professional Engineer
for both User and
shall be experienced in
Manufacturer
pressure vessel design

Safety Relief
Valve

Code Stamp and

Marking

Hydrostatic Test

UV Stamp
U Stamp with
Addition
markings

UV Stamp

U2 Stamp with
Additional marking

including W, P, B,
including HT
RES; L, UB, DF;
RT, HT
1.3 (Was 1.5
before the use of
the 3.5
Design Factor in
the 1999
Addenda)

1.25

UV3 Stamp
U3 Stamp with additional
marking
denoting construction
type; HT, PS, WL,
M, F, W, UQT, WW, SW
1.25 (may be exempted
for
autofrettaged vessels)

* In 1998, Code Cases 2278 and 2290 for ASME Section VIII
Division 1 allowed for alternative maximum allowable design
stresses based on a factor of

3.5 under certain provisions instead of a factor of 4 used by the

Code. These code cases were incorporated into the Code in 1999.
Common Features:
Jurisdiction may have requirements in addition to Code
Mandatory Manufacturer's Quality Control System
Implementation and Audit Requirements
Code Stamp Authorization through ASME Accreditation and
Authorization
Authorized Inspection Agency in accordance with QAI
Authorized Inspector with Jurisdictional approval and
certification
Manufacturer being held accountable for Code Stamp
Application and full Code Compliance
NDE Personnel to SNT-TC-1A
Note: This brief comparative table is presented for discussion and
does not represent the opinion of the ABSA, the ASME or the
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Committees. Readers are
advised to consult with the ASME Code Section VIII Divisions 1, 2
& 3 for details