LANL Engineering Standards Manual PD342

Chapter 17 Pressure Safety

Section D20-B31.3-G, ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

Rev. 2, 3/10/09

The Owner and Designer are responsible for compliance with the personnel and process qualification
requirements of the codes and standards.
In particular, the application of ASME B31.3 requires compliance with the Inspector qualification
requirements of ASME B31.3 Section VI for all fluid services (safety or non-safety related).
I - SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

300(b) -

Responsibilities
The following responsibilities are applicable at LANL:
1)

Owner - The Owner is the Design Authority. See Acronyms and Definitions
sections in ESM Chapter 1 Section Z10 and Chapter 17, Pressure Safety.

2)

Designer - The Designer is the Design Agency.

3)

One of the signoffs on a piping work package must reflect an "Owner's

Inspector" review. This means:
The person signing must have the minimum experience of 340.4(b), and
The person signing must have verified, to the extent necessary, that code and
engineering design requirements for examination and testing are met (341.4.1).

300(c) -

300.1.1 -

300.1.3 -

300.2 -

Intent of the Code

1)

The code addresses the structural integrity of the piping system. The designer is
responsible for all other aspects of the design including the functional design of the
system.

2)

Recommendations for applying ASME B31.3 Code to repairs, modifications, and

maintenance are provided in Appendix P.

3)

Appendix B provides Fluid Service Sheets to assist in selection of materials for

compatibility with common fluid services. Historical TA-55 Specification 4401-J-1
contains material recommendations for that facility.

Content and Coverage

1)

ASME B31.3 may be applied to Radioactive Fluid Services. See Appendix Q.

2)

Transfer lines between facilities (such as waste or steam transfer lines) that
support processing functions may be designed and constructed to ASME B31.3.

Exclusions
1)

Note that paragraph 300.1.3 (a) does not exclude vacuum systems.

2)

Radioactive fluids should not be excluded from ASME B31.3 Scope.

Appendix Q.

3)

For Fire Protection, refer to the NFPA Codes and ESM Chapter 2 and associated
specifications in the LCSM.

See

Definitions
1)

Category M Fluid Service is recommended for safety class piping systems. See
Appendix O.

LANL Engineering Standards Manual PD342

Chapter 17 Pressure Safety

Section D20-B31.3-G, ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

Rev. 2, 3/10/09

2)

Radioactive fluids should not be classified as Category D Fluid Service.

Appendix Q.

See

3)

The Owners Inspector is responsible for verifying the piping installation to the
extent necessary to be satisfied that it conforms to all applicable examination
requirements of the Code and of the Engineering Design. LANL Owners
Inspector(s) are designated by the Site Chief Engineer.

4)

Normal fluid service Piping Specifications (Appendix A) may be used in Category

D fluid service.

5)

Examiner - The person(s) certified by the employer as qualified to perform the

quality control functions specified in ASME B31.3. The LANL Construction
Engineering Group designates LANL Examiner(s).

II - DESIGN

301.1 -

General
Of all the design considerations listed in 301, only pressure rating is covered in the Piping
Specifications in Appendix A. The Piping Specifications provide materials, fittings, and
fasteners, which meet the pressure design requirements of B31.3. The designer must
address all design conditions.

301.2.2 -

Required Pressure Containment or Relief

Piping systems are designed to either safely contain or relieve the maximum pressure
that can be imposed. Plant fires can present a safety concern for certain piping systems.
The installation of pressure relief devices should be considered for liquid systems greater
than 6 ID that can have isolated fluid.
Helpful information is available in ESM Chapter 17.

301.5.1 -

Impact
Piping systems must be designed to withstand anticipated fluid transients
(waterhammers, pressure surges, etc.). These are the transients expected to occur
during normal operation of the system. Piping systems cannot be designed for
unanticipated transients. These are the transients that can occur if the system is not
properly operated. Unanticipated transients must be eliminated by design (layout) and
appropriate startup and operating procedures.

301.5.2/3-

Wind and Earthquake

The applicable wind and earthquake requirements are defined LANL Engineering
Standards Manual Structural Chapter 5.

LANL Engineering Standards Manual PD342

Chapter 17 Pressure Safety

Section D20-B31.3-G, ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

301.5.4 -

Rev. 2, 3/10/09

Vibration
New designs, modifications, repairs, replacements, should be visually inspected at
startup to verify that vibration is not excessive. The rules of ASME "Standards and
Guides for Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants" OM-S/G, Part 3, can be
used for guidance. The ASME OM document provides a methodology to evaluate
vibration using high cycle fatigue analysis and can be applied to any piping system.

301.8 -

Effects of Support, Anchor, and Terminal Movements

Soil settlement can adversely affect the integrity of a piping system and the flow in a
sloped line. When proper slope is required to maintain flow in an underground piping
system, soil settlements need to be evaluated in the design of the piping system.

302.2.1 -

Listed Components Having Established Ratings

Tables 326.1, A326.1, and K326.1 provide a listing of standards and specifications that
have been accepted by the Code. Some of these standards provide established
pressure/temperature ratings for components (e.g., ASME B16.5). The components may
be used in piping systems within the specified ratings without additional analysis. If these
components are used outside established ratings additional analysis is required.

302.2.2-

Listed Components Not Having Specific Ratings

Some standards and specifications provided in Tables 326.1, A326.1, and K326.1 base
pressure/temperature ratings on equivalent schedule (wall thickness) of straight
seamless piping less mill tolerance (e.g., ASME B16.11). The ratings of these
components are addressed in the piping specifications provided in Appendix A. If these
components are used outside the limits established in the piping specification additional
analysis and documentation must be provided.

302.2.3 -

Unlisted Components
The ASME B31.3 Code defines unlisted components as components not in Tables 326.1,
A326.1, or K326.1. Unlisted components can have pressure ratings but the owner and/or
the designer has the responsibility to verify that the design, materials, fabrication,
examination, and testing of the component meet the requirements of ASME B31.3.
Unlisted components are generally categorized as one of the following:

Components built to Unlisted Published Standards,

Components built to Manufacturers Standards, or
Components built to Site Standards or Engineering Design.

Each of these categories is addressed below.

COMPONENTS BUILT TO UNLISTED PUBLISHED NATIONAL STANDARDS
Components built to other published National Standards may be used provided that the
design, material, fabrication, examination, and testing have been verified to meet the
requirements of ASME B31.3. The Code states that the pressure design must meet the
requirements of paragraph 304 of B31.3. The rules described below for components
fabricated at LANL should be followed when published National Standards are not
acceptable.