CODES FOR VESSELS/HEAT

EXCHANGERS
Avinash Nayak. (46)
Shrikantkumar Padhy (47)
Jitendra Patil (48)
Manoj Patil (49)
Ganeshprasad Pavaskar (51)

History of pressure vessel

codes
Boiler explosion on March 20, 1905 in
Brockton, Massachusetts.
58 killed and 117 injured.
Need of legislative rules and regulation
for construction of boilers.
The first Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code was published in 1915.
Necessary changes made and new
sections added as need arose.

What is a Code?
A code is a standard that has been adopted by
one or more governmental bodies and has the
force of law, or when it has been incorporated
into a business contract.
Codes specify requirements of design,
fabrication, inspection and testing of pressure
vessels.
Number of national codes have been developed
for pressure vessels by different countries.
In India, the code for pressure vessels is IS-2825

WHAT ARE ASME CODES?

It is a standard that provides rules for
the design, fabrication, and inspection
of boilers and pressure.
This establishes and maintains
design, construction and inspection
standards providing for maximum
protection of life and property.

ASME Codes - Manufacturer

A manufacturer obtains permission to use one of the
stamps through the ASME conformity assessment
process.
The manufacturers quality control system is reviewed
by an ASME team.
If it meets ASME requirements and the manufacturer
successfully demonstrates implementation of the
program, the manufacturer is accredited by ASME.

The manufacturer then may certify the product as

meeting ASME standards and apply the stamp to the
product.

Why follow ASME codes?

Excessive elastic deformation including
elastic instability
Excessive plastic deformation
Brittle fracture
Stress rupture or creep deformation
(inelastic)
Plastic instability and incremental collapse
High strain and low cycle fatigue
Stress corrosion
Corrosion fatigue

ASME Codes - User

ASME Publications Catalog,
The ANSI Catalog of American
National Standards,
the US governments OSHA General
Industry Standards,
contact a standards organization
directly.
http://www.asme.org/catalog

ASME Codes User

Insurance
Replacement
Proper Compliance
- Size specific
- Jurisdiction
Proper ASME stamps

The organization of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code is as

follows:
1. Section I: Power Boilers
2. Section II: Material Specification:
i. Ferrous Material Specifications Part A
ii. Non-ferrous Material Specifications Part B
iii. Specifications for Welding Rods, Electrodes, and Filler Metals Part
C
iv. Properties Part D
3. Section III Subsection NCA: General Requirements for Division 1 and
Division 2
i. Section III Division 1:
a. Subsection NA: General Requirements
b. Subsection NB: Class 1 Components

 Subsection NC: Class 2 Components

d. Subsection ND: Class 3 Components
e. Subsection NE: Class MC Components
f. Subsection NF: Component Supports
g. Subsection NG: Core Support Structures
h. Appendices: Code Case N-47 Class 1:
Components in Elevated Temperature
Service
Section III, Division 2: Codes for Concrete
Reactor Vessel and Containment
Section IV: Rules for Construction of Heating
Boilers
Section V: Nondestructive Examinations

 Section VI: Recommended Rules for the Care and

Operation of
Heating Boilers
Section VII: Recommended Guidelines for Care of
Power Boilers
Section VIII
i. Division 1: Pressure Vessels Rules for
Construction
ii. Division 2: Pressure Vessels Alternative Rules
Section IX: Welding and Brazing Qualifications
Section X: Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic Pressure
Vessels
Section XI: Rules for In-Service Inspection of
Nuclear Power Plant Components

Stamps

Nomenclature

Example
A heat exchanger qualifies as a UM
stamped pressure vessel if:
- Design pressure < 15psig
- Internal volume < 1.5 cubic ft. for
150<P<600 psig
- Internal volume < 5 cubic ft. for
design P upto 250 psig

Example
A heat exchanger qualifies as a U
stamped pressure vessel if:
- Design pressure > 600 psig
- Internal volume > 1.5 cubic ft. for
150<P<600 psig
- Internal volume > 5 cubic ft. for
design P upto 250 psig

Item

Comparison of pressure
vessels
IS-2825

ASME Code BS-5500

ADSection VIII
Merkblat
ter

Scope

Unfired fusion
welded
pressure
vessels
Pressure < 20
N/mm2
Do/Di < 1.5
Di > 150 mm
Water
capacity > 50
litres

Welded, riveted,
forged and
brazed vessels
Water
capacity>120 gal
Operating
pressure > 15 psi
Di>6

Unfired
fusion
welded
pressure
vessels
Medium and
high pressure
storage
vessels
Excludes
transportable
vessels.

Do/Di < 1.7

Vessels and
vessel parts
predominantl
y under
static load.

materials

Carbon and
low alloy
steels, high
alloy steel, Cu

Same as IS-2825
Cast iron, lined
material cast
iron, ferritic steel

Carbon,
ferritic
alloy(low and
high) and

All metallic
materials
and graphite,
glass.

Comparison of pressure
vessels
Item
IS-2825
ASME
BSADCode
Section
VIII

5500

Merkblat
ter

Design Maximum
pressu working
re
pressure
including static
head + 5%
maximum
working
pressure.

Maximum
pressure at
most severe
conditions

Maximum
pressure at
most
severe
conditions

Based on
permissible
service
pressure

Design Highest metal

tempe temperature
ra-ture expected under
operating
conditions

Actual metal
temperature
expected
under
operating
conditions

Actual
metal
temperatur
e expected
under
operating

Highest wall
temperature
expected
under
working
conditions

Comparion of pressure
vessels
National
code

U.T.S

Yield
strength

Sr(rupture
stress)

Creep
stress

ASME: VIII
Div: 1

1.6

ASME: VIII
Div-2

1.5

BS-1515

BS-1515
Part II

2.5

1.5

1.5

BS-5500

2.35

1.5

1.3

ANCC

1.5

1.5

IS-2825

1.5

1.5

Explosions

 In spite of some of the most rigorous, wellconceived safety rules and procedures ever
put together, boiler and pressure vessel
accidents continue to occur.
In 1980, for example, the National Board of
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors
reported:
- 1972 boiler and pressure vessel accidents,
108 injuries and 22 deaths.
The pressure vessel explosions are of
course rare nowadays and are often caused
by incorrect operation or poorly monitored
corrosion.

 Safety in boiler and pressure vessels can

be achieved by:
Proper design and construction
Proper maintenance and inspection
Proper operator performance and vessel
operation