ASME Welding Codes You Need To Know

Codes govern the different welding processes and procedures that exist. These welding codes and standards exist to protect human life and standardize the products used in different mechanical and engineering fields. Welding groups and organizations establish these ASME codes and standards with the mission of bettering the mechanical and engineering field for students, educators, employers, and employees. One particular organization that sets these codes is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Keep reading this guide for all the ASME welding codes you need to know.

What Is ASME Welding?

Before we can dive into the codes that every welder should know, it’s important to understand what ASME welding is in the first place. We’ve already distinguished the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as one of the welding organizations invested in improving the industry; however, knowing its impact is more beneficial when studying the different ASME welding codes.

Formed in the year 1880 as a membership organization, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers is known and respected for developing, maintaining, and publishing over 500 standards relating to the mechanical and engineering industries. This has led them to receive superior status and respect over other industry-related organizations. Their welding codes create standards for a large network of interconnected laborers, including designers, manufacturers, installers, inspectors, operators, and maintenance staff.

ASME is not the only organization that develops standards for welding and other mechanical procedures; however, their ASME welding certification processes make them superior to others. The detail and specifications they put into their codes allow them to provide guidance and instruction for every procedure. This allows the ASME to require an increase in training and testing for every step in a welding project.

Under the ASME’s welding codes, welders have more freedom in the different strengths and sizes of materials they use. Welding custom-pipe materials can be a hassle due to the prequalifying procedures welders have to go through. But with the freedom and variety the ASME welding codes provide, custom welding is more efficient and reliable. Here at CMPI, we provide ASME welding services that you can trust. Our certified welders undergo testing certification under ASME section IX.

Now that there is a foundational understanding of what The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is, we can dive into the ASME welding codes you need to know.

ASME Codes

As previously mentioned, the ASME provides codes for over 500 different procedures. These standards typically address:

• Performance test codes
• Pressure technology
• Nuclear technology
• Standardization

Despite the wide range of different codes, the ones you need to know the most are:

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes

The ASME has been providing Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes (BPVC) since its early formation in 1914. The codes in this section provide requirements for the construction of power, electric, and miniature boilers, as well as high-temperature water boilers, heat recovery steam generators, certain fired pressure vessels, power boilers used in locomotive, portable, and traction service.

This section covers the rules pertaining to the use of ASME Certification Mark and V, A, M, PP, S, AND E designators. These rules apply to boilers that generate steam or other vapors at pressures exceeding 15 psig, as well as high-temperature water boilers that operate at pressures that exceed 160 psig or temperatures that exceed 250 degrees F. Lastly, it also includes rules pertaining to superheaters, economizers, and other pressure parts connected directly to the boiler without intervening valves.

The sections included in the boiler and pressure vessel codes include:

• I – Power Boilers
  • This section includes the requirements for boilers fabricated by welding.
• II – Material Specifications
  • This section includes four subparts:
    • A – Ferrous material specifications
    • B – Non-Ferrous material specifications
    • C – Specifications for welding rods
    • D – Properties
• III – Nuclear
  • Division 1 – Rules for the construction of Nuclear Facility Components
  • Division 2 – Code for concrete reactor vessels and containment
  • Division 3 – Containment systems for storage and transport packaging of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive material and waste
• IV – Heating Boilers
  • This section includes the rules for constructing heating boilers.
  • Heating boilers included:
    • Steam heating boilers
    • Hot water heating boilers
    • Hot water supply boilers
• V – Non-Destructive Examination Methods
  • This section provides non-destructive examination methods intended to detect surface and internal discontinuities in the materials, welds, and fabricated parts.
• VI – Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers
  • This section includes rules for the care and operation of heating boilers.
• VII – Care of Power Boilers
  • This section includes rules for the care and operation of power boilers.
• VIII – Pressure Vessel and Tank Code
  • This section includes three subsections:
    • Part A – General pressure vessel information
    • Part B – Requirements pertaining to the methods of fabrication for pressure vessels
    • Part C – Requirements pertaining to the different classes of materials
• IX – Welding and Brazing Qualifications
  • This section includes the requirements for welding procedure specifications and the requirements for procedure qualification records.
  • It also includes requirements for:
    • Tackers
    • Welders
    • Welding operators
    • Brazing personnel
• X – Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels
• XI – Rules for in-service inspections of nuclear power plant components
• XII – Transport Tanks

Other Codes To Know

Besides the BPV codes provided by the ASME, there are other important codes to know. The following codes include the requirements for the design, materials, fabrication, erection, testing, and inspection of:

• ASME B31.1: Power Piping
  • The different power piping includes:
    • Electrical generation stations
    • Industrial and institutional plants
    • Central and district heating plans
    • District heating systems
• ASME B31.2: Fuel Gas Piping
  • The different fuel gases used in piping include:
    • Natural gas
    • Manufactured gas
    • Liquefied petroleum gas-air mixtures
    • Liquefied petroleum gas in the gaseous phase
• ASME B31.3: Process Piping
  • This code pertains to all fluids, including:
    • Raw, intermediate, and finished chemicals
    • Petroleum products
    • Fluidized solids
    • Refrigerants
    • Cryogenic fluids
• ASME B31.4: Liquid Transportation Systems for Hydrocarbons, Liquid Petroleum Gas, Anhydrous Ammonia, and Alcohol.
  • Aside from those mentioned, these liquids include:
    • Crude Oil
    • Condensate
    • Natural Gas
    • Natural Gas Liquids
    • Liquefied Petroleum Gas
    • Carbon Dioxide
    • Liquid Alcohol
    • Liquid Anhydrous Ammonia
• ASME B31.5: Piping Refrigeration
  • This code provides the requirements for the materials, design, fabrication, assembly, erection, testing, and inspection of refrigerant and other coolants.
• ASME B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution
  • The different gas transmission and distribution systems include:
    • Gas pipelines
    • Gas compressor stations
    • Gas metering and regulation stations
    • Gas mains
    • Service lines
• ASME B31.9: Building Service Piping
  • This code provides the rules for the following building piping:
    • Industrial
    • Institutional
    • Commercial and Public

There are hundreds of welding codes and standards provided by the ASME, but the codes we provide here are the ASME welding codes you need to know because they are the most common in the industry.