ASME - International Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

The ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers - International Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) is made of 11 sections and contains over 15 divisions and subsections.

Code Sections

I. Power Boilers

II. Materials

III. Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components

IV. Heating Boilers

V. Nondestructive Examination

VI. Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers

VII. Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers

VIII. Pressure Vessels

IX. Welding and Brazing Qualifications

X. Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels

XI. Rules for In-service Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components

XII. Rules for Construction and Continued Service of Transport Tanks

I. Power Boilers

This Section provides requirements for all methods of construction of power, electric, and miniature boilers; high temperature water boilers used in stationary service; and power boilers used in locomotive, portable, and traction service. Requirements for: Boilers Fabricated by Welding; Boilers Fabricated by Riveting (by reference only); Watertube Boilers; Firetube Boilers; Feedwater Heaters; Miniature Boilers; Electric Boilers; Organic Fluid Vaporizer Generators.

This section provides requirements for all methods of construction of power, electric, and miniature boilers; high temperature water boilers used in stationary service; and power boilers used in locomotive, portable, and traction service. The rules are applicable to boilers in which

•  steam or other vapor is generated at a pressures exceeding 15 psig,
• and high temperature water boilers intended for operation at pressures exceeding 160 psig and or temperatures exceeding 250 degree F.

 Superheaters, economizers, and other pressure parts connected directly to the boiler without intervening valves are considered as part of the scope of Section 1.

II. Materials

• Part A-Ferrous Material Specifications
• Part B-Nonferrous Material Specifications
• Part C-Specifications for Welding Rods, Electrodes, and Filler Metals
• Part D-Properties

III. Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components

• Subsection NCA - General Requirements for Divisions 1 and 2

DIVISION 1

• Subsection NB- Class 1 Components
• Subsection NC- Class 2 Components
• Subsection ND- Class 3 Components
• Subsection NE- Class MC Components
• Subsection NF - Supports
• Subsection NG - Core Support Structures
• Subsection NH - Class 1 Components in Elevated Temperature Service

DIVISION 2

• Code for Concrete Containments

DIVISION 3

• Containments for Transportation and Storage

IV. Heating Boilers

This Subsection provides requirements for design, fabrication, installation and inspection of steam generating boilers, and hot water boilers intended for low pressure service that are directly fired by oil, gas, electricity, or coal. It contains appendices which cover approval of new material, methods of checking safety valve and safety relief valve capacity, examples of methods of checking safety valve and safety relief valve capacity, examples of methods of calculation and computation, definitions relating to boiler design and welding, and quality control systems.

V. Nondestructive Examination

Requirements and methods for nondestructive examination which are referenced and required by other code Sections. It also includes manufacturer's examination responsibilities, duties of authorized inspectors and requirements for qualification of personnel, inspection and examination. Examination methods are intended to detect surface and internal discontinuities in materials, welds, and fabricated parts and components. A glossary of related terms is included.

VI. Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers

General descriptions, terminology and operation guidelines applicable to steel and cast iron boilers limited to the operating ranges of Section IV Heating Boilers. It includes guidelines for associated controls and automatic fuel burning equipment. Illustrations show typical examples of available equipment. Also included is a glossary of terms commonly associated with boilers, controls, and fuel burning equipment.

VII. Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers

Guidelines to promote safety in the use of stationary, portable, and traction type heating boilers. The section provides guidelines to assist operators of power boilers in maintaining their plants as safely as possible. Emphasis has been placed on industrial-type boilers because of their extensive use. Contains Fuels for Routine Operation; Operating and Maintaining Boiler Appliances; Inspection; Prevention of Direct Causes of Boiler Failure; Design of Installation; Operation of Boiler Auxiliaries; Control of Internal Chemical Conditions

VIII. Pressure Vessels

Division 1 - Provides requirements applicable to the design, fabrication, inspection, testing, and certification of pressure vessels operating at either internal or external pressures exceeding 15 psig.

Division 2 - Alternative Rules, provides requirements applicable to the design, fabrication, inspection, testing, and certification of pressure vessels operating at either internal or external pressures exceeding 15 psig.

Division 3 - Alternative Rules for Construction of High Pressure Vessels, provides requirements applicable to the design, fabrication, inspection, testing, and certification of pressure vessels operating at either internal or external pressures generally above 10,000 psi.

IX. Welding and Brazing Qualifications

Rules relating to the qualification of welding and brazing procedures as required by other Code Sections for component manufacture. Covers rules relating to the qualification and re-qualification of welders, brazers, and welding and brazing operators in order that they may perform welding or brazing as required by other Code Sections in the manufacture of components. General Welding Requirements; Welding Procedure Qualifications; Welding Performance Qualifications; Welding Data; Welding Forms; General Brazing Requirements; Brazing Procedure Qualifications; Brazing Performance Qualifications; Brazing Data; Brazing Forms.

X. Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels

Requirements for construction of an FRP pressure vessel in conformance with a manufacturer's design report. It includes production, processing, fabrication, inspection and testing methods required for the vessel.

XI. Rules for In-service Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components

Rules for the examination, in-service testing and inspection, and repair and replacement of components and systems in light-water cooled and liquid-metal cooled nuclear power plants.

XII. Rules for Construction and Continued Service of Transport Tanks

Requirements for construction and continued service of pressure vessels for the transportation of dangerous goods via highway, rail, air or water at pressures from full vacuum to 3,000 psig and volumes greater than 120 gallons.