Existing steam piping - B31.1 clause for code compliance
Existing steam piping - B31.1 clause for code compliance
(OP)
Hi,
We are tieing into an existing steam header that has been in a plant for the last 20 years and has little to no information about it.
I seem to recall that there is a clause somewhere about pressure pipe or equipment that has operated safely in service as being code compliant. Perhaps it was B31.3 or even section VIII... The reason being we cant prove (due to lack of info) that the existing piping is compliant. There is a long hard road of NDE and design to get wallthicknesses through out the pipework if we cant prove it is compliant otherwise.
Im wondering if someone could shed some light on this , and the reference for the clause in the applicable code.
Regards,
Richard
We are tieing into an existing steam header that has been in a plant for the last 20 years and has little to no information about it.
I seem to recall that there is a clause somewhere about pressure pipe or equipment that has operated safely in service as being code compliant. Perhaps it was B31.3 or even section VIII... The reason being we cant prove (due to lack of info) that the existing piping is compliant. There is a long hard road of NDE and design to get wallthicknesses through out the pipework if we cant prove it is compliant otherwise.
Im wondering if someone could shed some light on this , and the reference for the clause in the applicable code.
Regards,
Richard





RE: Existing steam piping - B31.1 clause for code compliance
RE: Existing steam piping - B31.1 clause for code compliance
No chance. This statement or similar to this is not in any ASME code or standard. For tying into existing equipment or components, you need an in-service repair code to follow rules for ensuring proper traceability of material for welding and using original code of construction requirements for NDT at the connection welds of old to new material. This is not that difficult, you just need to ensure the existing material is free of any service-related defects and the wall thickness is above minimum wall per ASME B31.1 Code.
RE: Existing steam piping - B31.1 clause for code compliance
I havent had cladding/insul off piping this old before so im not sure whether any markings would still exist on the pipe runs.