B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
(OP)
Who determines the fluid service category to be used in the design, fabrication, examination, and testing of the piping for a piece of process equipment?
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B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
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RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
Or, they may just tell you that it's left up to the designer.
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
Have a nice day
Gerald Austin
Iuka, Mississippi
http://www.weldinginspectionsvcs.com
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
Now consider this. Mr. Owner orders an equipment package with welded piping from an OEM. The design pressure is under 100 psig and the design temperature is under 100^F. The equipment package handles various pressurized fluids in its process: water, concentrated acid, and caustic. The contract/PO only states that all piping shall be designed, fabricated, examined and tested in accordance with ASME B31.3.
What is the OEM's obligation, responsiblities, and /or liability in meeting the terms of the contract? Specifically, what level of examination does the OEM perform on the welded piping for the obvious "nasty" fluid services?
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
If the OEM has supplied said equipment under the advertised conditions in the past with little to no history of problem associated with piping fluid service category and the purchaser/owner didn't specifiy or indicate any service conditions outside of the manufacturers recommended service. The owner got what he paid for if he did not specify design criteria.
I would think the end user of such critical equipment would be knowledgable about the code they are ordering to and understand the requirements for specifying the fluid service category.
Have a nice day
Gerald Austin
Iuka, Mississippi
http://www.weldinginspectionsvcs.com
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
Hence my orginal question - given the level of competance, or lack of on the end user side, it would seem to me that the OEM has an obligation to point out the code requirements for nasty fluid services. Of course the OEM should get paid for this, and not be made to eat the cost as "Being Required By Code".
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
I don't know of any jurisdiction where anyone other than the plant owner bears total reponsibility for code compliance. Thanks to decades of lacklustre (as in basically none at all) inspection, almost NONE of the plant people are aware of this. And it's not like those that are win any friends among upper management. They're usually seen as an obstruction (i.e. "not a team player") to the lowest possible bid for a given project. Go on... ask me how I know that.
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
Please note that extremely hazardous substances can be designated as normal fluid service if the design is such that the potential for personnel exposure is not judged to be significant. (double containment piping for example.)
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
I have no doubt that if there's ever an ugly situation regarding the installation, those same owners who wanted to cut every corner they could find, will set new speed records for calling out the lawyers and going after the "incompetent consultants". Anyone who doesn't take a pass on jobs like that is looking to wind up like Arthur Anderson.
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
Also the insurer will no doubt see that the knowledgable person as the one responsible if something goes wrong.
In answer to the original query I would make the customer aware of his responsibilities. Direct him tothe local inspectorate or consultant and await an answer. If you want to play hardball let him know that the contract is on hold until he advises yoiu and that you will seek prolongation costs under the contract for any delays or changes. A more prudent action would have been to raise the matter when you tendered.
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RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
system of A 106 grade B and grade C.
RE: B31.3 Fluid Service Determination - Who?
It depends on the pipe schedule and temperature of operation. It also depends upon the design code used for the process in question.
If you dont know this I suggest you get someone to at least check your calculations.
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