OCANDOA,
A butt weld is a "full penetration" joint and in larger sizes you can make a root pass and hold the joint together while the remaining passes are completed. As the pipe diameter and wall thickness decreases a butt weld joint becomes extremely difficult. In small piping the counterbore of the socket weld joint supports the small piping and a simple fillet weld is much easier to weld.
I have ASME B16.25, 1997, "ButtWelding Ends". The Scope reads: "This Standard covers the preparation of buttwelding ends of piping components to be joined into a system by welding" All the figures and dimensional tables start at 65DN (2 1/2 in.) and go up to 900DN (36 in.)
The fabrication codes (ASME B31 Series) generally carry the requirements for piping fabrication, including welded joints. ASME B31.1 Power Plant Piping in Part 4, "Selection and Limitation of Piping Joints" has sections that limit the use of socket weld joints to 2 in. and smaller piping. There is no restriction placed on the size of butt weld joints, however ASME B16.25 is referenced as the standard.
Hope this helps,
ABScott