ASMEB31.

3SubstantiveChangesinthe2016Edition

In addition to the many clarifications, updated references to codes and standards, updates to basic allowable
stresses,andaddedlistedmaterials,thereareseveralsubstantivechangestothe2016EditionofASMEB31.3,
ProcessPiping,whichisscheduledtobeissuedonJanuary4,2017.Thesechangesare:

SevereCyclicConditions

Thedefinitionforseverecyclicconditionswaschanged.

OldDefinition:conditionsapplyingtospecificpipingcomponentsorjointsinwhichSEcomputedinaccordance
withpara.319.4.4exceeds0.8SA(asdefinedinpara.302.3.5),andtheequivalentnumberofcycles(Ninpara.
302.3.5)exceeds7000;orotherconditionsthatthedesignerdetermineswillproduceanequivalenteffect.

NewDefinition:conditionsapplyingtospecificpipingcomponentsorjointsforwhichtheownerorthedesigner
determinesthatconstructiontobetterresistfatigueloadingiswarranted

The new definition is expected to lead to a more appropriate application of requirements for severe cyclic
conditions.

MPaAllowableStresses

AlthoughMPaallowablestressvalueshaveappearedintheCodesincethe2010edition,thesevalueshavebeen
forinformationonly.Thatis,theCoderequiredustousethepsivalues.Inthe2016edition,eithertheMPaorthe
psivaluesmaybeused.

ExpansionJoints

SpecificB31.3fatigueanalysisrequirementsforexpansionjointsweredeletedinAppendixXbecausethelatest
editionoftheEJMAstandardsincludedincorporatedappropriatesafetymarginsinfatiguedesign.Thefatigue
curvesinEJMApreviouslyprovidedaveragenumberofcyclestofailurewithoutanysafetymargin.

FlangeJointAssembly

The 2016 edition added that assembly requirements for bolted flanged joints and flanged joint assembler
qualificationsshallbeconsideredintheengineeringdesign.ItreferencesASMEPCC1andtheBPVCode,Section
VIII,Division1,AppendixSforguidance.

UltrasonicExaminationAcceptanceCriteria

Alternative ultrasonic examination fracture mechanics based acceptance criteria were added as Appendix R.
They providecriteriafor ultrasonictechniques thatsize thedefects found, in contractto those that assessthe
amplitude of the reflected signal (pulseecho). These criteria may be used for Code piping in lieu of those
describedinpara.344.6.

CategoryMFluidServiceExamination

The2016editionchangedtheradiographicorultrasonicexaminationofcircumferentialbuttweldsfrom20%
randomexaminationto100%.

LeakTestingofInstrumentConnections

Inearliereditions,theonlyconnectionsexemptedfromleaktestingwereflangedjoints.In2016,theCodealso
exemptedthreadedjointsandtubingjointsusedtoconnectinstrumentstopreviouslyleaktestedpiping.

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 ASMEB31.3SubstantiveChangesinthe2016Edition

LeakTestingofVacuumSystems

TheCoderequiredexternallypressurizedsystemstobeleaktestedbyapplyinganinternalpressure.In2016,
theCodeallowsuseofvacuumleaktestingasanalternate.

LeakTestingofInsulatedSystems

TheCoderequiredthatalljointsbeexposedduringleaktesting.In2016,theCodepermitstheownertoallow
jointstobecoveredbyinsulationduringtheleaktestingofCategoryDfluidservicepiping.TheCoderequires
thatconsiderationbegiventoincreasingthetestperiodtoallowtimeforpossibleleakagetopassthroughthe
insulationandweathersheathing.

LeakTestingofAssembledPiping

TheCodeallowsjointstobeassembledwithouttesting.In2016,guidancewasaddeddescribingtheleaktesting
practiceofmanysystemoperators:

consideration should be given to performing an additional leak test of the assembled piping system prior to
initial operation. The test fluid should be nonhazardous to the process and the people performing the
examination.Examinationforleaksshouldbeatalljointsthathavenotbeenpreviouslyexaminedforleaks,or
thathavebeenreassembledafterbeingexaminedforleaks

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