CASE

CASES OF ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE

2523

Approval Date: October 11, 2005 The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards Committee took action to eliminate Code Case expiration dates effective March 11, 2005. This means that all Code Cases listed in this Supplement and beyond will remain available for use until annulled by the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards Committee.

Case 2523 Use of Metric Units Sections I; IV; V; VIII, Divisions 1, 2, and 3; IX; X; and XII Inquiry: Under what conditions may a Manufacturer use a mixed system of units (e.g. a combination of U.S. Customary units, SI units and / or local customary units) to demonstrate compliance with all of the requirements of Sections I; IV; V; VIII, Divisions 1, 2, and 3; IX; X; and XII of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code? Reply: It is the opinion of the Committee that a Manufacturer may use a mixed system of units (e.g., a combination of U.S. Customary Units, SI units, and/or local customary units) to demonstrate compliance with all the requirements of Sections under the following conditions: (a) For any single equation, all variables must be expressed in a single system of units. In general, it is expected that a single system of units shall be used for all aspects of design except where infeasible or impractical. When components are manufactured at different locations where local customary units are different than those used for the general design, the local units may be used for the design and documentation of that component. Similarly, for proprietary components or those uniquely associated with a system of units different than that used for the general design, the alternate units may be used for the design and documentation of that component. (b) When separate equations are provided for U.S. Customary and SI units, those equations must be executed using variables in the units associated with the specic equation. Data expressed in other units shall be converted to U.S. Customary or SI units for use in these equations. The result obtained from execution of these equations may be converted to other units. (c) Production, measurement and test equipment, drawings, welding procedure specications, welding procedure and performance qualications, and other fabrication documents may be in U.S. Customary, SI, or local customary units in accordance with the fabricators practice. When

values shown in calculations and analysis, fabrication documents, or measurement and test equipment are in different units, any conversions necessary for verication of Code compliance shall be in accordance with paras. (g) and (h). (d) Material that has been manufactured and certied to either the U.S. Customary or SI material specication (e.g., SA-516 or SA-516M) may be used regardless of the unit system used in design. (e) Standard ttings (e.g., anges, elbows, etc.) that have been certied to either U.S. Customary units or SI units may be used regardless of the units system used in design. (f) Conversion of units, using the precision specied in paras. (g) and (h) shall be performed to assure that dimensional consistency is maintained. Conversion factors between U.S. Customary and SI units may be found in the Nonmandatory Appendix, Guidance for the Use of U.S. Customary and SI Units in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Whenever local customary units are used the Manufacturer shall provide the source of the conversion factors that shall be subject to verication and acceptance by the Authorized Inspector or Certied Individual. (g) Conversion factors shall be accurate to at least four signicant gures. (h) The results of conversions of units shall be expressed to a minimum of three signicant gures. (i) All entries on a Manufacturers Data Report shall be in units consistent with the fabrication drawings for the component using U.S. Customary, SI, or local customary units. It is acceptable to show alternate units parenthetically. Users of this Case are cautioned that the receiving Jurisdiction should be contacted to ensure the units are acceptable. (j) U.S. Customary, SI, or local customary units may be used for the Code required nameplate marking consistent with the units used on the Manufacturers Data Report. It is acceptable to show alternate units parenthetically. Users of this Case are cautioned that the receiving Jurisdiction should be contacted to ensure the units are acceptable. (k) This Case number shall be shown on the Manufacturers Data Report.

The Committees function is to establish rules of safety, relating only to pressure integrity, governing the construction of boilers, pressure vessels, transport tanks and nuclear components, and inservice inspection for pressure integrity of nuclear components and transport tanks, and to interpret these rules when questions arise regarding their intent. This Code does not address other safety issues relating to the construction of boilers, pressure vessels, transport tanks and nuclear components, and the inservice inspection of nuclear components and transport tanks. The user of the Code should refer to other pertinent codes, standards, laws, regulations or other relevant documents.

1 (2523)
Copyright ASME International Provided by IHS under license with ASME No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Licensee=Instituto Mexicanos Del Petroleo/3139900001 Not for Resale, 05/28/2009 12:51:34 MDT