Cammar Corp was recently asked, “If a fitting has a CRN registration with ASME B31.3 as the code of construction, it’s likely ok to use it as a ASME B31.1 design, and vice versa, right?”

The short answer is a qualified “no”.  CRN requirements differ for each code.

Now for the long answer, with our explanation and point of view with some background.  For even more detail and elaboration, please check with the code texts.

In General

Some would say that “if a fitting has a CRN registration, what does it matter if it’s registered to a different code of construction than another?  After all, a CRN registration is a registration is a registration.”  This response would seem to be in line with the idea that, when considered in their entirety, both codes are equal.  But when considering CRN requirements, this idea is incorrect in many ways.

For a fitting to be registered at all, a manufacturer must attest on a witnessed Statutory Declaration, that the fitting it manufactures completely conforms to either a referenced North American standard, code of construction, or equivalent.  This means that the fitting must meet all requirements of that standard or code of construction.  If only some rules of one code are used together with some rules of the other, then besides not meeting either code, the resulting mix will likely not be safe, and will likely not be registerable.  Cherry picking requirements from various codes is not permitted.

CRN registrations are tied to codes of construction, referenced standards, etc.

And the specific requirements of B31.3 and B31.1 differ significantly from one another.  Table 1 compares a selection of some of the most commonly encountered differences, described here.

Scope

ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1 are the most applicable ASME codes of construction for many pressure piping and fitting CRN designs in Canada.  However, their scopes are different in at least one major respect.

ASME B31.1 covers the requirements of boiler external piping, and ASME B31.3 does not.  So, whereas some ASME B31.1 fittings can be used as part of a boiler external piping design, ASME B31.3 fittings cannot be.

For example, if some boiler external piping systems needs a valve replacement, the replacement valve must be registerable to ASME B31.1, and the material must be suitable for boiler external piping.  An ASME B31.3 valve would not be acceptable.

Allowable Strengths

ASME B31.3 generally permits higher allowable strengths in many cases and thereby somewhat thinner pressure boundary thicknesses.  For example, in ASME B31.3-2014 the allowable strength at 100F of A106B is 20 ksig and in ASME B31.1-2014 it is 17.1 ksig.  Check the allowable stress tables and methods of determining allowable strengths in each code carefully.

So as a result, some equipment with a CRN that meets the thickness requirements of ASME B31.3 would be too thin to meet ASME B31.1 requirements and therefore would not be a suitable candidate for a B31.1 based CRN.

Material Specifications

CRN requirements for B31.3 and B31.1 codes are different when it comes to materials, their strengths, and applicability.

The available selection of materials in ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1 has overlap, but is not the same.  Check to ensure that the proposed material is listed in the code that you want to use with your CRN application.

Unlisted materials are defined and treated differently by B31.3 and B31.1.  ASME B31.3 states that unlisted materials can be used provided that they are described in a suitable published specification (see ASME B31.3-2014 para 323.1.2), and in addition to this ASME B31.1 states that their use must be approved, in writing, by the end user (see ASME B31.1-2014 paragraph 123.1.2(D)).

So, for example, suppose a site glass is to be made with unlisted material conforming to the requirements of an acceptable published specification.  If the use of the unlisted material is not accepted by the end-user in writing in every instance, then code does not permit the equipment to be used as a B31.1 fitting.

Pressure Testing

CRN requirements for B31.3 and B31.1 codes are different for pressure testing.

Regardless of design temperature, all non-service hydro-static pressure testing for ASME B31.1-2014 designs is conducted at 1.5 times the design pressure.  But for ASME B31.3-2014 designs, all non-service hydro-static pressure testing is conducted as a function of design temperature, to account for any decrease in allowable strengths as temperature increases during operation, per paragraph 345.

So, a fitting that is shop hydro tested to only meet ASME B31.1 will quite possibly not meet ASME B31.3 requirements if the allowable strength of the construction material decreases at design temperature.

Only with the regulator’s acceptance and at the owner’s option are service tests at design pressures permitted for ASME B31.3 Category D fluid (see para 300.2) pressure piping systems.  But ASME B31.1 has no limitation in relation to fluid category for this, and with the regulator’s acceptance, pressure piping can be service tested “when specified by the owner, when other types of tests are not practical or when leak tightness is demonstrable due to the nature of the service”, per ASME B31.1 para 137.7.1.

Notwithstanding what ASME B31.1 allows for here, service testing should be avoided whenever possible, especially when high energy piping systems are concerned.

Pneumatic testing is permitted by both ASME B31.3 and B31.1, but only with the regulator’s acceptance, together with proper justifications, procedures, and safeguards.  For ASME B31.3-2014, the pneumatic test pressure would be between 1.1P_design and 1.33P_design, and for ASME B31.1-2014 it would be between 1.2P_design and 1.5P_design.  For details, refer to ASME B31.3 paragraph 345.5 and ASME B31.1 paragraph 137.5.  Pneumatic testing is obviously inherently dangerous compared to hydrostatic testing due to stored energy.

Equipment should not leave the manufacturer’s shop without being pressure tested.  It is difficult to imagine a situation where pressure tests are impractical in the shop unless, due to size, assembly in the field is required.  And, even then, field testing will likely be required.

Alternatives to Pressure Testing

With the regulator’s acceptance, proper justification and procedures, closure welds are permitted on ASME B31.3 pressure piping systems.  An ABSA document, AB-519, provides good background in relation to the type of information that is required for justification and documentation.  Weld tolerances and allowable imperfections before, during, and after joining should be specified, together with the proposed weld locations and identification on a numbered list and isometric drawing, with post weld heat treatment if any, non-destructive testing techniques, etc.  All of this information should be documented for each weld.

ASME B31.1 does not permit closure welds.

Radiography and Ultrasonic Examination

All ASME B31.3 pressure equipment designs require at least 5% acceptable random radiography (RT) or ultrasonic examination (UT) of all circumferential butt and miter groove welds per B31.3-2014 paragraph 341.4.1(b).  Depending on the category of the service, more volumetric examination might well be required.

For ASME B31.1, the level of radiography or ultrasonic examination depends on the design temperature, pressure, and size of the piping per ASME B31.1-2014 paragraph 136.4.  So, though in some instances the RT and UT requirements of B31.1 could be met in the absence of any radiography or ultrasonic testing, equipment with circumferential welds would likely not meet the requirements of B31.3 unless some RT or UT was specified

Minimum Design Metal Temperature

As part of the design conditions, ASME B31.3 designs require that the minimum design metal temperature (MDMT) be specified.  It indicates the lowest temperature at which the equipment is designed to operate at.

ASME B31.1 does not list minimum design metal temperatures even though some material specifications listed in B31.1 do have metal transition temperatures below which brittle behavior becomes evident with ambient conditions in Canada.

Instead, B31.1 somewhat indirectly includes requirements associated with low temperature design via a reference to B31T in paragraph 124.1.2.  Even though ASME B31.1 designs do not ordinarily require explicit specification of the MDMT in the application, good engineering judgement requires that the MDMT be properly considered.  B31.1 designs without a specified MDMT would not meet ASME B31.3 requirements.

Impact Testing

To ensure that materials can withstand the wear and tear required at cold, potentially embrittling temperatures, ASME B31.3 requires impact testing to help ensure safety.  Please refer to ASME B31.3 paras 323.2 and 323.3 for some more details.

As noted above, ASME B31.1 does not include an MDMT as a design condition beyond a reference to ASME B31T and in paragraph 124.1.2.

Table 1:

Summary of Some Differences Between ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1 CRN Requirements
(See text above for more information, and codes for full details)

It is possible to design equipment that meets both codes of construction, where all ASME B31.1 and B31.3 requirements are met.

Registering equipment to meet the requirements of more than one code of construction can be done.  And some manufacturers do this, so that their brand can be sold to a wider range of clientele.

An adequate design and properly prepared CRN application can assist with the CRN registration process.  Need help with CRN number registration?  Check out our blog for more information here.