ASME BPVC VIII-1 Construction Pressure Vessels: 2023 [paper]

This Division of Section VIII provides requirements applicable to the design, fabrication, inspection, testing, and certification of pressure vessels operating at either internal or external pressures exceeding 15 psig. Such pressure vessels may be fired or unfired. Specific requirements apply to several classes of material used in pressure vessel construction, and also to fabrication methods such as welding, forging and brazing. It contains mandatory and non-mandatory appendices detailing supplementary design criteria, nondestructive examination and inspection acceptance standards. Rules pertaining to the use of the U, UM and UV ASME Product Certification Marks are also included.

Key changes for ASME BPVC-VIII-1:

• Added a new paragraph UG-84(d)(3) to clarify the impact test requirements for diffusion welding (DFW).
• Paragraph UG-101(a)(5) was added to address sharing of proof testing reports between manufacturers owned by the same entity
• Part UHX has been realigned and revised for consistency between the heat exchanger types. The shell and channel coefficients have been revised to be based on the mean diameter instead of the inside diameter, which is consistent with PTB-7.
• Part UHX and Appendix 26 design rules, which are identical to Part 4.18 and 4.19 of Division 2, have been removed and point to Part 4.18 and 4.19 when appropriate. This will enable identical requirements for all heat exchangers, resulting in easier maintenance through one set of rules.
• Revised the “PRT” designator to “PRT VIII-1” throughout Section VIII, Division 1.