Piping - Codes & Standards

The integrity of a piping system depends on the considerations and principles used in design, construction and maintenance of the system. Piping systems are made of components as pipes, flanges, supports, gaskets, bolts, valves, strainers, flexible and expansion joints. The components can be made in a variety of materials, in different types and sizes and may be manufactured to common national standards or according a manufacturers proprietary item. Some companies even publish their own internal piping standards based upon national and industry sector standards. 

Piping codes and standards from standardization organizations as

• ANSI
• ASME
• ISO
• DIN

and others, are the most common used.

The difference between piping codes and piping standards can be summarized:

Piping Codes

Piping codes defines the requirements of design, fabrication, use of materials, tests and inspection of pipes and piping systems - what you need to do.

A code has a limited jurisdiction defined by the code. A code is not law, but can be adopted into law.

Example:

"ASME B31.1 (2007), Code for Pressure Piping, Section on Power Piping, as required by the laws of the States of Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Wisconsin, et. alia."

Piping Standards

Piping standards define application design and construction rules and requirements for piping components as flanges, elbows, tees, valves etc. - how to do it.

A standard has a limited scope defined by the standard.

Temperature ^oC
K
^oF

Length m
km
in
ft
yards
miles
naut miles

Area m²
km²
in²
ft²
miles²
acres

Volume m³
liters
in³
ft³
us gal

Weight kg_f
N
lbf

Velocity m/s
km/h
ft/min
ft/s
mph
knots

Pressure Pa
bar
mm H₂O
kg/cm²
psi
inches H₂O

Flow m³/s
m³/h
US gpm
cfm