18 Major Differences between ASME B31.3 and B31.

1 |
B31.3 vs B31.1
whatispiping.com/difference-asme-b31-3-and-b31-1/

Anup Kumar Dey May 22, 2020

What is ASME B31.3 or Process piping Code?

ASME B31.3 or Process Piping Code provides rules for piping design for petroleum
refineries; onshore and offshore petroleum and natural gas production facilities; chemical,
pharmaceutical, textile, paper, ore processing, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; food
and beverage processing facilities; and related processing plants and terminals. This code is
known as the Bible for Process Piping Professionals. So this code dictates the design
considerations of process plants.

What is ASME B31.1 or Power Piping Code?

ASME B31.1 or Power Piping Code provides rules for piping typically found in electric
power generating stations, industrial and institutional plants, geothermal heating systems,
and central and district heating and cooling systems. This code is very important for Power
piping Professionals as this code governs the design rules for power generation plants.

During piping stress analysis of a piping system, it sometimes seems that there is no major
difference between ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1. As simply changing the codes in the
input spreadsheet is sufficient for analysis. But if we take a closer look at both B31.3 vs
B31.1, we can understand that there are some major differences in the rules, applications,
and guideline considerations between ASME B31.1 and ASME B31.3. In this article, we have
listed 18 major differences between the process piping (B31.3) and the power piping (B31.1)
code.

READ Advantages of using Coordinate System in Caesar II

Difference Between ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1 (B31.1 vs B31.3)

From the above discussions, it is clear that both ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1 codes i.e
Process Piping Code and Power Piping code are different. Both are related to piping
design aspects but vary widely in design considerations. The following table lists the major
differences between ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1.

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Sr. Parameter ASME B31.3-Process Piping ASME B31.1-Power Piping
No

1 Scope ASME B31.3 provides rules for ASME B 31.1 provides rules
(B31.3 vs Process or Chemical Plant for Power Plant piping.
B31.1) piping.

2 Basic As per ASME B31.3, the basic The basic allowable material
Allowable allowable material stress value is stress value as per ASME
Material higher (For example the B31.1 is lower (For example
Stress allowable stress value for A 106 the allowable stress value for
B material at 250 Deg C is A 106 B material at 250 Deg
132117.328 Kpa as per ASME B C is 117900.344 Kpa as per
31.3) than the same as per ASME B 31.1) than that of
B31.1. ASME B31.3.

3 Allowable ASME B31.3 code does not ASME B31.1 clearly specifies
Sagging specifically say about any limit of the allowable sagging value
(Sustained) allowable sagging. An allowable as 2.5 mm. Table 121.5-1 of
sagging of up to 15 mm is ASME B 31.1 provides a
acceptable in general. B31.3 suggested support span.
does not provide a suggested
support span.

4 SIF on Process Piping Code ASME Power Piping code ASME

Reducers B31.3 does not use SIF B31.1 uses a maximum SIF
(SIF=1.0) for reducer stress of 2.0 for reducers while pipe
calculation stress calculation.

5 Factor of ASME B31.3 uses a factor of ASME B31.1 uses a safety

Safety safety of 3; relatively lower than factor of 4 to have higher
ASME B31.1. reliability as compared to
Process plants

6 SIF for Butt B31.3 uses a SIF of 1.0 for butt- B31.1 uses a SIF of up to 1.9
Welded welded joints max in stress calculation.
Joints

7 Approach ASME B31.3 uses a complex in- ASME B31.1 uses a

towards SIF plane, out-of-plane SIF simplified single SIF
approach. Approach.

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8 Maximum As per the Process Piping code For the Power piping code
values of Sc ASME B31.3, the maximum (ASME B31.1), the
and Sh value of Sc and Sh are limited to maximum value of Sc and Sh
138 Mpa or 20 ksi. are 138 Mpa only if the
minimum tensile strength of
the material is 70 ksi (480
Mpa) otherwise it is
dependent on the values
provided in the mandatory
Appendix A as per
temperature.

9 Allowable The allowable value of As per ASME B31.1, the

Stress for occasional stress as per ASME allowable value of occasional
Occasional B31.3 is 1.33 times Sh stress is 1.15 to 1.20 times
Stresses Sh

10 Equation for The equation for pipe wall There is no such limitation in
Pipe Wall thickness calculation in B31.3 is the Power Piping (ASME
Thickness valid for t<D/6. B31.1) wall thickness
Calculation calculation. However, they
add a limitation on maximum
design pressure.

11 Section While Sustained and Occasional ASME B31.1 calculates the

Modulus, Z stress calculation, the Process section modulus using
for Piping code ASME B31.3 nominal thickness. Thickness
Sustained reduces the thickness by is not reduced by corrosion
and corrosion and other allowances. and other allowances.
Occasional
Stresses

12 Rules for B31.3 provides extensive rules The power piping code,
material for use of materials below -29 B31.1 does not provide any
usage below Deg C such rules for pipe materials
-29 Deg. C below -29 deg C.

13 Maximum The maximum value of cyclic As per ASME B31.1, the

Value of stress range factor, f as per maximum value of f is 1.0
Cyclic B31.3 is 1.2.
Stress
Range
Factor

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 14 Allowance As per clause 302.2.4 of ASME As per clause 102.2.4 of
for Pressure B31.3, occasional pressure- ASME B31.1, occasional
Temperature temperature variation can exceed pressure-temperature
Variation the allowable by (a) 33% for no variation can exceed the
more than 10 hours at any one allowable by (a) 15% if the
time and no more than 100 event duration occurs for no
hours/year or (b) 20% for no more than 8 hours at any one
more than 50 hours at any one time and not more than 800
time and no more than 500 hours/year, or (b) 20% if the
hours/year. event duration occurs for not
more than 1 hour at any one
time and not more than 80
hours/year

15 Design Life Process Piping following ASME Power Piping using ASME
B31.3 is normally designed for 20 B31.1 is generally designed
to 30 years of service life. for 40 years or more of
service life.

16 PSV B31.3 code does not provide ASME B31.1 provides

reaction specific equations for PSV specific equations for PSV
force reaction force calculation. reaction force calculation.

17 Hydrostatic As per ASME B31.3, the The hydrostatic test pressure

Test hydrostatic test for the piping following ASME B31.1 is 1.5
Pressure system need to be performed at times the piping design
1.5 times the design pressure pressure. (Clause 137.4.5)
corrected for temperature means
the design pressure must be
multiplied by ST/S in the case of
process piping. Here, ST=pipe
material allowable stress at test
temperature, and S=pipe material
allowable stress at component
design temperature. (Clause
345.4.2)

18 Pneumatic The pneumatic test pressure as B31.1 instructs to use a

Test per ASME B31.3 is (1.1 to 1.33) pneumatic test pressure
Pressure times the design pressure of the between (1.2 to 1.5) times the
piping system. (Clause 345.5.4) design pressure for the piping
system. (Clause 137.5.5)

Differences between process piping and power piping codes (ASME B31.1 vs ASME B31.3)

Other differences between ASME B31.1 and ASME B31.3:

READ Types of Pipe Threads: NPT, BSP, Metric, and Unified Threads
The other differences between ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.1 are

There is a difference in bending and forming requirements in both codes.

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 The welder and brazer qualifications are not identical.
The limitations for use of cast irons are different in both codes.
The criteria for using soldered, brazed and threaded joints are different in both codes.

The following image (Fig. 1 ) shows a rough estimate of different stress values of the same
system with code change in Caesar II-2018 software:

Fig. 1: Stress values for the same system with code change

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