COURSE OVERVIEW

This course provides a comprehensive coverage of the ASME B31 Code requirements. It has been completely revised, reorganized and updated, and includes descriptions of important new requirements of ASME B31, including the philosophy behind the changes. Further, the course has been enriched with the latest requirements of the API 570 and API 579.
General topics in the course include: Code organization and intent, pressure design, design for sustained loads including support design, flexibility analysis, equipment loads, expansion joints, supports and restraints, materials, fabrication, examination, testing, pigging, and, for existing piping & pipeline systems: risk-based inspection, pigging, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, fitness-for-service and mechanical integrity.
Applications of these concepts, including simple hand analysis methods and computer-based analysis methods, will be demonstrated. Examples of the required analysis and sources of further information will be provided.
The course covers design, fabrication, examination and testing requirements of ASME B31. It covers Code requirements from design through start-up of new piping & pipeline systems, as well as standards for inspection, integrity and repair of piping & pipeline systems that have been in service, as provided in API 570 and API 579. The course covers the practical aspects of piping and pipeline integrity, maintenance and repair. Participants will be introduced to the technical basis of the ASME and API integrity rules, and their application to case studies and exercises. The participants will be able to recognize causes of degradation in-service, whether mechanically induced (pressure, vibration, fatigue, pressure transients, external damage) or due to corrosion (wall thinning, pitting, cracking), and apply integrity analysis techniques to make run-or-repair decisions.
The course provides a working knowledge of the Code, how it is organized, its intent, the basis for requirements, including both design and construction (fabrication, erection and testing) aspects. It provides a foundation of knowledge necessary for those responsible for assuring the mechanical integrity of existing systems, as well as those responsible for designing and constructing new systems. The participants will become knowledgeable in the technical basis and application of ASME B31.3, B31.4 and B31.8 piping codes, ASME B31G, API 570 and API 579 Fitness-for-Service and Flaw Evaluation.