Section I — Power Boilers
Provides requirements for all methods of construction of power, electric, and miniature boilers; high temperature water boilers, heat recovery steam generators, solar receiver steam generators, and certain fired pressure vessels to be used in stationary service; and power boilers used in locomotive, portable, and traction service. Rules pertaining to use of the single ASME certification mark with the S, M, E, A, PP, V, and PRT designators are also included.

Section VII — Care of Power Boilers
Provides guidelines to assist those directly responsible for operating, maintaining, and examining power boilers. These boilers include stationary, portable, and traction type boilers, but not locomotive and high-temperature water boilers, miniature boilers, nuclear power-plant boilers (see Section XI), heating boilers (see Section VI), pressure vessels, or marine boilers. Guidelines are also provided for operation of auxiliary equipment and appliances that affect the safe and reliable operation of power boilers.

Referenced BPVC Sections
• BPVC-II-A, B, C, D — Section II, Materials, Parts A through D
• BPVC-V — Section V, Nondestructive Examination
• BPVC-VIII-1 — Section VIII, Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels, Division 1
• BPVC-IX — Section IX, Welding and Brazing

Referenced ASME Standards
• B1.20.1 — Pipe Threads, General Purpose, Inch
• 12 Standards from the B16 Series on pipe flanges and fittings
• B31.1 — Power Piping
• B36.10M — Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
• PTC 25 — Pressure Relief Devices
• QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection
• CA-1 — Conformity Assessment Requirements

Related ASME Product Certifications:
• "S" (Power Boilers) / "PP" (Pressure Piping)
• "M" (Miniature Boilers)
• "E" (Electric Boilers)
• "A" (Assembly of Power Boilers)
• "V" (Boiler Pressure Relief Valves)
• "PRT" (Parts Fabrication)

Section IV — Heating Boilers
Provides requirements for design, fabrication, installation and inspection of steam heating, hot water heating, hot water supply boilers, and potable water heaters intended for low pressure service that are directly fired by oil, gas, electricity, coal or other solid or liquid fuels. Rules pertaining to use of the single ASME certification mark with the H, HV, and HLW designators are also included.

Section VI — Care and Operation of Heating Boilers
Provides operation guidelines applicable to steel and cast-iron boilers limited to the operating ranges of Section IV Heating Boilers. Section VI includes guidelines for associated controls and automatic fuel-burning equipment. Also included is a glossary of terms commonly associated with boilers, controls, and fuel burning equipment.

Referenced BPVC Sections
• BPVC-I — Section I, Rules for Construction of Power Boilers
• BPVC-II-A, B, C, D — Section II, Materials, Parts A through D
• BPVC-IX — Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications

Referenced ASME Standards
• 7 Standards from the B16 Series on pipe flanges and fittings
• PTC 25 — Pressure Relief Devices
• QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection
• CA-1 -- Conformity Assessment Requirements

Related ASME Product Certifications:
• "H" (Heating Boilers/Cast Iron Section Heating Boilers)
• "HLW" (Lined Potable Water Heaters)
• "HV" (Heating Boiler Safety Valves)
• "PRT" (Parts Fabrication)

Section VIII — Pressure Vessels

Division 1 provides requirements applicable to the design, fabrication, inspection, testing, and certification of pressure vessels operating at either internal or external pressures exceeding 15 psig. Specific requirements apply to several classes of material used in pressure vessel construction, and also to fabrication methods such as welding, forging and brazing.

Division 1 contains mandatory and non-mandatory appendices detailing supplementary design criteria, nondestructive examination and inspection acceptance standards. Rules pertaining to the use of the single ASME certification mark with the U, UM and UV designators are also included.

Division 2 requirements on materials, design, and nondestructive examination are more rigorous than in Division 1; however, higher design stress intensify values are permitted. Rules pertaining to the use of the single ASME certification mark with the U2 and UV designators are also included.

Division 3 requirements are applicable to pressure vessels operating at either internal or external pressures generally above 10,000 psi. Rules pertaining to the use of the single ASME certification mark with the U3, UV3 and UD3 designator are also included.

Referenced BPVC Sections
• BPVC-II-A, B, C, D — Section II, Materials, Parts A through D
• BPVC-V — Section V, Nondestructive Examination
• BPVC-IX — Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications

Referenced ASME Standards
Division 1:
• 5 Standards from the B1 Series on screw threads
• 13 Standards from the B16 Series on pipe flanges and fittings
• 9 Standards from the B18 Series on hex bolts
• B36.10M — Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
• B36.19M — Stainless Steel Pipe
• NQA-1 — Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Nuclear Facilities
• PCC-1 — Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly
• PCC-2 — Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping
• PTC 25 — Pressure Relief Devices
• QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection
• CA-1 -- Conformity Assessment Requirements

Division 2:
• API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 — Fitness-For-Service
• 3 Standards from the B1 Series on screw threads
• 9 Standards from the B16 Series on pipe flanges and fittings
• 4 Standards from the B18 Series on hex bolts
• B36.10M — Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
• B36.19M — Stainless Steel Pipe
• NQA-1 — Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Nuclear Facilities
• PCC-1 — Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly
• PTC 25 — Pressure Relief Devices
• QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection
• CA-1 -- Conformity Assessment Requirements

Division 3:
• API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 — Fitness-For-Service
• B1.1 -- Unified Inch Screw Threads (UN and UNR Thread Form)
• B16.5 -- Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings: NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 Metric/Inch Standard
• B18.2.2 -- Nuts for General Applications: Machine Screw Nuts, Hex, Square, Hex Flange, and Coupling Nuts (Inch Series)
• B18.2.6M -- Metric Fasteners for Use in Structural Applications
• B36.10M — Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
• B46.1 — Surface Texture (Surface Roughness, Waviness and Lay)
• PTC 25 — Pressure Relief Devices
• QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection
• CA-1 -- Conformity Assessment Requirements
• PCC-3 -- Inspection Planning Using Risk-Based Methods

Related ASME Product Certifications:
• "U" (Pressure Vessels, Division 1)
• "UM" (Miniature Pressure Vessels, Division 1)
• "UV" (Pressure Vessel Pressure Relief Valves, Division 1)
• "UD" (Pressure Vessel Pressure Relief Devices, Division 1)
• "U2" (Pressure Vessels, Division 2)
• "U3" (High Pressure Vessels, Division 3)
• "UV3" (High Pressure Vessel Pressure Relief Valves, Division 3)
• ”UD3” (High Pressure Vessel Pressure Relief Devices, Division 3)

Section XII — Transport Tanks
Provides requirements for construction and continued service of pressure vessels for the transportation of dangerous goods via highway, rail, air or water at pressures from full vacuum to 3,000 psig and volumes greater than 120 gallons. "Construction" is an all-inclusive term comprising materials, design, fabrication, examination, inspection, testing, certification, and over-pressure protection. "Continued service" refers to inspection, testing, repair, alteration, and recertification of a transport tank that has been in service. Rules pertaining to the use of the single ASME certification mark with the T designator are included.

Section X — Fiber-Reinforced Pressure Vessels
Provides requirements for construction of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel (FRP) in conformance with a manufacturer's design report. It includes production, processing, fabrication, inspection and testing methods required for the vessel. Section X includes three Classes of vessel design: Class I and Class III - qualification through the destructive test of a prototype; and Class II - mandatory design rules and acceptance testing by nondestructive methods. These vessels are not permitted to store, handle or process lethal fluids. Vessel fabrication is limited to the following processes: bag-molding, centrifugal casting and filament-winding and contact molding. Rules pertaining to the use of the single ASME certification mark with the RP designator are also included.

Referenced BPVC Sections
• BPVC-V — Nondestructive Examination

Referenced ASME Standards
• B16.1 — Gray Iron Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings: Classes 25, 125, and 250
• B16.5 — Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings: NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 Metric/Inch Standard
• B18.22.1 — Plain Washers

Related ASME Product Certifications:
• "T" (Transport Tanks)
• "TV" (Transport Tanks Pressure Relief Valves)
• "TD" (Transport Tanks Pressure Relief Devices)
• "RP" (Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Vessels)
• "PRT" (Parts Fabrication)

Section III — Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components
Provides general requirements which address the material, design, fabrication, examination, testing and overpressure protection of the items specified within each respective Subsection, assuring their structural integrity.

Division 1, Subsection NCA
Subsection NCA, which is referenced by and is an integral part of Division 1, Subsections NB through NG, and Division 2 of Section III, covers quality assurance requirements, ASME product-certification marks, and authorized inspection for Class 1, 2, 3, MC, CS, and CC construction.

Division 1, Subsections NB, NF, APP
Subsection NB addresses items which are intended to conform to the requirements for Class 1 construction.
Subsection NF addresses supports which are intended to conform to the requirements for Classes 1, 2, 3, and MC construction.
Subsection APP contains appendices, both mandatory and non-mandatory for Section III, Division 1 (Subsection NCA through NG), Division 2 and Division 3, including a listing of design and design analysis methods and information, plus Data Report Forms. These appendices are referenced by, and are an integral part of, Subsection NCA through NG, Division 2 and Division 3.

Division 1, Subsections NC, ND
Subsection NC addresses items which are intended to conform to the requirements for Class 2 construction.
Subsection ND addresses items which are intended to conform to the requirements for Class 3 construction.

Other Subsections and Divisions
Subsection NE addresses items which are intended to conform to the requirements for Class MC construction.
Subsection NF addresses the supports which are intended to conform to the requirements for Classes 1, 2, 3, and MC construction.
Subsection NG addresses structures which are designed to provide direct support or restraint of the core (fuel & blanket assemblies) within the reactor pressure vessel.

Division 2 addresses concrete containment structures, pre-stressed or reinforced. These requirements are applicable only to those components that are designed to provide a pressure retaining or containing barrier.
Division 3 addresses the design and construction of the containment systems, including internal support structures, used for the transportation and/or storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive material.
The all-new Division 5 provides construction rules for high-temperature reactors, including both high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and liquid-metal reactors (LMRs).

Referenced BPVC Sections
• BPVC-II-A, B, C, D — Section II, Materials, Parts A through D
• BPVC-V — Section V, Nondestructive Examination
• BPVC-IX — Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications
• BPVC-XI — Section XI, Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components

Referenced ASME Standards
• 3 Standards from the B1 Series on screw threads
• 8 Standards from the B16 Series on pipe flanges and fittings
• 3 Standards from the B18 Series on hex bolts
• B36.10M — Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
• B36.19M — Stainless Steel Pipe
• NQA-1 — Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Nuclear Facilities
• QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection

Resources for the Nuclear Industry

Related ASME Product Certifications:
• "N," "NA," "NPT," "NS" (N-Type Certificates of Authorization and Certificates of Accreditation)
• "NV" (Nuclear Safety and Pressure Relief Valves — includes BPVC-II-A, Section II, Part A, Ferrous Materials Specifications)
• "NV" (Nuclear Safety and Pressure Relief Valves — includes BPVC-II-B, Section II, Part B, Nonferrous Materials Specifications)
• "NV" (Nuclear Safety and Pressure Relief Valves — includes BPVC-II-D, Section II, Part D, Properties, Customary or Metric)
• "N3" (N-Type Certificates of Authorization and Certificates of Accreditation)

Section XI — Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
Contains Division 1 and 3, in one volume, and provides rules for the examination, inservice testing and inspection, and repair and replacement of components and systems in light water cooled and liquid metal cooled nuclear power plants. Application of Section XI begins when the requirements of the "construction code" (e.g., Section III) have been satisfied.

Section XI constitutes requirements to maintain the nuclear power plant while in operation and to return the plant to service, following plant outages, and repair or replacement activities. These rules require a mandatory program of scheduled examinations, testing, and inspections to evidence adequate safety. The method of nondestructive examination to be used and flaw size characterization are also contained within this Section.

Referenced BPVC Sections
• BPVC-II-A, B, C, D — Section II, Materials, Parts A through D
• BPVC-III — Section III, Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components:
• Subsection NCA, General Requirements for Division 1 and Division 2
• Subsection NB, Class 1 Components
• Subsection NC, Class 2 Component
• Subsection ND, Class 3 Components
• Subsection NE, Class MC Components
• Subsection NF, Supports
• Subsection NG, Core Support Structures
• Subsection NH, Class 1 Components in Elevated Temperature Service
• Appendices
• Division 2-Code for Concrete Containments
• Division 3-Containments for Transportation & Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High Level Radioactive Material & Waste
• Division 5, High Temperature Reactors
• BPVC-V — Section V, Nondestructive Examination
• BPVC-VIII-1-2 — Section VIII, Pressure Vessels, Division 1 and Division 2
• BPVC-IX — Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications

Referenced ASME Standards
• NQA-1 — Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facilities Applications (QA)
• QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection
• RA-S — Standard for Level 1 / Large Early Release Frequency Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant Applications

Related ASME Product Certifications:
"QSC" (Quality Systems Certificates — Material Manufacturers, Material Suppliers) — contact ASME

Section II — Materials
Part A covers Ferrous Material; Part B covers Nonferrous Material; Part C covers Welding Rods, Electrodes, and Filler Metals; and Part D covers Material Properties in both Customary and Metric units of measure.

Together, these four parts of Section II comprise a "service Code" to other BPVC Sections, providing material specifications adequate for safety in the field of pressure equipment. These specifications contain requirements for chemical and mechanical properties, heat treatment, manufacture, heat and product analyses, and methods of testing. Part A and Part B specifications are designated by SA or SB numbers, respectively, and are identical with or similar to those of specifications published by ASTM and other recognized national or international organizations. Part C specifications are designated by SFA numbers and are derived from AWS specifications.

Section V — Nondestructive Examination
Is another "service Code" — containing requirements and methods for nondestructive examination which are referenced and required by other BPVC Sections. It also includes manufacturer's examination responsibilities, duties of authorized inspectors and requirements for qualification of personnel performing inspections and examination. Examination methods are intended to detect surface and internal discontinuities in materials, welds, and fabricated parts and components. A glossary of related terms is included.

Section IX — Welding, Brazing and Fusing Qualifications
Is another "service Code" — containing rules relating to the qualification of welding and brazing procedures as required by other BPVC Sections. It also covers rules relating to the qualification and requalification of welders, brazers, and welding and brazing operators in order that they may perform welding or brazing in component manufacture. Welding and brazing data cover essential and nonessential variables specific to the welding or brazing process used.

Boilers and Pressure Vessels / Nuclear
Historically, the BPVC has been revised every three years; beginning with the 2013 Edition, it will be revised every two years. But what happens in the interim with new materials or alternative constructions? How does the BPVC keep current with the latest in technology and applications?

Code Cases are approved actions by the BPVC Committees on these alternatives, intended to allow early and urgent implementation of any revised requirements. They are issued four times per year in two categories: Boiler and Pressure Vessels (CC-BPV) and Nuclear (CC-NUC). Users may purchase individual publications at any time. Or they may subscribe to receive full sets of Code Cases as they are published for the duration of that BPVC edition's cycle.

This responsiveness to requests illustrates the unique openness and transparency of ASME's code-development process — striving to reflect best-practices of industry, while contributing to safety for the general public.

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