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The Body of ASME SEC VIII DIV I:

Subsection A: General Requirements
 Part UG: General Requirements for All Methods of Construction and All Materials
Subsection B: Requirements pertaining to the Methods of Fabrication of Pressure Vessels
 Part UW: Requirements for Pressure Vessels Fabricated by Welding
 Part UF: Requirements for Pressure Vessels Fabricated by Forging
 Part UB: Requirements for Pressure Vessels Fabricated by Brazing
Subsection C: Requirements Pertaining to the Classes of Materials
 Part UCS: Requirements of Pressure Vessels Constructed of Carbon and Low alloy Steel
 Part UNF: Requirements of Pressure Vessels Constructed of Non Ferrous Materials
 Part UHA: Requirements of Pressure Vessels Constructed of High Alloy Steel
 Part UCI : Requirements of Pressure Vessels Constructed of Cast Iron
 Part UCL: Requirements for Welded Pressure Vessels Constructed of Material with Corrosion
Resistance Integral Cladding, Weld Metal Overlay Cladding, or Applied Linings
 Part UCD: Requirements of Pressure Vessels of Cast Ductile Iron
 Part UHT: Requirements of Pressure Vessels of Ferritic Steels with Tensile Properties
Enhanced by Heat Treatment
 Part ULW: Requirements of Pressure Vessels Fabricated by Layered Construction
 Part ULT: Alternate rules for Pressure Vessels Constructed of Materials having Higher
Allowable Stresses at Low Temperature.
 Part UHX: Rules for Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers
 Part UIG: Requirements of Pressure Vessels Constructed of Impregnated Graphite
 Part UCD: Requirements of Pressure Vessels of Cast Ductile Iron
Mandatory Appendix
Non Mandatory Appendix
Figures, Tables & Forms
Figure 1: A snapshot of ready to Dispatch Pressure Vessel
 Figure 2: A snapshot of ready to Dispatch Pressure Vessel (Shell and Tube Type Heat Exchangers)

Note: In this part of the article we will cover Subsection A (with focus on welding)

Subsection A
UG 1: SCOPE
The requirements in this section apply to all pressure vessels and vessel parts and shall be used
jointly with the specific requirements as given in Sub Section B, C, and Mandatory Appendices.

UG 4: MATERIALS
Materials for Pressure Parts Shall conform to the requirements given in ASME SEC II Part D,
subpart 1. Table 1A, 1B, and 3 including all the applicable notes. Materials can be Dual Certified
(For Example a plate can be certified as SA 516 Gr 60 and SA 516 Gr 70 as per ASME SEC II
PART A by mill provided the material meets all the requirements of the identified material
specification or grades.

Non Pressure parts (Lugs, Skirts, etc…) need not be identified but in a case attached by welding
shall be of weldable quality.

Materials other than those allowed by the rules of this division shall not be used.

Engineering judgment to be used by the manufacturer to assure the user that the materials used
for the construction of pressure vessels will perform satisfactorily for the intended service. Refer
informative guidance regarding the metallurgical phenomenon in ASME SEC II part D non
mandatory appendix A.
 The material physical properties required by design shall be taken from ASME SEC II Part D
subpart 2. If the Code does not contain the properties values the manufacturer may use other
authoritative sources for the needed information. The manufacturer MDR in the remarks shall
mention the source of the information.

UG-5-6-7-8: BASE MATERIALS

The Plate, Forgings, Castings, Pipe, and Tubes used in the construction of pressure vessels for
pressure parts shall conform to the requirements of specific clauses except as otherwise
permitted.

UG-9: WELDING MATERIALS

The welding material must comply with the requirements of this code, ASME SEC IX, Qualified
WPS, and ASME SEC II Part C
UG-10: MATERIALS IDENTIFIED WITH OR PRODUCED TO A SPECIFICATION
NOT PERMITTED BY THIS DIVISION, AND MATERIAL NOT FULLY
IDENTIFIED
 Any unspecified material (single production lot) for the construction of vessel may be
accepted provided the following conditions are met:
1. Recertification shall be vessel and part manufacturer only.
2. The documentation shall be available to show to the part or vessel manufacturer that all the
requirements of this code are met. Material marking acceptable to the inspector.
 If any material with the specification which is not permitted by ASME Section VIII Div. 1 but
belongs to a particular production lot as per the requirements of a specification permitted by this
division, but which cannot be qualified in above condition shall meet the following conditions to be
acceptable:
1. Recertification shall be by the vessel and part manufacturer only.
2. When documentation demonstrating complete conformance to the chemical requirements is
not available, chemical analyses are made on different pieces from the lot to establish a meaningful
analysis that is to be accepted as representative of the lot. The chemical analysis shall conform to the
specifications.
3. Those mechanical properties which are not reported shall be tested and should conform to the
specification.
4. The material if not heat treated as per specification shall be heat treated either before or
during fabrication.
5. All other applicable requirements (including, but not limited to, melting method, melting
practice, deoxidation, chemical analysis, mechanical properties, grain size, and quality) of the
specification permitted by this Division, to which the material is to be recertified, have been
demonstrated to have been met.
6. The material marking shall be acceptable to the inspector and the material shall be marked as
required by the specifications.
 Material not fully identified: Won’t discuss this part in detail as it would be recommended to
avoid such material in pressure vessels.
UG-11: PRESSURE PARTS (PREFABRICATED OR PREFORMED) FURNISHED
WITHOUT A CERTIFICATION MARK
 The pressure parts (Prefabricated or preformed) to be used for pressure vessels, which are
subject to stresses due to pressure and have been furnished by others or by the manufacturer (of the
completed vessel) shall conform to all applicable requirements of this Division.
 Parts that are prefabricated (Preformed) may be supplied as follows :
1. Cast, forged, rolled, or die formed non-standard pressure parts: Pressure parts like shells,
heads, etc. that are entirely formed by casting (ex: Shell), forging (ex: Nozzle, Shell), rolling (ex:
Rolled Shell), or die forming (ex: Head) that do not require shop inspection may be supplied basically
as materials.
2. Cast (ex: Shell), forged (ex: Nozzle), rolled, or die formed (ex: Head) standard pressure parts
that comply with an ASME product standard (ASME SEC II PART-A-B), either welded or seamless.
3. Cast, Forged, Rolled, or Die Formed Standard Pressure Parts that comply with a standard
other than an ASME product standard (ANSI Standard), either welded or seamless.
4. The Code recognizes that manufacture (ASME Certificate Holder) may fabricate parts in
accordance with UG-11(d), and that is marked in accordance with UG-11(d)(8).
Instead of the requirement in UG-11(d)(4)(-a), the manufacturer may subcontract to an individual
or organization not holding an ASME Certificate standard pressure parts that are fabricated to a
standard other than an ASME product standard.

UG-12-13-14: BOLTS & STUDS, WASHER & NUTS, RODS & BARS
 UG-23, UCS-11 & UNF-13, Subsection-C to be followed for acceptance respectively
UG-15 PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
 For a  wrought (Forged, Rolled, Extruded, etc.…) product when there is no particular
specification listed in subsection C, but there is an approved specification listed in subsection C of
some other wrought product  of that grade  the product for which there is no specification can be
provided
1. The chemical and physical properties, heat treating requirements, and requirements for
deoxidation, or grain size requirements conform to the approved specification listed in Subsection C.
2. The manufacturing procedures, tolerances, tests, and markings are in accordance with a
Section II specification covering the same product form (Forged, Rolled, Extruded etc…) of similar
material.
3. For the case of welded tubing made of plate, sheet, or strip, without the addition of filler
metal, the appropriate stress values are reduced by 15%.
4. The product is not pipe or tubing fabricated by fusion welding with the addition of filler metal
unless it is fabricated following the rules of this Division as a pressure part.
5. Mill test reports reference the specifications used in producing the material and also refer to
this paragraph.
 Example Alloy 316L is available as a plate and is listed under SA 240. It can be used as bar or
pipe materials under SA-479 and SA-312, even though it is not listed under these specifications. The
material must meet the chemical and physical requirements of SA 240 and the product and quality
requirements of the applicable product specification).
UG-16 DESIGN
 The design of pressure equipment and its parts shall conform to the requirements in the
following paragraphs and in addition to the specific requirements given in the applicable Parts of
Subsections B and C.
 Minimum thickness of pressure retaining components shall be 1.5 mm excluding corrosion
allowance except that the above does not apply to heat transfer plates, inner pipe of double pipe heat
exchangers for NPS 6(150), or less.
 The minimum thickness of shells and heads of unfired steam boilers shall be 6 mm exclusive
of any corrosion allowance.
 The minimum thickness of shells and heads used in compressed air service, steam service,
and water service, shall be 2.5 mm exclusive of any corrosion allowance.
 This minimum thickness does not apply to the tubes in air-cooled and cooling tower heat
exchangers if all the following provisions are met:
1. The tubes shall not be used for lethal UW-2(a) service applications.
2. The tubes shall be protected by fins or other mechanical means.
3. The tube outside diameter shall be a minimum of 10 mm and a maximum of 38 mm.
4. The minimum thickness used shall not be less than that calculated by the formulas given in
UG-27 or 1-1 and no case less than 0.5 mm.
The Plate Under Tolerance:
1. Plate material shall not be ordered with a nominal thickness thinner than the design thickness.
2. Plate material with an actual thickness less than the design thickness shall not be used unless
the difference in thicknesses is less than the smaller of 0.3 mm or 6% of the design thickness.
3. If plate material is ordered to a specification that allows an under tolerance greater than the
smaller of 0.3 mm or 6% of the nominal thickness, the thickness of the plate ordered shall be
increased, if required, so that the plate material will meet the requirement of (1.5 mm) when used.
The Pipe Under Tolerance:
1. Pipe and tube material may be ordered by its nominal wall thickness. However,
manufacturing under tolerance must be taken into account when designing or ordering the component.
2. The under tolerance need not be considered when designing nozzle wall reinforcement.
 Corrosion Allowance Used in Design Formulas: It is included in every dimensional
formula used in this code.
 Examples showing the application of the design rules of this Division are contained in
ASME PTB-4, ASME Section VIII, Division 1, and Example Problem Manual.

UG- 17: METHODS OF FABRICATION IN COMBINATION

A Combination of fabrication methods can be used for design and fabrication of pressure
equipment’s as per this code.

UG- 18: MATERIALS IN COMBINATION

 Any combination of material as mentioned in Subsection C of this code can be utilized in
construction of a vessel and joining of dissimilar joints requirements of ASME SEC IX shall be
met.

The rules of the code shall govern the necessities for the parent metal its heat affected zone
(HAZ) and weld metal(s) in case the parent metals of different metallurgies needs to be joined
together.

Say, for example when SA 516 Gr 70 (Carbon Steel) is welded directly to SA 240 TP 316L
(Austenitic Stainless Steel) using E Ni Cr Fe-3 (SMAW Process) as filler metal the applicable
rules of this division shall apply to each of the following separately:

 CS parent metal & HAZ

 ASS parent metal & HAZ
 Ni Filler Metal

UG- 19: SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION

Combination units: won’t discuss this further (types are mentioned below).

 Common Element Design

 Differential Pressure Design
 Mean Metal Temperature Design
1. Special Shapes
2. When no design rules are given the max allowable working pressure of the completed
vessel shall be established in accordance with provisions of UG-101.

UG- 20: DESIGN TEMPERATURE

Maximum temperature: For the parts under consideration maximum temperature shall be
greater than the average metal temperature through thickness of the vessel expected in service
except for lethal service. It can be derived by measurement from a similar equipment in service.
(Refer WRC Bulletin 470, “Recommendations for Design of Vessels for Elevated Temperature
Service” has information that may prove helpful to the vessel designer).
Minimum temperature: It shall be the lowest expected temperature experienced by the pressure
equipment in service and accordingly the plate, casting, forgings, fittings etc shall be selected for
construction.
Designer shall keep in mind the lowest operating temperature in service, the surrounding
temperature, the effects of immediate startup and shut down etc. while designing the pressure
equipment.

Methods of obtaining the service temperature is also mentioned in the non-mandatory appendix
of this code.

As there is greater risk of brittle failure for carbon and low alloy steel so following requirements
to be met for impact test exemptions:
 (1) For P-No. 1, Gr. No. 1(SA 516 Gr 60) or 2 (SA 516 Gr 70), can only be used if the
requirements of (a) and (b) below are met:

(a) Curve A material max thickness restricted to 13 mm

(b) Curve B, C and D materials thickness restricted to 25 mm.

(2) The complete pressure equipment to be either hydrostatically or pneumatically tested with the
provisions of this code.

(3) Designer shall ensure the temperature range is between 345°C and -29°C. However irregular
temperature below -29°C may be allowed.

UG-21: DESIGN PRESSURE

Each part of pressure containing equipment must be designed for worst combination of equivalent
pressure and temperature expected in normal operation.

UG-22: LOADINGS

The loadings for designing a pressure vessel shall include the following

 Internal /external design pressure, test pressure and coincident static head, abnormal
pressure.
 Weight of the vessel and normal contents under operating or test conditions;
 The internal (Tray Support Ring) and external attachments (Lugs, Skirts etc…)
 Wind, snow, and seismic reactions, impact reactions; superimposed static reactions
from weight of attached equipment (piping, lining etc.…), cyclic and dynamic reactions (due
to pressure, thermal variations etc……)
 Temperature gradients and differential thermal expansion

UG-23: MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE STRESS VALUES

The Designer shall utilize Section II, Part D, and Sub-part 1 for getting the values of maximum
allowable tensile stress meant for different materials. For material identified as meeting more
than one material specification and/or grade, the maximum allowable tensile stress value for
either material specification and/or grade may be used provided all requirements and limitations
for the material specification and grade are met for the maximum allowable tensile stress value
chosen.

S.N
. Table No Title

CS & LAS (Stress Values in Sec II Part D, Sub-part 1, Table 1A & Table 3
1. UCS-23 respectively.
2. UNF 23.1 Nonferrous metals (Stress Values in Sec II Part D, Sub-part 1, Table 3 and
thru UNF Table 1B).
 23.5
HAS (Stress Values in Sec II Part D, Sub-part 1, Table 3 and Table 1A or
3. UHA-23 1B).
4. UCI-23 Max Allowed Tensile Stress for CI.
5. UCD-23 Max Allowed Tensile Stress for Cast Ductile Iron.
S.N
. Table No. Title

Heat Treatment Enhanced Ferritic Steels (Sec II Part D, Subpart1, Table

6. UHT-23 1A).
Max Allowed Tensile Stress for 5%, 8% and 9% Ni Steels and 5083-0 Al
7. ULT-23 alloy below -196 Degree C temp for welded and non-welded construction.
 

Designer in designing cylindrical shells or tubes using welded or non-welded product form shall
choose the maximum allowable compressive stress values in longitudinal direction which are
subjected to loadings that produce compression in longitudinal direction of the shell or tube be
the least of the following:

(1) Max.allowable tensile stress permitted as per code;

(2) Value of B as determined below:

E = modulus of elasticity of material at design temperature.

R = outside radius of cylindrical shell or tube

0 

t = the minimum required thickness of the cylindrical shell or tube

The joint efficiency for butt-welded joints shall be taken as unity.

The value of B shall be determined as follows:

Step 1: Using the value of R  and t, calculate factor “A” from the below equation:
0

Step 2: Enter material chart in Section II Part D Sub-part 3.

Step 3: If A to the right of the scale (material/temperature line) than extend appropriate
temperature line horizontally to right and read value of B.

Step 4: If the value of A of left of the scale (material/temperature line) calculate B as follows:

(For more ways to calculate the value of B refer ASME SEC VIII DIV I)
UG-24: CASTINGS:
Quality Factor: A factor not to exceed 80% shall be applied to static castings that are examined
in accordance with the minimum requirements of the material specification, in addition all the
surfaces of centrifugal castings shall be machined after heat treatment to a finish not coarser than
6.3 micro m, arithmetic average deviation, and a factor not exceeding 85% shall be applied.
For nonferrous and ductile cast iron materials, the factor shall be taken from code.

For carbon, low alloy, or high alloy steels, higher quality factors may be applied if in addition to
the minimum requirements mentioned in the first point above.

For other additional requirements (Vessels to be used in Lethal Service) refer code.

Identification and Marking: Each casting to which a quality factor greater than 80% is applied
shall be marked with the name, trademark, or other traceable identification of the manufacturer
and the casting identification, including the casting quality factor and the material designation.

UG-25: CORROSION
Pressure equipment’s and its parts in which material thickness is reduced by rusting, wearing
away, or by mechanical scratch shall be considered by designer so that the equipment perform as
required for the period of time to which it was designed by the following two ways:

Utilizing the data available for the corrosion rate thereby increasing the thickness over those for
which pressure equipment was designed.

Utilizing other methods such as painting, cathodic protection, hard facing, corrosion resistant
overlays etc.…

Rate of attack (Corrosion) may be different for different parts of the pressure equipment’s and
accordingly the allowance shall be added.

Indicative Hole: These holes can be used to provide the information that the original design
thickness may have reduced to the alarming levels. They shall not be used in the pressure
equipment’s meant for lethal service.

Drain passage: Pressure equipment’s undergoing rusting should have drain passage at the lowest
point practicable in the pressure equipment; or a pipe may be used extending inward from any
other location to within 6 mm of the lowest point.

UG-26: LININGS

The wall thickness only shall be considered for strength calculation disregarding the rust resistant
and wear resistant linings.
 UG-27: THICKNESS OF SHELL UNDER INTERNAL PRESSURE:
Circumferential Stress (Longitudinal Joints): When the thickness does not exceed one-half of
the inside radius, or P does not exceed 0.385SE, the following formulas shall apply:

Longitudinal Stress (Circumferential Joints): When the thickness does not exceed one-half of
the inside radius, or P does not exceed 1.25SE, the following formulas shall apply:

Spherical Shells: When the thickness of the shell of a wholly spherical vessel does not exceed
0.356R,or P does not exceed 0.665SE, the following formulas shall apply:

Where:

 E = joint efficiency for, or the efficiency of, appropriate joint in cylindrical or

spherical shells, or the efficiency of ligaments between openings, whichever is less. For
welded vessels, use the efficiency specified in UW-12. For ligaments between openings, use
the efficiency calculated by the rules given in UG-53.
 P = internal design pressure (see UG-21)
 R =inside radius of the shell course under consideration,
 S = maximum allowable stress value (see UG-23 and the stress limitations specified
in UG-24)
 t = minimum required thickness of shell

UG-28: THICKNESS OF SHELL UNDER EXTERNAL PRESSURE:

For further details, refer code.

UG-29: STIFFINING RINGS FOR CYLINDRICAL SHELLS UNDER EXTERNAL PRESSURE

The available moment of inertia of a circumferential stiffening ring shall be not less than that
determined by one of the following two formulas;

Where:
I = available moment of inertia of the stiffening ring cross section about its neutral axis parallel to
the axis of the shell
Is= required moment of inertia of the stiffening ring cross section about its neutral axis parallel to
the axis of the shell
I’ = available moment of inertia of combined ring-shell cross section about its neutral axis
parallel to the axis of the shell.
I’s= required moment of inertia of the combined ring- shell cross section about its neutral axis
parallel to the axis of the shell.
UG-30: ATTACHMENT OF STIFFINING RING
Refer code for details
UG-31: TUBES AND PIPES WHEN USED AS TUBES OR SHELLS

Refer UG-27 and additionally the thickness as determined in UG-27 shall be increased when
necessary to meet the following requirements:

(1) Additional wall thickness should be provided when corrosion, erosion, or wear due to
cleaning operations is expected.

(2) Where ends are threaded, additional wall thickness is to be provided in the amount of (20/n
mm) [Where n equals the number of threads per 25.4 mm]

UG-32: FORMED HEADS, AND SECTIONS, PRESSURE ON CONCAVE SIDE

Ellipsoidal Heads with ts/L ≥ 0.002: The required thickness of a dished head of semi ellipsoidal
form, in which half the minor axis (inside depth of the head minus the skirt) equals one-fourth of
the inside diameter of the head skirt, shall be determined by;
Torispherical Heads with ts/L ≥ 0.002: The required thickness of a tori spherical head for the
case in which the knuckle radius is 6% of the inside crown radius and the inside crown radius
equals the outside diameter of the skirt shall be determined by;

Hemispherical Heads: When the thickness of a hemispherical head does not exceed 0.356L, or P
does not exceed 0.665SE, the following formulas shall apply;

Conical Heads and Sections (Without Transition Knuckle): The required thickness of conical
heads or conical shell sections that have a half apex-angle a not greater than 30 deg shall be
determined by;
Where,

D = inside diameter of the head skirt; or inside length of the major axis of an ellipsoidal head; or
inside diameter of a conical head at the point under consideration,

Measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis

Di = inside diameter of the conical portion of a tori conical head at its point of tangency to the
knuckle, measured perpendicular to the axis of the cone = D – 2r (1 – cos a)

E = lowest efficiency of any joint in the head; for hemispherical heads this includes head-to-shell
joint; for welded vessels, use the efficiency specified in UW-12

L = inside spherical or crown radius. The value of L for ellipsoidal heads shall be obtained from
Table UG-37.

P = internal design pressure (see UG-21)

r = inside knuckle radius

S = maximum allowable stress value in tension as given in the tables referenced in UG-23, except
as limited in UG-24 and (d) below.

t = minimum required thickness of head after forming

ts= minimum specified thickness of head after forming. (mm). ts shall be > = t

a = one-half of the included (apex) angle of the cone at the centerline of the head

UG-33: FORMED HEADS, AND SECTIONS, PRESSURE ON CONVEX SIDE

Refer code for details.

UG-34: UNSTAYED FLAT HEAD AND COVERS

Refer code for details.
 UG-35: OTHER TYPES OF CLOSURES:
The names will be mentioned only, these are
 UG -35.1 Dished Covers
 UG-35.2 Quick -Actuating closures
 UG35.3 Quick-Opening closures

This article will deal with the general requirements preceding from UG-36 onwards.

Also note that the design calculation won’t be dealt within details and the readers are advised to
refer the code for their specific type of vessel design.

Shape of opening: It can be cylindrical or conical in shells and be elliptical, circular or obround
in heads.
Note: when the opening is other than as mentioned above the part of the vessel shall be subjected
to a proof hydrostatic test in order to ascertain the safety of the pressure vessel.

Size of the opening:

 For vessels 1520 mm inside diameter and less, one- half the vessel diameter, but not
to exceed 510 mm;
 For vessels over 1520 mm inside diameter, one-third the vessel diameter, but not to
exceed 1020 mm.
 For an opening in an end closure, which is larger than one-half the inside diameter of
the shell, one of the following alternatives to reinforcement may also be used:

Strength and design of finished opening: Will discuss the matter related to welding only;
 Welded, brazed, and flued connections meeting the applicable rules and with a
finished opening not larger than: 89 mm diameter —in vessel shells or heads with a required
minimum thickness of 10 mm or less;
 60 mm diameter —in vessel shells or heads over a required minimum thickness of 10
mm;
 Openings through Welded Joints. Additional provisions governing openings through
welded joints are given in UW-14.
As an opening (nozzle, manway etc.) is cut in pressure equipment’s the load normally carried out
by the metal removed must be carried out by the wall adjacent to the opening this added load (of
the material removed) increases the stress adjacent to the opening and hence excess thickness (in
shell/ nozzle) needs to be provided in form of reinforcement to carry the additional load.

Figure shows stress distribution in a plate with circular opening. From above figure it is clear that
the stress at the edge of the circular hole is 2.5 times the design stress and hence the area (in
circumference) require reinforcement to avoid failure. For detailed calculation refer code.

UG- 38: FLUED OPENING IN SHELLS & FORMED HEADS

The minimum depth of flange exceeding 150 mm in any inside dimension, when not stayed by an
attached pipe or flue, shall equal 3tr or tr+ 75 mm, whichever is less, where tr is the required shell
or head thickness.

There is no minimum depth of flange requirement for flued out openings. For others openings
refer code.

UG-39: REINFORCEMENT REQUIRED FOR OPENINGS IN FLAT HEADS

Single opening: When the opening does not exceed 0.5 times the Head dia, the total cross
sectional area of reinforcement required in the plane under consideration shall be determined
from below formulae:
 Where;

 d= finished dia/dimensions
 t= specified vessel wall thickness
 tn= nozzle wall thickness
 fr1= allowable stress in nozzle/allowable stress in vessel
Multiple openings: With dia equal to or less than 0.5 times the head diameter, and no pair with
an average dia greater than 0.25 times the head dia may be reinforced as a single opening using
the above mentioned formulae.
When spacing between any pair of openings is less than 2 times but equal to or greater than 1.25
times the average diameter of the pair, the required reinforcement for each opening in the pair, as
determined by above, shall be summed together and then distributed such that half of the sum is
located between the two openings.

Spacing’s of less than 1.25 times the average diameter of adjacent openings shall be treated by
rules of U-2(g).

For other types refer code.

UG-40: LIMITS OF REINFORCEMENT

The limits of reinforcement, measured parallel to the vessel wall, shall be at a distance, on each
side of the axis of the opening, equal to the greater of the following:

1. D (Dia of finished opening).

2. Ri (inside radius) + tv (vessel thk)+ tn (nozzle thk).
The limits of reinforcement, measured normal to the vessel wall, shall conform to the contour of
the surface at a distance from each surface equal to the smaller of the following:

1. 2.5*tv (vessel thk).

2. 2.5*tn (nozzle thk) + te(as per UG-40).
 For other details refer code.
UG-41: STRENGTH OF REINFORCEMENT
 Refer code for details
UG-42: REINFORCEMENT OF MULTIPLE OPENING
 Refer code for details
UG-43: METHODS OF ATTACHMENT OF PIPE AND NOZZLE NECKS TO VESSEL
WALLS
 They can be welded, brazed, studded, threaded, expanded
UG-44: FLANGE AND PIPE FITTINGS
 Various standards are ASME B 16.1, ASME B 16.5, ASME B 16.9, ASME B 16.11,
ASME B 16.15, ASME B 16.20, ASME B 16.24, ASME B 16.42, and ASME B 16.47.
 For other details refer code.
UG-45: NOZZLE NECK THICKNESS
 For access opening

 For other nozzles

 Where;

 t -45= minimum wall thickness of nozzle necks

UG

 ta= minimum neck thickness required for internal & external pressure
 t = minimum neck thickness required for internal pressure (+ Corrosion allowance)
b1

 t = minimum neck thickness required for external pressure (+ Corrosion allowance)

b2

 t = thickness given in below table (+Corrosion allowance)

b3

Nozzle minimum thickness requirements:

Sr No. Nominal Size Minimum Wall Thickness (mm)
1. DN 6 1.51
2. DN 8 1.96
3. DN 10 2.02
4. DN 15 2.42
5. DN 20 2.51
6. DN 25 2.96
7. DN 32 3.12
8. DN 40 3.22
9. DN 50 3.42
10. DN 65 4.52
11. DN 80 4.80
12. DN 90 5.02
13. DN 100 5.27
14. DN 125 5.73
15. DN 150 6.22
16. DN 200 7.16
17. DN 250 8.11
18. DN 300 8.34
  

UG-46: INSPECTION OPENINGS

 For further details, refer code.
UG-47: BRACED AND STRAYED SURFACES
 For Further details, refer code
UG-48-49-50: STAY BOLTS, ITS LOCATION & ITS DIMENSIONS
 Refer code for details
UG-53: LIGAMENTS

 Pitch of tube holes in every row equal use below

formulae; 
 Pitch of tube holes in one of the row is unequal use below formulae;

Where;

 d= dia of tube holes

 n= no of pitch holes in length p1

 p= longitudinal pitch of the tube holes

 p = unit length of ligament
1

Refer code for other details.

UG-54-55: SUPPORTS, LUGS FOR PLATFORMS, LADDERS AND OTHER

ATTACHMENTS TO VESSEL WALLS
 Refer code for details
UG-75: GENERAL FABRICATION
 The exact necessities of ULW-75 agreed in the appropriate parts of subsection B and
C shall be met.
UG-76: CUTTING PLATES & OTHER STOCKS
 For cutting of plates & other stocks machining, shearing, grinding, oxygen or arc
cutting can be used.
 All Slag and discoloration formed on surface by above means to be removed before
fabrication.
 Inside edges shall be rounded/chamfered.
UG-77: MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION
 Original marking on parts, traceability of parts to the original marking shall be
maintained by the vessel manufacturer by suitable means.
 Transfer of marking shall be before cutting and may or may not be witnessed by the
inspector.

 For other details refer code.

UG-78: REPAIR OF DEFECTS IN MATERIALS
 Inspector concurrence shall be obtained beforehand.
UG-79: FORMING PRESSURE PARTS 
 Limits of cold working are given in UCS-79(d), UNF-79(a), UHA-44(a), and UHT-79
(a) for various materials.
 In order to avoid flat spots along the completed joints in a cylindrical shell proper
rolling or forming shall be performed before fabrication.
 When parts of vessel are cold formed by vendors, the certification for the part shall
mention weather or not the part was heat treated.
 The following conditions shall be met for accepting reduction in part thickness due to
forming:
1. Inspector check the part compliance from UW-35(a) thru UW-35(d) prior to forming.
2. Forming shall not reduce the part thickness below design requirements.
3. Max Reduction =1mm or 10% of nominal thk of adjoining surface, whichever is less.
 

Table UG-79-1
Equations for Calculating Forming Strains

Sr No Type of Part Being Formed Forming Strains

1. Cylinders formed from plate Ƹf =(50*t/Rf)*(1-Rf/R0)
2. For double curvature (eg, heads) Ƹf =(75*t/Rf)*( 1-Rf/R0)
3. Tube and pipe bends Ƹf =100*r/R
 

Where;
 Ƹf = extreme fiber elongation
 Rf= final mean radius
 R0= original mean radius
 R= nominal bending radius to centerline of pipe

This article i.e. Part-4 will deal with the general requirements preceding from UG-80 onwards.

Subsection A

UG- 80: Ovality tolerances for cylindrical, conical and spherical pressure part shells

For internal pressure

the following formula shall be used:

 External pressure shall meet the requirements as mentioned above for internal pressure and
 Must meet the requirements of figure UG-80.1. For more details, Please refer code.
(Please note that the design calculation won’t be dealt in detail, and the readers are advised to
refer the code for their specific type of vessel design.)

UG- 81: FORMED HEAD TOLERANCES

Inner surface out of acceptance (specified shape) is 1.25% of D for tori spherical, tori conical,
hemispherical or elliptical head and for acceptance inside the specified shape is 0.625% of D
(Nominal inside Dia of pressure equipment). For more details, Pleasse refer code.

UG- 82: LUNGS AND FITTING ATTACHMENTS

All the internal and external attachment on the pressure equipment shall be so built-in so as to
conform to the curvature of the shell or head to which they are attached.
 When a pressure parts (such as nozzle) and non-pressure parts (ex lugs) which are directly over
another pressure part (Shell/head circ or long seam) then the pressure part (nozzle/lugs) seams
shall be ground flush.

For others openings, Please refer code.

UG-83: HOLES FOR SCREW STAYS

For details, Please refer code.

UG-84: CHARPY IMPACT TESTS

 This test is performed to check the brittleness (of a normally ductile material) tendency of
material at low temperatures.
 They are performed for the weldment (Weld & HAZ) and for the parent material.
 The procedure followed is generally as mentioned in SA 370 (ASME SEC II Part A).
 Suppose the Minimum Design Metal Temperature (MDMT) of the pressure equipment is
  -10°C so in no case the impact test temperature be -9°C but it can be less than -10°C (Say for
example -11°C).
 3 samples shall constitute a set and as far as practicable the size of the specimen shall be
10x10x55 (mm) for plates of 11 mm thick or more and if thickness is less than 11 mm refer code for
the specific dimensions and reduction in test temperature with a corresponding reduction in impact
absorbed energy values from SA 370.
 Impact test are not required if the max width along the notch of the specimen is less than 2.5
mm.

Charpy V Notch 2 mm Impact test specimen size: 55(L) x 10(W) x 10(H)

 For detailed dimensions refer code the above figure is for general understanding only.
 Retest: Say for example the average value required is 27 J and the single value permissible for
single specimen is 20 J so  a retest ( additional set) is required under following conditions:
1. Say the values is 22 J, 26 J and 40 J so the average is 29.3 J so two values are below the
average hence a set shall be retested from the remaining test coupon with all the conditions same as
for the original test.
2. Say the values are 19 J, 30 J and 40 J so the average workout to be 29.6 J in which only one
value is below single specimen minimum of 20 J and hence a set shall be retested from the remaining
test coupon with all the conditions same as for the original test.
 For above two conditions each and every retested sample from the set shall have absorbed
impact energy equal to or greater than 27 J.
 A separate article will cover the detailed impact test location (with sketch for each case such
as single process, multiple process and different group no) for procedure qualification test coupon
along with production test coupon.
UG-85: HEAT TREATMENT
If the heat treatment as per material specification (ex. plate) are not accomplished by the mill than
the same may be accomplished under the control of the manufacturer (of pressure equipment) and
shall be documented as mentioned in the code.

INSPECTION & TESTS

UG-90: General
 The pressure equipment’s which require U or UM designator shall conform to the general
rules of inspection and tests in addition to the necessities of subsection B & C of this code.
 The manufacturer holding U or UM designator certification has the following responsibilities
to fulfill the requirements:
 Certification authorized by ASME.
 The design calculations for pressure equipment and its parts along with obtaining of partial
data reports.
 Material used in construction of pressure equipment shall be duly recognized.
 Examination (say Combination of UT, RT & LPT) to ascertain the thickness and to detect any
defects and maintain traceability.
 Documentation for the test carried out (ex: impact prod test).
 Access for inspection to the inspector, prior approval of base metal repair procedures.
 Availability of WPS, PQR, WPQ, WOPQ, QAP, ITP, and inspection test reports (set up,
dimensional etc…) to the inspector and so on and so forth.
 Please refer code for other details.
UG-91: THE INSPECTOR
 In this code inspector will always means an authorized inspector (abbreviated as AI) and will
be employed by ASME Recognized agency like Lloyd’s, TUV, HSB etc…
 Inspectors may be employed by the employer (Pressure equipment manufacturer) if the
pressure equipment’s manufactured by the manufacturer is for his own use only, otherwise inspectors
(AI) shall not be employed by pressure equipment manufacturer.
 Inspector shall also monitor quality management system of the manufacturer.
UG-92: ACCESS FOR INSPECTION
 Without any hindrance the inspector shall be given access to the pressure equipment by the
manufacturer weather at site or shop.
 Inspector shall be notified of the progress of the pressure equipment and for any inspection
shall be informed by the manufacturer well in advance.
UG-93: INSPECTION OF MATERIALS
 Material Test Reports (MTR) from material manufacture shall be available for evaluation to
inspector.
 It shall (MTR) shall document all the tests as required by the material specification and if
some of the test are to be made latter proper documentation of the same to be kept.
 For more details refer code.
UG-94: MARKING ON MATERIALS
 Inspector to check the marking on the parts of pressure equipment’s
UG-95: EXAMINATION OF SURFACES DURING FABRICATION
 To guarantee the material is free of any unwanted discontinuity and defects the examination
of the surfaces shall be made.
UG-96: DIMENSIONAL CHECK OF COMPONENTS PARTS
 Manufacturer shall conform that the parts of pressure equipment’s conform to the shape
(within tolerances) and the thickness of the components after forming.
 Fitness with vessel curvature needs to be determined by the manufacturers for various
attachments (Such as Nozzles etc…)
 The Dimensional conformance to the code shall be determined by the inspector.
UG-97: INSPECTION DURING FABRICATION
 Before making a closing seam in the job a complete inspection of the pressure equipment
shall be performed.
 Before hydrostatic or pneumatic test inspector shall inspect the external surfaces of the
pressure equipment’s.
UG-98: MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WORKING PRESSURE
 Please Refer code for details
UG-99: STANDARD HYDROSTATIC TEST
 Hydrostatic pressure = 1.3 * maximum allowable working pressure
(MAWP)
 Please refer code for details
(To learn more about Hydrotest, Please click here.)
UG-100: PNEUMATIC TEST
 Pneumatic test can be used instead of hydrostatic test when the design of the pressure
equipment make it unsafe to fill it with water, the pressure equipment cannot be dried easily.
 Pneumatic test pressure = 1.1* maximum allowable working pressure* lowest stress ratio
 Where Stress Ratio =  Stress value at test temperature/Stress value at design temperature
 To minimize the risk of inelastic fracture the temperature during the test shall be equal to or
greater than 17°C above the minimum design metal temperature.
 The increment in pressure shall be as mentioned in the code.
 For rest of the details refer code.
UG-101: PROOF TESTS TO ESTABLISH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WORKING
PRESSURE
For details refer the code.

UG-102: TEST GAUGES
For details refer the code.

UG-103: NON DESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION

Magnetic Particle Inspection and Liquid Penetrant testing where ever referenced shall be
performed as per ASME SEC V.

MARKING AND REPORTS

UG-115-116: GENERAL, REQUIRED MARKING
Refer code for details

UG-117: CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION AND CERTIFICATION MARKS

Refer code for details

UG-118: METHODS OF MARKING

 By utilizing name plate, stamping on to the pressure equipment, electrochemically etched.
 For more details refer code.
UG-119: NAME PLATES
 Refer code for details

UG-120: DATA REPORTS

Refer code for details

OVER PRESSURE PROTECTION

 UG-125:  GENERAL
 UG-126:  PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES
 UG-127: NON RECLOSING PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
 UG-128: LIQUID PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES
 UG-129: MARKING
 UG-130: CERTIFICATION MARK
 UG-131: CERTIFICATION OF CAPACITY OF PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
 UG-132: CERTIFICATION OF CAPACITY OF PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES IN
COMBINATION WITH NOR RECLOSING PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
 UG-133: DETERMINATION OF PRESSURE- RELIEVING REQUIREMENTS
 UG-134: PRESSURE SETTING AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
 UG-135: INSTALLATION
 UG-136: MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES
 UG-137: MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR RUPTURE DISK DEVICES
 UG-138: MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR PIN DEVICES
 UG-140: OVER PRESSURE PROTECTION BY SYSTEM DESIGN
 Refer code for Details