LANL Engineering Standards Manual STD-342-100 Chapter 17-Pressure Safety

Section REF References Rev. 0, 9/17/2014

REF-3 ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

APPENDIX M – MITERED JOINTS

The equations provided below may be used to determine the maximum allowable internal pressure for mitered
bends using the methods prescribed by ASME B31.3 paragraph 304.2.3. The designer performing these
calculations should review the B31.3 Code to ensure he understands all the required details.
NOTE: Mathcad shells for performing these calculations for maximum internal pressure in single and multiple miter
bends are available from the ESM Mechanical POC.

Step 1
Determine the total mechanical allowance (c) including the erosion and corrosion for the system in inches.
Step 2
Determine the material allowable stress (S) at the design temperature from Appendix A, B31.3 in psi.
Step 3
Determine the joint quality factor (E) from Appendix A, B31.3. For seamless pipe, E=1.
Step 4
Determine the outer diameter (D) and nominal wall thickness (Tnom) of the mitered pipe.
Step 5
Determine the geometric design configuration data: R1 is the radius of curvature measured to the centerline of the
pipe, θ is the angle of the mitered cut in degrees. See B31.3 Figure 304.2.3 for nomenclature. R1 shall not be less
than that calculated be equation M-1.
A D
R1 = + (M-1)
tan θ 2
where A has the following empirical values:

(T-c), in. A
≤0.5 1.0
0.5<(T-c)<0.88 2(T-c)
≥0.88 [2(T-c)/3]+1.17

Step 6
Calculate the minimum pipe wall thickness (nominal thickness minus mill tolerance).
T=0.875Tnom (M-2)
Step 7
Calculate the mean radius of the pipe using the nominal wall thickness.
D − Tnom
r2 = (M-3)
2
Step 8
The design pressure for the mitered bend is determined using the equations provided below.
a) For multiple mitered bend with θ ≤ 22.5 °, Pm is the minimum of the equations M-4 and M-5:

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LANL Engineering Standards Manual STD-342-100 Chapter 17-Pressure Safety
Section REF References Rev. 0, 9/17/2014
REF-3 ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

SE(T − c)  T−c 

Pm = (M-4)
r2  (T − c) + 0.643 tanθ r (T − c) 
 2 
SE(T − c)  R 1 − r2 
Pm =   (M-5)
r2  R 1 − 0.5 r2 
b) For single mitered bends with θ ≤ 22.5 °, use equation M-4. Otherwise, Pm is given by
equation M-6.

SE(T − c)  T−c 

Pm = (M-6)
r2  (T − c) + 1.25 tanθ r (T − c) 
 2 

Step 9
The miter pipe wall thickness (T) shall extend not less than a distance (M) from the insides crotch of the end miter
welds. See B31.3 Figure 304.2.3. The length of the taper at the end of the miter pipe may be included in the
distance (M). The required value of (M) is the larger of M-7 and M-8.

M = 2.5(r2 T) 0.5 (M-7)

M = tanθ (R 1 − r2 ) (M-8)

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LANL Engineering Standards Manual STD-342-100 Chapter 17-Pressure Safety
Section REF References Rev. 0, 9/17/2014
REF-3 ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

APPENDIX N – BRANCH CONNECTIONS

The equations provided below may be used to determine the reinforcement requirements for a set-on branch
connection using the methods prescribed by ASME B31.3 paragraph 304.3.3. The acceptable details that can be
used with these equations are shown in figures 328.5.4D(1), (3), and (5). The equations below are based on no
reinforcement pad at the branch connections. The equations are used to determine the requirements for additional
reinforcement. The designer performing these calculations should review the B31.3 Code to ensure he
understands all the required details. These equations are only applicable when the branch opening in the header
pipe is a projection of the branch pipe inside diameter (i.e. the branch pipe is set on the header pipe).

NOTE: A Mathcad shell for calculations of reinforcement requirements for weld branch connections is available
from the ESM Mechanical POC.

Step 1
Determine the total mechanical allowance (c) including the erosion and corrosion for the system in inches and the
design pressure in psi.
Step 2
Determine the material allowable stress (S) at the design temperature from Appendix A, B31.3 in psi.
Step 3
Determine the joint quality factors (Eh and Eb) for the header and branch pipes from Appendix A, B31.3. For
seamless pipe, E=1.
Step 4
Determine the outer diameter (Dh and Db) and nominal wall thickness (Tnom,h and Tnom,b) of the header and branch
pipe.
Step 5
Determine the smaller angle (β) between the branch and the header. See Figure 304.3.3 of B31.3.
Step 6
Calculate the required pressure design wall thicknesses using the equations N-1 and N-2.
PD h
th = (N-1)
2(SE + 0.4P)
PD b
tb = (N-2)
2(SE + 0.4P)
Step 7
Calculate the required reinforcement area (A1)
A1= thd1(2-sin β) (N-3)
where d1= [Db-2(Tb-c)]/ sin β (N-4)
Tb= 0.875Tnom,b (N-5)

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LANL Engineering Standards Manual STD-342-100 Chapter 17-Pressure Safety
Section REF References Rev. 0, 9/17/2014
REF-3 ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

Step 8
Calculate the available reinforcement area (A2) and (A3)
A2=(2d2-d1)(Th-th-c) (N-6)
A3=2L4(Tb-tb-c)/sin β (N-7)
where d2=max[d1,(Tb-c)+(Th-c)+d1/2] (N-8)
Th=0.875Tnom,h (N-9)
L4=min[2.5(Th-c), 2.5(Tb-c)] (N-10)
Step 9
Calculate the available reinforcement area (A4). Area A4 is the area of other metal provided by welds and properly
attached reinforcement. See B31.3 paragraph 328.5.4 for minimum required weld sizes.
Step 10
Calculate the required reinforcement area (Ar). If Ar is positive, additional reinforcement is required. If Ar is less
than or equal to zero, no additional reinforcement is required.
Ar= A1 – (A2 + A3 + A4) (N-11)

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LANL Engineering Standards Manual STD-342-100 Chapter 17-Pressure Safety
Section REF References Rev. 0, 9/17/2014
REF-3 ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

APPENDIX O - SAFETY CLASS PIPING SYSTEMS

PURPOSE

This appendix provides guidance for application of Code requirements to safety class items.

SCOPE

The information in this appendix applies to all piping and components designated as safety class.

GENERAL

1) New Safety Class (SC) piping shall comply with all the requirements of ASME B31.3 Category M Fluid
Service unless restricted by other fluid service requirements.
2) Modifications and repairs to Safety Class piping shall comply with all the examination and testing
requirements of ASME B31.3 Category M Fluid Service unless restricted by other fluid service
requirements, except as permitted in Appendix P.
3) A sensitive leak test is not required for Safety Class systems unless the fluid service meets the
requirements for a Category M Fluid Service or when imposed by the requirements of the Alternative
Leak Test per B31.3 paragraph 345.1c.
4) When a facility has performed component level classification of piping systems only the specific
components and portion of the system classified as Safety Class are required to meet the Category M
requirements.

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

1) For safety class items, material traceability shall be maintained to the point of installation.

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LANL Engineering Standards Manual STD-342-100 Chapter 17-Pressure Safety
Section REF References Rev. 0, 9/17/2014
REF-3 ASME B31.3 Process Piping Guide

APPENDIX P – REPAIRS, MODIFICATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

PURPOSE

This appendix provides guidance for application of B31.3 requirements to repairs, modifications and maintenance
of operating piping systems.

SCOPE

The information in this appendix applies to all piping systems for which ASME B31.3 applies.

GENERAL

Repairs and modifications to existing piping systems shall follow the requirements of the ASME B31.3 Code for
materials, design, fabrication and examination. At the Design Authority's option, the three alternatives of Section A,
B, or C below are acceptable to address the leak testing of repair and tie-in joints. All repair and modification joints
other than the tie-in joints shall meet all the requirements of the Code. Non-welding maintenance shall follow the
requirements of the ASME B31.3 Code for materials, design and fabrication. The examination and leak testing
requirements for non-welding maintenance shall be as specified by the Design Authority.
1
Table 1 Requirement Matrix
Modification Repair Non-Welding Maintenance
Design B31.3 B31.3 B31.3
Materials B31.3 B31.3 B31.3
Fabrication2 B31.3 B31.3 B31.3
Examination B31.3 B31.3 Design Authority3
Leak Testing B31.3 B31.35 Design Authority4
Notes:
1) This Table applies to all functional classifications (SC, SS, ML-1, ML-2, ML-3, etc.)
2) Fabrication refers to all shop or field fabrication, erection, assembly or disassembly related to new installations, modifications, repairs, or non-
welding maintenance.
3) Unless restricted by other site or divisional requirements, the Design Authority is to determine the type and extent of examination. Performance of
examinations shall be in accordance with site QA requirements.
4) Unless restricted by other site or divisional requirements, the Design Authority is to determine the type and extent of leak testing, if any,
commensurate with the risk (likelihood and consequence) of leakage.
5) Also refer to sections A through C.

A REPAIR AND TIE-IN JOINTS THAT ARE CODE LEAK TESTED

Repair joints and tie-in joints in piping systems that are leak tested to the requirements of ASME
B31.3 paragraph 345 “Testing” shall meet the following requirements.
1) Repair and tie-in joints shall be examined to the requirements of the Code.
413 When the repair joints and tie-in joints are not included in the random selection of joints to be examined,
they shall be treated as a new and separate lot or lots of joints for examination purposes. Examination
percentages of other joints (i.e. shop welds) included in the piping system repair or alteration may not be
used to reduce the examination requirements of repair or tie-in joints.
B REPAIR JOINTS AND TIE-IN JOINTS THAT ARE IN-SERVICE LEAK TESTED

Repair joints and tie-in joints in piping systems that can not be Code tested but can be In- Service
Leak tested to the requirements of paragraph 345.7, shall meet the following requirements. For
repair and tie-in joints that can not be Code tested, the In-Service Leak Test is permitted for
Normal and Category M fluid service.

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