Structural Integrity: Pressure Vessel Codes & NDE Standards

Pressure vessel and piping drawings labeled with NDE and weld quals.

Structural Integrity: Pressure Vessel Codes & NDE Standards

Location

MITC 1022

Duration

Online / In-class

5 Days

Contact with our Team

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Sector:

Industrial & Energy – Mechanical Systems

Technical Focus Area:

Operational Excellence & Performance (OPEX)

About the Course

Pressure equipment and piping contain high energy and hazardous fluids; codes transform lessons from industry into enforceable rules. This course explains the scope, structure, and intent of the ASME BPVC and B31 Codes—what they cover, what they do not, and how to select and apply the right section for a given service. You’ll link fundamental stress concepts to code formulas, allowable stresses, joint efficiency, corrosion allowances, and external pressure stability.
Hands-on modules walk through materials (ASME II), NDE (ASME V), and welding/brazing qualifications (ASME IX), then focus on BPVC Section VIII Div. 1 design/fabrication/inspection and B31.3 process piping design integrity, flexibility, and overpressure protection. Referenced standards (B16, API 510/570, PCC-1/2/3) are integrated to show the full mechanical integrity picture and due-diligence pathway from design through operation.

Learning Milestones

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

- Determine when and how to apply ASME BPVC vs. B31 piping codes to specific services.
- Interpret key code terminology, scope boundaries, and responsibilities for code selection.
- Use ASME Section II for materials and allowable stresses with due consideration of temperature and product form.
- Plan and evaluate NDE per ASME Section V, including method selection, personnel qualification, and acceptance.
- Prepare/review WPS/PQR/WPQR to ASME Section IX and understand welder/brazer qualifications.
- Design pressure vessels to BPVC Section VIII Div. 1 (internal/external pressure, openings, flanges, supports).
- Apply B31.3 piping rules for pressure integrity, flexibility/expansion, supports, and overpressure protection.
- Reference and employ complementary standards (ASME B16, API 510/570, PCC-1/2/3) in mechanical integrity programs.
- Document due diligence and code compliance from design through fabrication, testing, operation, and repair.

Professional Audience

- Mechanical & Process Engineers in refineries, petrochemical, and process plants
- Inspectors and Maintenance Personnel responsible for pressure equipment integrity
- Project & Consulting Engineers
- Technical Professionals involved in design, fabrication, and testing
- Reliability/Mechanical Integrity Engineers and Plant Engineering staff

Modular Syllabus

Foundations—Pressure Equipment, Codes & Standards Landscape

- Engineering principles: design conditions, specs, primary stresses (hoop/longitudinal), strains

- Why codes exist; consensus development and limitations (codes ≠ design handbooks)

- Code bodies & references: ASME, ASTM, ISO, API, ANSI, EN

- BPVC overview; B31 overview (B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, B31.8) and code selection responsibility

- Materials of construction; maximum allowable stresses; brittle-fracture considerations

- Post-construction & integrity: API 510/570; ASME PCC-1/2/3 and bolted joint guidance

- **Activity/Workshop:** Map a plant equipment list to applicable ASME/B31 sections and references

Service Sections—Materials, NDE & Welding/Brazing Qualifications

- ASME Section II: Part A (ferrous), B (nonferrous), C (filler metals), D (properties)

- ASME Section V: method selection (RT, UT, PT, MT, VT, leak testing), scope/structure & reporting

- Personnel qualification, acceptance criteria, and Authorized Inspector interfaces

- ASME Section IX: WPS/PQR/WPQR essentials; variables, ranges, examples, documentation

- Repair considerations and links to PCC-2; traceability & data packages

- Common pitfalls in material substitution, heat treatment, and impact testing requirements

- **Exercise:** Review a sample WPS/PQR and NDE plan for code compliance and coverage

BPVC Section VIII Div. 1—Design, Fabrication, Inspection & Testing

- Scope & structure (Subsections A/B/C; mandatory vs. nonmandatory appendices)

- Internal pressure design; joint efficiency; corrosion allowance & minimum thickness

- External pressure, instability, and UG-28 methodology concepts

- Openings, nozzles, reinforcement; flanges, gaskets, and external loads on nozzles

- Materials, acceptable weld details, PWHT requirements; nameplates & stamping

- Fabrication, inspection, hydrotest/pneumatic test, and documentation

- **Case Study:** Perform a thin-shell calculation set (internal/external) and check nozzle reinforcement per Div. 1

ASME B31—Scope, Overpressure Protection & Piping Design Fundamentals

- B31 family overview: B31.1 (power), B31.3 (process), B31.4 (liquid pipelines), B31.8 (gas transmission)

- Selecting the applicable piping code; boundaries with BPVC and jurisdictional rules

- Pressure integrity: thickness calculations for internal/external pressure, corrosion/allowance

- Mechanical integrity: static/dynamic loads, occasional loads, supports/restraints

- Overpressure protection philosophies and device selection basics

- Components per B16: flanges/valves/fittings—specification and rating context

- **Group Activity:** Build a line class snapshot linking code rules, materials, ratings, and test requirements

B31.3 Process Piping—Flexibility, Stress Analysis & Practical Application

- Expansion/flexibility evaluation; displacement stresses and allowable limits

- Supports, spring hangers, restraints, and nozzle load management

- Simplified flexibility screening vs. computer-assisted analysis (overview)

- Piping stress inputs/outputs; load cases; thermal, occasional, and seismic/wind

- Fabrication, examination, leak testing, and documentation under B31.3

- Integrating API 570 inspection and RBI with B31.3 systems in operation

- **Capstone:** Conduct a mini flexibility assessment and outline an overpressure & test plan for a new line

Course Dates & Prices

Location	Starting Date	Price
Dubai (UAE)	29/12/2025	2999 $
Online	05/01/2026	2299 $
Online	05/01/2026	2299 $
Dubai (UAE)	12/01/2026	2749 $
Dubai (UAE)	12/01/2026	2999$
Cairo (Egypt)	19/01/2026	2749 $
Online	19/01/2026	2299 $
Online	26/01/2026	2299 $
Muscat (Oman)	29/01/2026	2999 $
Dubai (UAE)	02/02/2026	2999 $
Muscat (Oman)	16/02/2026	2999 $
Online	16/02/2026	2299 $
Online	23/02/2026	2299 $
Dubai (UAE)	23/02/2026	2999 $
Online	02/03/2026	2299 $
Online	09/03/2026	2299 $
London (UK)	09/03/2026	3499 $
Dubai (UAE)	09/03/2026	2999$
Online	16/03/2026	2299 $
Istanbul (Turkey)	16/03/2026	2999 $
Dubai (UAE)	16/03/2026	2999 $
Online	23/03/2026	2299 $
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)	23/03/2026	4099$
Doha (Qatar)	23/03/2026	2999 $
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)	30/03/2026	4199$
Online	30/03/2026	2299 $
Dubai (UAE)	06/04/2026	2999$
Istanbul	06/04/2026	2749 $
Online	06/04/2026	2299 $
Dubai (UAE)	13/04/2026	2999$
Cairo (Egypt)	13/04/2026	2749 $
Online	20/04/2026	2299 $
Dubai (UAE)	27/04/2026	2999$
Online	27/04/2026	2299 $
London (UK)	27/04/2026	3499 $
Istanbul (Turkey)	04/05/2026	2749 $
Dubai (UAE)	04/05/2026	2999$
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)	11/05/2026	4099$
Online	11/05/2026	2299 $
Doha (Qatar)	11/05/2026	2999 $

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