CSA-B51 Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Piping Code PDF

Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers • Chapter 1 OBJECTIVE 6 Describe the scope and general content of the CSA-B51 Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Piping Code for the construction and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels. WHAT IS CSA? The CSA Groups forerunner, the Canadian Engineering Sta...

Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers • Chapter 1 OBJECTIVE 6 Describe the scope and general content of the CSA-B51 Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Piping Code for the construction and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels. WHAT IS CSA? The CSA Groups forerunner, the Canadian Engineering Standards Association (founded in 1919), became the Canadian Standards Association in 1944, and then the CSA Group in 2012. The CSA Group is a nationally and internationally accredited organization that develops standards to enhance public safety and health (through the CSA Group standards development). It is also a testing organization that determines whether products comply with applicable safety, environmental, and operational performance standards (through the CSA Group testing, inspection, and certification). The CSA Group is an Accredited Certification Organization by the Safety Standards Council of Canada and is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory in the U.S The CSA Group standards are produced by committees of volunteers representing different interest groups that will be impacted by the standards. These standards help ensure that products and services meet minimum requirements of safety and quality. The B51 Technical Committee includes the chief inspectors from all Canadian jurisdictions, representatives from boiler and pressure vessel manufacturers, the insurance industry, and other interested parties. The CSA Group standards are not legal documents unless they have been adopted and declared in force by the various jurisdictions. The standards do have requirements that must be met (indicated using the word shall) but this is only if the standard is adopted. Clause 1.5 of Part 1 goes into the use and meaning of the words shall, should, may, and can. Figure 1 shows an excerpt from Alberta's Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation. Other jurisdictions have similar statements in their pertinent regulations. Figure 1 - Codes and Standards in Force Codes and standards 6 The following codes, standards and bodies of rules are declared in force as amended or replaced from time to time as they relate to pressure equipment: (a) the following provisions of the CSA Standard B51 - 14, Boiler, pressure vessel and pressure piping code, published by the CSA Group: (i) Part 1, General requirements for boilers, pressure vessels, and pressure piping, including informative Annex E Inspection of welds in pressure coils exposed to direct radiant heat; (ii) Part 2, High-pressure cylinders for the on-board storage of natureal gas and hydrogen as fuels for automotive vehicles; (iii) Part 3, Compressed natural gas and hydrogen refuelling station pressure piping systems and ground storage vessels; (b) CSA Standard B52 - 13, Mechanical refrigeration code, published by the CSA Group; © Alberta Queen's Printer 2021 3rd Class Edition 3 • Part A2 27 ^ Chapter 1 • Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers CHANGES TO CSA STANDARDS As technology changes and evolves, the CSA Group standards go through an updating process where they are examined to determine if they need to be updated in order to maintain their relevance. The CSA Standard B51: Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping has, as of this writing, gone through 19 updates. Each new edition supersedes the previous edition. As such, it is important to ensure that you are using the correct edition of the standards. Clauses can (and do) get changed or moved, so it is very important that if a reference to a standard or code is used, the year of that standard or code is included. As an example, in the 2009 edition ofCSA-BSl, Part 1, Clause 4.2.7 refers to the registration of safety valves, relief valves, and safety relief valves. In the 2014 edition ofB51, that same clause talks about the registration of fittings. To find the information regarding the registration of safety valves, relief valves, and safety relief valves in the 2014 edition, refer to Clause 4.2.9. These clauses are not the same at all. Between the two editions, two extra sub-sub-clauses were added. Clause 4.2.7 in the 2009 edition became Clause 4.2.9 in the 2014 edition. Note: Standardized Power Engineering exams are administered as per SOPEEC policy. This policy states that examination codes and standards questions are based on the latest code and standard editions in force. It is important to realize that what follows in this chapter is not a substitute for obtaining a copy of the standards and learning how to look up references. Looking up and interpreting codes and standards is almost like learning a new language, and it is only through practice that you will become comfortable looking up information and remembering what can be found in each standard. The focus of this chapter is about looking up references in CSA-B51 and CSA-B52 in order to get used to using these standards. It is recommended that candidates for the Third Class Power Engineers Certificate obtain the complete CSA-B51 and CSA-B52 standards and become completely familiar with them. As was noted earlier, the standard does change from edition to edition. If a specific clause in a standard is referenced in this chapter, you can consult any of the following standards because the clause in question is the same in each: • CSA-B51-09 • CSA-B51-14 CSA STANDARD B51-BOILER, PRESSURE VESSEL, AND PRESSURE PIPING STANDARDS The three main parts ofCSA-BSl include the following: 1. General requirements for boilers, pressure vessels, and pressure piping 2. High-pressure cylinders for the on-board storage of natural gas and hydrogen as fuels for automotive vehicles 3. Compressed natural gas and hydrogen refuelling station pressure piping systems and ground storage vessels Each part has several clauses, sub-clauses, and sub-sub-clauses, and numerous requirements. 28 3rd Class Edition 3 - Part A2 Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers • Chapter 1 Referring to the Standard JVtaking a proper reference to CSA-B51, or any code or standard, is important if someone is to make any sense of it. The reference needs to be very specific. The reference document, the part, the clause, and any sub or sub-sub clauses, all need to be identified. Refer to Figure 2 below. Figure 2 - Parts of a CSA-B51 Reference CSAB51 -07, Part 1, Clause 4 .2.1 Reference document Year Part Clause Sub-clause Sub-sub-clause As an example, definitions are found in Clause 3 of Part 1 of the standard. Suppose you find the following definition of an act in that section: Act— the Acts, regulations, or ordinances governing the design, fabrication, installation, repair, and alteration of boilers, pressure vessels, fittings, and piping. The reference for this definition would be CSA-B51-09, Part 1, Clause 3. Here is a clause from CSA-B51 that explains what needs to be done if a registered design is found to be defective: 4.1.3 If a registered design is subsequently found to be defective in any detail, it shall be revised. The complete reference for this sub-sub clause is CSA-B51-09, Part 1, Clause 4.1.3. Tables can be referenced by adding the table number after the part: CSA B51-09, Part 1, Table 1. Similarly, figure numbers appear as CSA-B51-09, Part 1, Figure 1. The next section of this text refers to several clauses in CSA-B51. Based on the information given, look up the specific reference for each clause and write down the reference in the correct format. CSA-B51 General Requirements This objective will look only at Part 1: General Requirements for Boilers, Pressure Vessels, and Pressure Piping. There are far too many requirements in CSA-B51 to list here, so only some of the highlights will be mentioned. Learners are encouraged to read the entire standard to get a firm grasp of the requirements ofCSA-BSl. Preface The preface gives a breakdown of the three main parts of the standard and lists some of the more notable changes to the previous edition of the standard. 1.Scope The Scope of CSA-B51 applies to all boilers, pressure vessels, pressure piping, and fittings as provided for by the Act. Reference: As provided for by the Act" leads back to the act that made the standard legal. The scope also sets out what is covered by the standard, what is not covered, and the hierarchy of the standard and codes, stating that if there is a variance between a code or standard that is referenced in CSA-B51, the requirements ofCSA-BSl, Part 1 take precedence. Reference: 3rd Class Edition 3 • Part A2 29 ?& Chapter 1 • Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers 2. Reference Publications Here, all the publications (codes, standards, etc.) referenced in the standard are listed. These publications come from various organizations, including, among others, CSA Group, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the American Petroleum Institute (API), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The ASME BPVC is often referred to in this standard. At times, CSA-B51 defers to the ASME code and at other times it is more stringent than ASME. 3. Definitions It is important that everyone has the same understanding when talking about boilers and pressure equipment. The General Requirements section therefore includes important definitions. For example an owner, according to CSA-B51, can be ^person in charge, someone who has care and control, or someone who temporarily exercises the powers and authority of ownership. Reference: 4. General Requirements This clause in Part 1 contains information such as the registration requirements for designs and fittings, welding and brazing qualifications, and quality control programs. Information on CRNs and how provincial designations are assigned can also be found here. Who is responsible for ensuring pressure equipment is operated safely? The General Requirements ofCSA-BSl Part 1 states that the owners are responsible. Reference: 5. Identification Identification of pressure vessels and fittings must be done in accordance with ASME code. Nameplates and/or the appropriate ASME code product certification marks (called the ASME code symbol stamp in the 2009 edition) are a requirement, although there are provisions for some other stamp acceptable to the regulatory authority. Reference: 6. Boilers and Related Components General requirements regarding boilers are in this clause of the standard. Most information is of a general nature. For example, boilers shall be installed so that there is adequate access for maintenance, operation, and inspection. The standard does not say what is considered adequate. But the information can be prescriptive, as in the size requirements of boiler inspection openings, which shall have an inside diameter of at least 406 mm if they are round, or if they are oval, they shall have an inside dimension of at least 305 mm x 406 mm. Reference: As a note, this requirement is different from ASME Section I, but the provisions of Clause 1 (Scope) state that CSA-B51 will take precedence. Another specific is the requirement to restrict the temperature of water discharging from a blowofF vessel to the sewer to 65°C or lower. Reference: Of a more general nature is the requirement that steam boilers that are not in the continuous attendance of a qualified operator must be equipped with at least two low-water fuel cut-offs. Reference: This requirement says that two low-water fuel cut-offs are required, but the specifics on how this requirement should be met (following the requirements of the applicable codes) are not specified. 3rd Class Edition 3 • Part A2 Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers • Chapter 1 7. Pressure Vessels This clause deals solely with pressure vessels: their installation requirements, buried pressure vessels, inspection openings, and other such information. Water heaters are included here if they have a diameter larger than 610 mm or a heat input higher than 30 kW. Requirements for blowofF vessels are included (design pressure, corrosion allowance, minimum diameter and volume, atmospheric vents, anti-siphon, etc.). 9. Refrigeration Equipment Clause 9 states that the requirements of CSA-B52 must be followed when designing, constructing, and inspecting a refrigeration system. Reference: 12. Pressure Relief Devices In this clause, the requirement for over-pressure protection ofpressure-retaining systems and components is stated. This can be achieved using pressure relief devices or other acceptable means. Reference: While (b) could mean "over-pressure protection by system design," this clause deals only with pressure equipment protected by a pressure relief valve. A very important table that pertains to pressure relief devices is mentioned in this clause: Table 5 - Maximum Servicing Intervals. A power boiler with steam pressure above 15 psig has a maximum servicing interval of five years. It is important to maintain pressure relief devices within these time limits to ensure that they operate properly at their rated settings. 3rd Class Edition 3 • Part A2 31