ASME has been defining piping safety since 1922.



ASME B31.4 prescribes requirements for the design, materials, construction, assembly, inspection, testing, operation, and maintenance of liquid pipeline systems between production fields or facilities, tank farms, above- or belowground storage facilities, natural gas processing plants, refineries, pump stations, ammonia plants, terminals (marine, rail, and truck), and other delivery and receiving points, as well as pipelines transporting liquids within pump stations, tank farms, and terminals associated with liquid pipeline systems. This Code also prescribes requirements for the design, materials, construction, assembly, inspection, testing, operation, and maintenance of piping transporting aqueous slurries of nonhazardous materials such as coal, mineral ores, concentrates, and other solid materials, between a slurry processing plant or terminal and a receiving plant or terminal.



Piping here consists of pipe, flanges, bolting, gaskets, valves, relief devices, fittings, and the pressure containing parts of other piping components. It also includes hangers and supports, and other equipment items necessary to prevent overstressing the pressure containing parts. It does not include support structures such as frames of buildings, stanchions, or foundations, or any equipment



Also included within the scope of this Code are:



(a) primary and associated auxiliary liquid petroleum and liquid anhydrous ammonia piping at pipeline terminals (marine, rail, and truck), tank farms, pump stations, pressure-reducing stations, and metering stations, including scraper traps, strainers, and prover loops



(b) storage and working tanks, including pipe-type storage fabricated from pipe and fittings, and piping interconnecting these facilities



(c) liquid petroleum and liquid anhydrous ammonia piping located on property that has been set aside for such piping within petroleum refinery, natural gasoline, gas processing, ammonia, and bulk plants



(d) those aspects of operation and maintenance of liquid pipeline systems relating to the safety and protection of the general public, operating company personnel, environment, property, and the piping systems



Key Changes

The 2019 edition of ASME B31.4 contains a rework of Chapter IX to align with standardized numbering of other chapters. A new standard is referenced in Chapter II to improve the accuracy of calculations that use stress intensification and flexibility factors. Updates to the text and table in Chapter VI on allowable repairs were completed.



Careful application of these ASME B31 standards will help users to comply with applicable regulations within their jurisdictions, while achieving the operational, cost and safety benefits to be gained from the many industry best-practices detailed within these volumes.



Intended for liquid pipeline designers, owners, regulators, inspectors, and manufacturers. Primary industries served include those for carbon dioxide, liquid alcohol, liquid anhydrous ammonia, and liquid petroleum products.