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What Are the Codes and Standards Adopted Under the Act for Pressure Equipment Safety?

Hierarchy of Acts and Regulations Governing Design

Several Acts and Regulations govern the design of pressure equipment in Alberta. In descending order of precedence, the hierarchy regarding authority is:

• The Safety Codes Act
• Alberta Regulations and Ministerial Orders
• Administrator's Directives and Interpretations
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B51
• Other adopted Codes and Standards
  • ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes
  • ASME Piping Codes
  • Other adopted Codes and Standards

Codes and Standards Declared in force by the Alberta Regulations:

The codes and standards set out the minimum requirements for the design and construction of pressure equipment under the jurisdiction of the Act. Codes and standards are updated regularly by technical committees comprised of representatives of owners, manufacturers, the concerned public, other affected parties and jurisdictions. Codes and standards are declared in force by the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation. By declaring the codes and standards in force, all the requirements of the standards become mandatory for Alberta unless specifically exempt.

The Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation (AR 49/2006) Section 6 declares the following codes and standards in force in respect of pressure equipment:

CSA Codes

• CSA B51 Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code
• CSA B52 Mechanical Refrigeration Code
• CSA Z662 Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems - (in particular, the oilfield steam distribution Clause)

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

• Section I Rules for Construction of Power Boilers
• Section II Materials
• Section III Rules for Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Components
• Section IV Rules for Construction of Heating Boilers
• Section V Nondestructive Examination
• Section VI Recommended Rules for Care and Operation of Heating Boilers
• Section VII Recommended Guidelines for Care of Power Boilers
• Section VIII Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels Division 1, 2 and 3
• Section IX Welding and Brazing Qualifications
• Section X Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels
• Section XI Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
• Section XII Rules for Construction and Continued Service of Transport Tanks

ASME Pressure Piping Codes

• B31.1 Power Piping
• B31.3 Process Piping
• B31.5 Refrigeration Piping and Heat Transfer Components
• B31.9 Building Services Piping

Other Bodies of Rules

• ANSI K61.1 Safety Requirements for the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia

• NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code

• NFPA 59 Utility LP-Gas Plant Code

• MSS Standard Practice, SP-25, Standard Marking System for Valves, Fittings, Flanges and Unions

• Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association Standards (TEMA) (refer to IB03-010 for details)

• API Standard 661, Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers for General Refinery Services

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