Codes & Standards

ASME Section I Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for Fired Vessels
Requirements
Conditions
Single Valve

SIZING

Number of valves

Superheater

Reheater

When only two valves are used, capacity of

smaller shall not be less than 50% of the
larger. (PG-71.1)

At least one valve shall be installed on the

superheater outlet.

At least one or more valves to relieve

maximum reheater steam flow. There shall
be at least one valve on the reheater outlet
such that the relieving capacity shall not be
less than 15% of the required total.

The complement of spring loaded valves must

relieve 100% of boiler steaming capacity.
(PG-67.2)

The superheater valve capacity may be

included in the complement of valve
capacities provided the aggregate capacity of
the drum valves is at least 75% of the boiler
steaming capacity. (PG-68.1 & PG-68.2)

Credit for reheater valves cannot be taken in

determining required capacity for drum and
superheater valves. (PG-68.4)

At least one valve must be set at or below the

design pressure.

Any additional valves cannot be set in excess

of 3% above design pressure. Set pressure
range for saturated steam valves shall not
exceed 10% of the highest valve set
pressure.

The low set superheater valve shall be the

first to open and the last to close.

At least one reheater outlet valve shall be the

first of the reheater valves to open and the
last of the reheater valves to close.

For valves set above 100 psig, blowdown shall

be between 2% and 4%. For valves set at or
below 100 psig, blowdown shall be between 2
and 4 psi.

After blowing down, all valves shall close at a

pressure not lower than 96% of their set
pressure, except that all drum valves installed
on a single boiler may be set to reseat at a
pressure not lower than 96% of the set
pressure of the lowest set drum valve.

The superheater valve should be set to be the

last valve to close.

At least one of the reheater outlet valves

should be the last to close.

Boilers less than 500 sq. ft. heating surface

and generates less than 4000#/hr. (PG67.1)

Required Capacity

Set pressure

Blowdown

Set pressure (opening

pressure) tolerance

OTHER

Blowdown (closing pressure)

tolerance

Tightness

Pressures above 15 psig, up to and including 70 psig = 2 psi. Pressures over 70 psig, up to and including 300 psig = 3%. Pressures over 300 psig, up to and including 1000 psig = 10 psi.
Pressures over 1000 psig = 1%.
Minimum Blowdown - Minimum blowdown, regardless of set pressure, is 2 psi. For pressures above 100 psig, the blowdown shall not be less than 2% of the set pressure.
Maximum Blowdown - After blowing down, all valves set at pressures of 375 psi or greater shall close at a pressure not lower than 96% of their set pressure, except that all drum valves
installed on a single boiler may be set to reseat at a pressure not lower than 96% of the set pressure of the lowest set drum valve. For pressures below 375 psi, blowdown shall not exceed that
specified in the following table:
Set Pressure, psi
15-66
67-250
251-374
Maximum Blowdown
4 psi
6% of set pressure
15 psi
A tightness test shall be conducted at the maximum expected operating pressure, but at a pressure not exceeding the reseating pressure of the valve. When testing, a valve exhibiting no visible signs
of leakage shall be considered tight.
Boiler Design Pressure (psig)

Recommended operating gap

Nameplate Stamping

Multiple Valves

15 to 300
301 to 1000
1001 to 2000
2000 and above

Min. Differential as a Percent of Boiler Design Pressure

10% but not less than 7 psi
7% but not less than 30 psi
5% but not less than 70 psi
Per designers judgement

Valves shall be stamped with ASME Symbol V. Official stamped relieving capacity is at 3% accumulation or 2 psig, whichever is greater.

Note: The following information has been extracted from the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section I (2001) to be used purely as a reference source and is not intended to be a complete reproduction of that
document. Paragraphs PG-67.1, PG-67.2, PG-67.3, PG-72.1, and PG-72.2 are referenced.

CS.1

Codes & Standards

ASME Section VIII Pressure Vessel Code for Unfired Vessels

Fire and/or external heat
protection of vessels having no
permanent supply connection and
used for non-refrigerated liquefied
compressed gases

Sizing Condition

Single valve on vessel other than

unfired steam boilers

Multiple Valves On Vessel Other

Than Unfired Steam Boilers

Fire and/or External Heat

Protection of Vessels Other Than
Unfired Steam Boilers

ASME P.V. CODE SEC. VIII (REF)

UG - 125(c), UG - 134(a),
UG - 134(e)

UG - 125(c)(1), UG - 133(a),
UG - 134(e)

UG - 125(c)(2), UG - 133(b),
UG - 134(e)

UG - 125(c)(3), UG - 134(e)(2)

The aggregate capacity of multiple

valves connected to any vessel
or system of vessels for the
release of liquid, air, steam or
other vapor shall be sufficient
to relieve the maximum capacity that
can be generated or supplied to the
attached equipment without
permitting a rise in vessel pressure to
more than 16% above the maximum
allowable working pressure.

Supplemental valves for the

protection from unexpected sources
of external heat shall be capable or
preventing vessel pressure from rising
more than 21% above the maximum
allowable working pressure.

Valves shall be sized to prevent the

pressure from rising more than 20%
above the maximum allowable
working pressure of the vessel.

One valve is to be set at or below the

maximum allowable working
pressure, the balance of valves may
be set at higher pressures up to but
not to exceed 105% of the maximum
allowable working pressure.

Valves used to provide protection

against excessive pressure caused by
exposure to fire or other sources of
external heat shall be set to operate
at a pressure not in excess of 110%
of the maximum allowable working
pressure (Note: if a single valve is
used to protect a vessel and to
provide fire/external heat protection,
it shall not be set at a pressure over
the maximum allowable working
pressure).

Sizing

Set Point
(Note: The pressure setting of each
valve shall include the effects of
static head and constant back
pressure.)

Set Point Tolerance

The single valve shall prevent

vessel pressure from rising more than
10% above the maximum allowable
working pressure.

Single valve shall be set to relieve at

a pressure not to exceed the
maximum allowable working pressure
of the vessel.

The set pressure tolerance, (plus or minus), of pressure relief valves shall not exceed 2 psi (13.6kPa) for
pressures up to and including 70 psi (483 kPa) and 3% for pressures above 70 psi (483 kPa).

Valve set pressure must not exceed

the maximum allowable working
pressure of the vessel.

The set pressure tolerance of pressure

relief valves shall be within -0%, +10%

Blowdown

Valves designed and capacity tested in accordance with Code Section VIII are capable of being set for 7% Blowdown. Section VIII does not require a specific blowdown setting
by the valve manufacturer. (The user should specify the required blowdown that will permit reclosing of valve above the normal operating pressure.)

Tightness
UG - 136(d)(2)

Code requires a tightness test be conducted at the maximum expected operating pressure. This maximum pressure is not to exceed the resealing pressure of the valve. Then
testing with either water or steam, a valve exhibiting no visible signs of leakage shall be considered adequately tight. Leakage tests conducted with air shall be in accordance
with industry standards.

Recommended Operating Gap

(Appendix UA358 c)

Set pressures to 70 psi (483 kPa) - Minimum operating gap 5 psi.

Set pressures from 71 psi to 1000 psi (over 483 kPa to 8000 kPa) - Minimum operating differential of 10%
Set pressures above 1000 psi (8000 kPa) - Minimum operating differential of 7%.

Note: The following information has been extracted from the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section I (1998) to be used purely as a reference source and is not intended to be a complete reproduction of that document.

CS.2