An Introduction to

ASME Standards
Why they exist and how they are developed
Overview
• What is ASME?
• What is a standard?
• Why do we have standards?
• How are standards developed?
• How are standards used by an engineer?
What is the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers?
 ASME Mission Statement:
To serve diverse global communities by advancing,
disseminating and applying engineering knowledge for
improving the quality of life; and communicating the
excitement of engineering.

Sectors:
• Technical Events and Content
• Public Affairs and Outreach
• Group Pathways and Support
• Student and Early Career Development
• Standards and Certification
The American Society of Mechanical
Engineers
• Organization started in 1880 by a small group of
leading industrialists

• Has over 140,000 members in the society

• One of the worlds largest technical publishing

operations
What is a Standard?
 What is a Standard?
A set of technical definitions, instructions, rules,
guidelines, or characteristics set forth to provide
consistent and comparable results, including:
- Items manufactured uniformly, providing for interchangeability
- Tests and analyses conducted reliably, minimizing the uncertainty
of the results
- Facilities designed and constructed for safe operation
Why do we have Standards?
Why do we have Standards?
• Safety
• Uniformity/Consistency
• Efficiency
• Commerce and Trade

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Safety
• Sultana
Safety
• Grover Shoe Factory
Disaster
Safety

• After the Grover Shoe Factory, Massachusetts took the

monumental step and established a 5 man Board of
Boiler Rules.

• ASME formed the Boiler Code Committee in 1911.

• Published the first edition of the Boiler and Pressure

Vessel Code (BPVC) in 1915

• Today, BPVC is incorporated into laws in most states, US

territories, and Canadian providences.
 HISTORY

Timeline of Early ASME Standardization Milestones

1880 1884 1905 1914 1916 1918 1921

ASME founded to Issues first Standard for First edition of Safety Code Founding Safety
address issues standard, Code Proportions of the Boiler and for Cranes member of Code for
with for the Machine Screw Pressure Vessel American Elevators
industrialization Conduct of Sizes Code Engineering
and Trials of Steam Standards
mechanization Boilers Committee
(later known as
ANSI)

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Uniformity/Consistency
• Standards ensure that various goods and systems are
the same everywhere
• Bolt and Screw Sizes, threading
• Rail gauge
• Material composition
• Plumbing fittings
• Computer Fonts/Typesetting

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Efficiency
• Use of standards reduces the time in developing
proven technology
• Standards provide a common language for all
stakeholders

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Commerce and Trade
• Standards play a large role in trade
• Examples of Organization Developing Standards for
Worldwide market include:
• ASME
• ASTM
• ISO Standards
• IEEE
• (Ideally) one universal standard, one universal test

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How are Standards Developed?
Who Creates Standards?
• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• Central clearing house and coordinating body for Standards
Development Organizations (SDO)
• Professional Societies - such as ASME, ASCE and SAE
• Trade associations - such as API and AGA
• Testing and certifying organizations - such as UL
• Organizations whose main business is standards development -
such as ASTM, NFPA, and ISO
Different Types of Standards
• Voluntary
• Defacto
• Consortia
• Regulatory
• Other
How are Standards Developed
in ASME?
 How are Standards Developed?
• Standards are a “living document” that are constantly being developed and revised

• Developed using a series of checks and balances

• Written by volunteers

• Approved by a consensus process

• Follow procedures set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Voluntary Consensus Process
ASME standards actions are approved by consensus

This means:

• There is substantial agreement by affected interest categories on the

proposed action

• All views have been considered and attempts have been made to
resolve any objections from the consensus body or any other source

• Unanimity is not required. For example, ASME’s accredited procedures

require a 2/3 affirmative vote of the committee membership
Key Principles of Consensus
Process
• Openness
• Balance of Interest
• Due Process
From Concept to Publication
• Starts with engineering problem or new idea
• Research
• Formation of new committee if none in place
• Development
• Approval
• Publication
HISTORY ASME Standards Today
…by the numbers
• 500+ published standards (more
recently, over 50 technical related non-
standards publications)
• 5,000+ volunteer subject matter experts
from over 50 countries
• 700 boards, standards developing
committees and supporting subgroups
• 7,000+ certified companies (>50% non-
U.S.) in 75 countries

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Pressure Technology
Requirements
for pressure
equipment
including:
• Boilers
• Pressure Vessels
• Piping systems
• Piping
components
Safety
Safety
requirements for:
• Elevators
• Escalators
• Moving walkways
• Cranes
• Man lifts
• Conveyors
• And others
Nuclear
Requirements for
nuclear
components
including:
• Containment
• Reactors
• Piping
• Pumps
• Heat exchangers
• Turbines
Standardization and Testing
Requirements for
many different
things including
• Hand tools,
fasteners,
machine tools
• Dimensioning
and tolerancing
• Performance test
codes
Emerging Technologies
• Concentrated Solar Power
• Thermal Energy Storage Systems
• Fuel Cell Performance Testing
• Overall Plant Performance with Carbon Capture
• Nanotechnology
• Super Critical Pressure Technology
How do Standards Affect an
Engineer?
How does the ASME Standard Affect an
Engineer?
• Material Selection
• Design Requirements
• Fabrication Requirements
• Examination and Testing Requirements
• Quality Assurance

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Material Selection
• Standards provide a list of allowable materials
• Provide maximum allowable stresses
• Users have choice

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Design Requirements
• Standards provide minimum design requirements
• Ex. Section VIII-1 has a design margin on 3.5

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Design Requirements
• Standards provide pertinent equations
• Examples: Design Pressure, Thickness, Bearing Loads,
Moments

• Does not replace engineering judgement

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Fabrication Requirements
• Material requirements
• i.e. cutting, grinding
• Tolerances
• i.e. Bolt spacing
• Attachment
• Welding
• Bolting

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Examination and Testing
Requirements
• Nondestructive examination
• Radiography, Ultrasound, Visual
• Destructive Testing
• Nondestructive Testing
• Leak Testing
• Hydrostatic
• Pneumatic

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Quality Assurance
• Some standards require filling out a data
report
• Most Standards allow the product have a
specific marking to show conformance

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ASME Conformity Assessment
• Process by which a product is shown to be in full
compliance with a standard
• ASME accredits manufacturers who produce
products compliant with their codes and standards
• There are over 9,000 ASME accreditation account
holders worldwide
• ASME offers product certification for the following
programs
• Boiler
• Nuclear
• NQA (Nuclear Quality Assurance)
• QSC (Quality System Certificate for nuclear material
suppliers)
• BPE (Bioprocessing Equipment)
• AIA (Authorized Inspection Agency)
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Summary
• Engineering Standards were developed to improve
public safety, allow for uniform consistency of
products, and help ensure fair and free commerce
and trade
• ASME develops standards using an ANSI accredited
voluntary consensus approach
• Standards help engineers by providing
requirements for design, fabrication, materials,
testing, and other areas
Questions?