Codes usually set forth minimum requirements for design, materials, fabrication, erection, test, and inspection of piping systems, whereas standards contain de¬sign and construction rules and requirement for individual piping components such as elbows, tees, returns, flanges, valves, and other in-line items. Compli¬ance to Code is generally mandated by regulations imposed by regulatory and en¬forcement agencies. At times, the insurance carrier for the facility leaves hardly any choice for the owner but to comply with the requirements of a Code or Codes to ensure safety of the workers and the general public. Compliance to standards is normally required by the rules of the applicable Code or the purchaser's spec¬ification.
Each Code has limits on its jurisdiction, which are precisely defined in the Code. Similarly, the scope of application for each standard is defined in the stan¬dard. Therefore, users must become familiar with limits of application of a Code or standard before invoking their requirements in design and construction docu¬ments of a piping system.
The Codes and standards, which relate to piping systems and piping compo¬nents, are published by various organizations. These organizations have commit¬tees made up of representatives from industry associations, manufacturers, pro¬fessional groups, users, government agencies, insurance companies, and other interest groups. The committees are responsible for maintaining, updating, and re¬vising the Codes and standards in view of technological developments, research, ex¬perience feedback, problems, and changes in referenced Codes, standards, specifi¬cations, and regulations. The revisions to various Codes and standards are published periodically. Therefore, it is important that the engineers, designers, and other pro¬fessional and technical personnel stay informed with the latest editions, addenda, or revisions of the Codes and standards affecting their work.
While designing a piping system in accordance with a Code or a standard, the designer must comply with the most restrictive requirements which apply to any of the piping elements.
In regard to applicability of a particular edition, issue, addenda, or revision of a Code or standard, one must be aware of the national, state provincial, and local laws and regulations governing its applicability in addition to the commitments made by the owner and the limitations delineated in the Code or standard.
