Cross referencing international standards

[mikeg8]

Problem: Trying to find equivalents between US (eg API/ASME/ANSI/ISA etc) and European/International (eg ISO/IEC/EN etc) standards in the areas of pressure piping, material selection, valves, rotating machinery (compressors etc), hazardous areas, electrical wiring etc etc.

Reason: Specifying small scale hydrogen generation plant for use in US, Canada and Europe.

Specifically: Does such a thing as an equivalent standards cross-reference database exist? For example, ISO nnnnn in Europe is equivalent to ANSI nnnnn in US. I know that generally US stds apply in US and ISO in Europe, but, for instance, if I specify ASTM A351 CF8M material for valve bodies in the US, is there a European equivalent to use when requesting valves from a European supplier?

 

[jsummerfield]

Some standards are being coordinated between the IEC and US standard organizations. In some cases the text is international. I am working on oxygen service right now. Some standards by the Compressed Gas Association is the same as the EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL GASES ASSOCIATION. ISA is coordinating but not the same as Europe for safety shutdown control systems. Determine your requirements first. The Italian valve manufacturers will supply valves compliant with API, ASME and ASTM specifications.

Look for the US standard by the writing orgainzation instead of ANSI. At the same time that we are moving toward international coordination I see few ASME, etc. specifications with ANSI on the cover.

John

 

[SJones]

Unfortunately, you, as the specifier, will have to review the US, the International, and the Regional standards in order to satisfy yourself of their technical equivalency (notwithstanding possible legal requirements) for the service and design conditions you are dealing with. You may find that some standards have been joint issued, API/ISO are a case in point, only to note that API insert an Annex at the back to change all the things they don't like in the ISO text - marvellous! Good luck.

Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer

http://www.pdo.co.om/pdo/