How to identify which codes apply to your project / which sections apply to your project.

[Johngoog]

Hey all,

More of a general question about all codes and standards. New engineer and as such do not have much experience with standards and codes. It seems like a large portion of my time is spent looking for codes that i don't know exist to see if they apply to my project.

Is there a strategy or resource, perhaps something with screening questions about my project, that could help me identify what codes and standards i need to be paying attention to?

Thanks in advance for any answers

 

[DGrayPPD]

Ask you Client what codes his facility is designed and constructed to. ASME B31.3 is the major one that is used for process piping. The pipe specs should also tell you what code to design to.

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it."

-Henry Ford

 

[mk3223]

This is a good question to any of the senior engineers in your Discipline of the project.
Also, I suggest you to ask the Project Manager for a copy of the Project Excitation Plan if not yet have during the on-boarding process. It should have a complete list of the docs, Code, and Standards, etc., for each and every Disciplines.
As a new engineer in the beginning, you may have a lot of reading to do. And, you have to go through them once patiently.

 

[DekDee]

"It seems like a large portion of my time is spent looking for codes that i don't know exist to see if they apply to my project."

The project specification/s should list all applicable codes/standards.
If you have to go looking for what is applicable to your project you are in a world of trouble.

 

[SnTMan]

Johngoog, if your organization is the originator of the project then most likely the jurisdiction (generally a governmental organization, Occupational Safety for example) will mandate the minimum Codes / Standards for the different disciplines of the project, piping, pressure vessels, electrical, structural and so forth. These requirements can be determined by contacting the relevant authorities. For the US, the NBIC website can be useful for pressure equipment. Notice the use of the word "minimum". It may be desirable employ additional specs, etc.

OTOH, if you are supplying to a client, the client should specify which Codes, Standards, etc apply, as others have said. This typically leads to a rats' nest of specs invoked by other specs, many of which will not really apply to a given project. The client should provide a document list to be applied, and clarifications / exemptions may be in order.

Regards,

Mike

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[weldstan]

If your project is a supplier to a client, ask to see the contract documents/specifications, which should provide the relevant Codes/Standards. It is noted that some of the required Codes/Standards will only be revealed when reviewing the listed Codes/Standrds which may reference other Codes/Standards therein.

 

[chicopee]

I am in line with weldstan but the biggest problem with new engineer is to have the mental fortitude to read and understand codes. Too many people seem to understand codes when in fact they misinterpret codes because they failed to read the SCOPE of the codes.