I have asked for a formal response regarding this change, which was NOT noted in the 2021 edition as a change; however, it is a change in text and application.
In the 2018 edition, Chapter 50 stated:
| Piping, tubing, valves, and fittings conveying hazardous materials shall be designed and installed in accordance with ASME B31 or other approved standards, and shall be in accordance with Sections 5003.2.2.1 and 5003.2.2.2. |
In the 2021 edition, Chapter 50 states:
| Piping, tubing, valves, and fittings conveying hazardous materials shall be designed and installed in accordance with ASME B31.1 or other approved standards, and shall be in accordance with Sections 5003.2.2.1 and 5003.2.2.2. |
For those who may not be familiar with the ASME B31 series, 31.1 is for high-pressure piping, such as steam and water, for a boiler/heating system.
ASME states the following regarding the scope and application of 31.1…
Rules for this Code Section have been developed considering the needs for applications that include piping typically found in electric power generating stations, industrial and institutional plants, geothermal heating systems, and central and district heating and cooling systems.
It is unusual to reference B31.1 for “ordinary” operating pressures as found in chemical/hazardous materials process piping. For this design, we normally use B31.3 – Process Piping which has a scope of…
ASME B31.3 contains requirements for piping typically found in petroleum refineries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; and related processing plants and terminals. It covers materials and components, design, fabrication, assembly, erection, examination, inspection, and testing of piping.
So why did the IFC decide to reference B31.1 for its Hazardous Materials Piping rather than B31.3 or just leave it open and continue to reference the B31 series question? It may be a type-o or it may have been intentional. I will update this article once I hear back from the ICC.