I will be fully upfront for those who wish to challenge me on this topic. YES, ASME B31.3 and 31.5 explicitly state that certain records that are required by the standard do NOT have to be “retained”. However, most people who challenge me on this topic fail to see that ittybitty two-letter word “if” in the code and in the world of Process Safety, these records most certainly have to be retained. We have to remember that ASME B31(s) were NOT written to “satisfy OSHA or EPA,” and I would guess that the majority of hazardous-material piping built in the USA is NOT associated with a PSM/RMP-covered process, yet ASME B31 still applies to said piping.
So let’s look at the language of B31.3 as it relates to “records retention,” and then I’ll explain why PSM/RMP require the very same records… (emphasis by me)