Codes and Standards

Piping codes are established to ensure that piping systems are designed consistently, safely, and reliably across industries such as power generation, petrochemicals, refining, chemical processing, nuclear energy, offshore operations, district heating, and transmission pipelines. These codes define rules for material selection, allowable stresses, fabrication, testing, installation, and how piping responds to pressure, temperature, weight, soil loads, wind, seismic forces and environmental effects. Without a governing code, every project would operate under its own criteria, making safety, regulatory acceptance and engineering coordination extremely difficult.

CAEPIPE 3D+ includes one of the industry’s most comprehensive collections of ASME and international piping codes, equipment standards, and other structural/environmental standards. This enables engineers to analyze piping systems exactly according to the methodology, terminology and design philosophy mandated by their region or industry.

Summary: CAEPIPE 3D+ supports 60+ Codes & Standards: 43+ Piping Codes, 10+ Equipment & Vessel Standards, 10+ Environmental & Other Standards.

Piping Codes Supported in CAEPIPE 3D+

ASME Standards

  • ASME B31.1 - Power Piping (2024 & legacy: 1967, 1973, 1977, 1980)
    This code covers high-pressure, high-temperature piping in power plants, steam systems, boiler circuits and turbine connections. CAEPIPE supports both the latest 2024 edition and multiple legacy editions to ensure re-qualification of older power stations built under earlier rules.
  • ASME B31.3 - Process Piping (2024)
    Widely used in refineries, petrochemical plants, LNG terminals, chemical facilities, industrial units, etc. CAEPIPE supports the 2024 edition, aligning with modern material, fabrication and piping-system design requirements used across the global process industry.
  • ASME B31.4 - Pipeline Transportation for Liquids & Slurries (2022)
    This code governs long-distance pipelines transporting liquid hydrocarbons and slurries. CAEPIPE supports the 2022 edition for both above-ground and buried pipeline segments analysed under B31.4 methodology.
  • ASME B31.5 - Refrigeration Piping (2022)
    Used for refrigerant systems and low-temperature heat-transfer piping. CAEPIPE supports the 2022 edition, which includes specific guidance for low-temperature materials, pressure design and system integrity.
  • ASME B31.8 - Gas Transmission & Distribution (2022)
    Applies to gas transmission pipelines and distribution networks. The latest 2022 edition supported in CAEPIPE is widely used for natural-gas utility networks, cross-country pipelines and buried pipelines.
  • ASME B31.9 - Building Services Piping (2020)
    Covers HVAC piping, chilled/hot water distribution, and general mechanical services in commercial and institutional buildings. CAEPIPE supports the 2020 edition for simplified industrial-building piping design.
  • ASME B31.12 - Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines (2023) - Parts IP & PL
    Part IP covers hydrogen piping within facilities, while Part PL governs hydrogen transmission pipelines. CAEPIPE supports both sections of the 2023 edition to address modern hydrogen infrastructure design.
  • ASME NM.1 - Thermoplastic Piping (2022)
    Defines requirements for thermoplastic piping systems made from materials such as PE, PP, PVC, CPVC and HDPE. CAEPIPE supports the 2022 edition, commonly used in chemical, water-treatment and low-temperature applications.
  • ASME NM.2 - FRP/GRP Piping (2022)
    This code governs glass-fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin piping systems (FRP/GRP). CAEPIPE supports the 2022 edition, widely used where corrosion resistance and lightweight piping are needed.
  • ASME BPVC Section III Class 2 (NC) - Editions 1980, 1986, 1992, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2023
    Class 2 governs piping in safety-related systems such as auxiliary cooling, feedwater and engineered safeguards in nuclear power plants. CAEPIPE supports all relevant historical and modern editions to match plant licensing documents.
  • ASME BPVC Section III Class 3 (ND) - Editions 2017, 2021, 2023
    Class 3 applies to lower-pressure safety-related systems such as service water lines. CAEPIPE supports all current editions relevant to modern nuclear facilities.

European Standards

  • DNV-ST-F101 - Submarine Pipeline Systems
    The global benchmark for offshore hydrocarbon pipelines subjected to seabed loads, waves, currents and installation forces. CAEPIPE supports this standard for subsea pipeline stress analysis.
  • Norwegian Offshore Codes - 1983 & 1990
    Historic Norwegian piping rules used in early North Sea development projects. CAEPIPE includes these editions for evaluation and re-validation of older offshore assets.
  • EN 13480 (2020) - Metallic Industrial Piping
    The primary European standard for industrial metallic piping, covering design, fabrication, testing and material requirements. CAEPIPE supports the 2020 version widely used in EU industrial facilities.
  • EN 13941-1 (2019) - District Heating & Cooling Piping
    Defines rules for buried, pre-insulated, bonded steel piping used in district-heating and cooling networks. CAEPIPE supports the 2019 edition, including soil-pipe interaction and thermal-restraint guidelines.
  • RCC-M - Editions 1985, 2018, 2020, 2022
    French nuclear code governing Class 2 & 3 mechanical components in PWR plants. CAEPIPE supports all major editions encountered in European nuclear projects.
  • CODETI (2013)
    French industrial piping code (non-nuclear). CAEPIPE includes the 2013 edition for industrial systems designed under French regulations.
  • Swedish (1978)
    Historic Scandinavian piping standard still required for re-assessing older Nordic installations.
  • Stoomwezen (1989)
    Dutch pressure-piping regulations historically required for industrial systems in the Netherlands. Supplied for evaluating aging infrastructure.

Other International Standards

  • ISO 14692-3 (2017) - GRP Piping in Oil & Gas
    ISO 14692 governs glass-reinforced plastic piping for petroleum and natural-gas industries. CAEPIPE supports Part 3 (Design), which defines qualification, laminate selection, stiffness classes and installation practices.
  • Canadian Pipeline Codes - CSA Z183 (1990), Z184 (1992), Z662 (2019)
    CSA Z183 applies to oil pipelines, Z184 to gas pipelines, and Z662 is the current national standard for Canadian oil and gas pipeline systems. CAEPIPE supports all three.
  • BS 806 (1986)
    British code covering ferrous piping for boilers and process plant. CAEPIPE supports this for reassessment of legacy UK installations.
  • IGEM/TD/12 – Edition 2 (2012)
    UK natural-gas distribution standard governing route classifications, material selection and installation practices. CAEPIPE supports this edition for utility gas networks.

Special Categories

  • NONE
    Used when no formal piping code applies. Common cases include AWWA M11 water systems, aircrafts, aerospace and defence systems, prototype equipment, or custom R&D test rigs. CAEPIPE allows full structural and thermal analysis under this category using project-specific acceptance limits.

Equipment and Vessel Standards

API Standards

  • API 610 (2010) - Centrifugal Pumps
    Defines acceptable forces and moments on pump nozzles to avoid casing distortion, shaft misalignment and excessive vibration. Widely used in refineries and chemical plants.
  • API 617 (2003) - Centrifugal Compressors
    Provides allowable nozzle loads and connection limits for compressor casings. Ensures pipe-induced forces do not impact rotor alignment or dynamic behaviour.
  • API 661 (2013) - Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers
    Covers Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers inlet/outlet nozzle load limits. Ensures pipe-induced forces and moments do not cause any damage to heat exchangers.
  • API 560 (2007) - Fired Heaters
    Defines mechanical requirements and connection limitations for fired heaters. Evaluates whether piping loads remain within heater manufacturer limits.

ANSI/Other Standards

  • ANSI/HI 9.6.2 (2011) - Rotodynamic Pumps
    Defines acceptable forces and moments on pump nozzles to avoid casing distortion, shaft misalignment and excessive vibration. Widely used in refineries and chemical plants.
  • NEMA SM-23 (1991) - Steam Turbines
    Specifies maximum nozzle forces, moments and allowable deflections for steam turbines. Used to prevent casing distortion and coupling misalignment.
  • WRC 537 (2013) (formerly WRC 107)
    Provides procedures to calculate local stresses at vessel nozzles due to external piping loads. Frequently used for pressure vessels, tanks and heat-exchanger shell connections.
  • WRC 297/API 650/PD5500 - Nozzle Stiffness
    Provides procedures to calculate local flexibility components such as Nozzle Stiffness according to WRC 297, API 650 and PD 5500 based on Shell and Nozzle geometry.
  • OEM Limits (Boilers, HRSGs, Feedwater Heaters)
    Many manufacturers specify allowable loads for their equipment nozzles, which can be input as User Allowable Loads in CAEPIPE. CAEPIPE compares the computed piping loads against these User Allowable loads.

Other Supported Standards

Beyond traditional piping and equipment codes, CAEPIPE 3D+ supports a broad spectrum of structural, environmental, pressure, seismic, wind, fatigue and integrity-assessment standards required in multidisciplinary piping analysis. These standards help evaluate piping systems under external loads, vibration effects, vessel interaction, atmospheric conditions, and remaining life of in-service pipelines.

Static Seismic Equivalent Standards

  • ASCE/SEI 7-16
  • ANSI A58.1-1982

    • Seismic loading can be applied as per ASCE/SEI 7-16 or ANSI A58.1-1982, which define horizontal and vertical seismic coefficients based on site conditions and structural importance. These coefficients are used to apply equivalent static earthquake loads to the piping system.

Dynamic Seismic Standards

    CAEPIPE performs Response Spectrum analysis, where seismic spectra are applied in any combination of directions to compute dynamic displacements, forces and stresses based on the piping system’s natural frequencies and modes. Spectra supported by CAEPIPE are

  • EN 1998-1:2004 (Eurocode 8 Spectrum)

    • A code-based elastic or design spectrum generated directly from Euro code 8 parameters such as soil class, peak ground acceleration and damping, offering fully compliant European seismic input.

  • UBC Spectrum (Uniform Building Code)

    • A predefined spectrum based on the 1991 UBC seismic provisions, scaled using zone and importance factors, used for legacy U.S. projects that still reference older UBC requirements.

  • El Centro Spectrum (Recorded Earthquake)

    • A pedefined spectrum derived from the May 18, 1940 Imperial Valley (El Centro) earthquake, commonly used as a representative recorded ground-motion input for benchmark seismic analyses.

  • NRC / RG 1.60 Spectrum (Nuclear)

    • Standardized Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE) spectra from U.S. NRC Regulatory Guide 1.60, provided at multiple damping ratios for qualification of nuclear safety-related piping.

Wind Load Standards

  • ASCE/SEI 7-16
  • ANSI A58.1-1982
  • EN 1991-1-4:2010

    • Wind loading can be defined using ASCE/SEI 7-16, ANSI A58.1-1982, and EN 1991-1-4:2010, which provide wind pressures based on basic wind speed, exposure, and height. CAEPIPE applies these as equivalent static wind pressures acting on the piping system in the specified wind directions.

Snow and Ice Load Standards

  • ASCE/SEI 7-22

    • Snow and ice loading can be defined using ASCE/SEI 7-22, which provides ground-snow loads, exposure adjustments and ice-accretion guidelines for cold regions. These values are applied as equivalent static loads to account for snow or ice buildup on exposed piping.

Pressure Design - EN 13480-3 (2017)

    Internal and external pressure design in CAEPIPE follows EN 13480-3, which defines rules for minimum wall thickness, allowable internal pressure and external pressure collapse resistance for metallic piping. These checks are applied independently, irrespective of the piping code selected for analysis, to ensure verification of pressure-related requirements.

Fatigue Evaluation

  • Simplified Fatigue Evaluation

    • Simplified fatigue checks follow the rules of the selected piping code (such as ASME B31.x or EN 13480), using code-defined stress-range cycles and reduction factors to estimate allowable expansion stress and fatigue usage for the expected service life.

  • Detailed Fatigue Evaluation (ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 2 - 2021)

    • Detailed fatigue assessment uses ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 2 fatigue curves together with Miner's Rule, comparing alternating stresses at each node against standardized S–N curves to calculate cumulative fatigue damage and remaining fatigue life.

Flange Assessment

    Flange assessment (Evaluation/Qualification) in CAEPIPE can be performed either through the main stress-analysis module for quick equivalent-pressure checks or through the integrated ‘Flange Qualification module’ for detailed bolt, gasket and flange stress evaluation. This allows both simplified code screening and ASME-based detailed analysis within the CAEPIPE environment.

  • EN 13480-3 (Eq. 6.6.1-2) (2013)

    • Applied in the main stress module as the EN-method for equivalent-pressure evaluation of industrial metallic flanges.

  • ASME Section VIII Division 1 - Appendix 2 (2013)

    • Used in the Flange Qualification module for bolt-load, gasket-seating & flange-stress checks.

  • ASME Section III Class 2 - NC-3658.3 (2017)

    • Determines allowable flange moment capacity for ASME B16.5 flanges under combined loads.

Nozzle Allowable Loads

  • EN 13445-3:2014/A8:2019

    • Defines allowable nozzle loads for unfired pressure vessels. CAEPIPE compares piping-reaction loads against these limits.

Lug Attachment Evaluation

  • ASME Section III Division 1: Class 2 & Class 3 (2010)

    • Defines weld-sizing and stress requirements for lugs and attachments on nuclear safety-related piping.

  • EN 13480-3 (2017)

    • Provides rules for evaluating welded lugs and support attachments on industrial metallic piping.

Remaining Strength & Corrosion Assessment

  • B31G: 2023

    • Industry-standard method to compute remaining strength and MAOP for corroded pipelines. Widely used for pipeline integrity management and life-extension assessments.

CAEPIPE 3D+ enables engineers to perform precise, code-compliant, and industry-specific stress analysis for both new projects and aging infrastructure using the extensive library of piping, equipment and other environmental standards listed above. Whether evaluating power-plant piping, offshore pipelines, hydrogen networks, nuclear systems or district-heating loops, CAEPIPE 3D+ ensures engineers can select exactly the code editions and supplementary standards required by regulators, project specifications and equipment manufacturers.