About the BPVC

Since its first issuance in 1914, ASME’s Boiler and PressureVessel Code (BPVC) has pioneered modern standards-development,maintaining a commitment to enhance public safety and technologicaladvancement to meet the needs of a changing world.  More than100,000 copies of the BPVC are in use in 100 countries around theworld. 

Click here for aprinter-friendly version of a brochure, which details all 12 BPVCSections, plus ASME’s portfolio of related BPVC offerings.

Product Scope / Abstract

Division 5 of Section III of the BPVC provides constructionrules for high-temperature reactors, including bothhigh-temperature, gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and liquid-metalreactors (LMRs).  These rules are for components exceeding thetemperature in Division 1 and are meant for components experiencingtemperatures that are equal, to or higher than, 700oF (370oC) forferritic materials or 800oF (425oC) for austenitic stainless steelsor high nickel alloys. 

Importantly, Division 5 also contains the new rules pertainingto graphite core components.  These new rules include generalrequirements, plus design and construction rules, forgraphite.  Irradiation effects on graphite are addressed, asare the features of probabilistic design reflected in thedetermination of graphite material strength properties.

Division 5 reflects new, safety-criteria approaches for nuclearpower plants—accumulating rules conveniently into one, single bookformat.  These rules have been updated and improved over thosestill in Code Case format.
 
Various industries are beginning to appreciate the uniqueadvantages that exist with nuclear power plants that operate atelevated temperatures.  For example, HTGRs can yield higheroperating efficiencies, provide not only electrical power but alsoprocess heat for other industries, and can be designed to bepassively-safe.

Careful application of this Section will help users to complywith applicable regulations within their jurisdictions, whileachieving the operational, cost and safety benefits to be gainedfrom the many industry best-practices detailed within thesevolumes.

Key changes to this 2013 Edition include:

• Reorganization of Subpart HCB to give specific constructionrules their own subsubarticle.

All changes to this 2013 Edition are incorporated into theappropriate page and each affected area is identified with adesignator.  Each Section includes a Summary of Changes thatlists the material affected by the change, plus the nature of thechange.  There will no longer be Addenda service for this 2013Edition or for future Editions.

Intended for those nuclear facilities and powerplants that experience operating temperatures that exceed thelimits established in Section III, Division 1.  At this time,both high temperature gas-cooled reactors and liquid metal reactorsare identified as being within the scope of these Division 5rules.

BPVC purchasers may wish to purchase a binder from ASME (BPVC Binder), but the publication will alsofit a standard three-ring binder.

For the convenience of those applying for and/or maintainingtheir ASME Product Certification Marks, ASME gathers its requiredcodes and standards into the following “BPVC product certificationpackages”:

• “N,” “NA,” “NPT,” “NS” (N-Type Certificates of Auth