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

This Division of Section VIII provides requirements applicableto the design, fabrication, inspection, testing, and certificationof pressure vessels operating at either internal or externalpressures exceeding 15 psig.  Such pressure vessels may befired or unfired.  Specific requirements apply to severalclasses of material used in pressure vessel construction, and alsoto fabrication methods such as welding, forging and brazing. It contains mandatory and nonmandatory appendices detailingsupplementary design criteria, nondestructive examination andinspection acceptance standards. Rules pertaining to the use of theU, UM and UV ASME Product Certification Marks are alsoincluded.

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:

• New Nonmandatory Appendix on Guidance to the Responsibilitiesof the User and the Designated Agent
• New Mandatory Appendix on Establishing Governing BPVC Editionsand Case for Pressure Vessels and Parts
• New Mandatory Appendix on Cold-Stretching of AusteniticStainless Steel Pressure Vessels
• Friction Stir Welding (FSW) added as an acceptable weldingprocess for VIII-1 construction
• Permits marking by electro-chemical etching

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 manufacturers, users,constructors, designers and others concerned with the design,fabrication, assembly, erection, examination, inspection andtesting of pressure vessels, plus all potential governingentities.

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”:

• “UV” (Pressure Vessels, Safety Valves – includes BPVC-VIII-1,Pressure Vessels, Division 1) – click here
• “UV” (Pressure Vessels, Safety Valves – includes BPVC-VIII-2,Pressure Vessels, Division 2) –