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The International Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code establishes rules of safety governing the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels, and nuclear power plant components during construction.

The objective of the rules is to provide a margin for deterioration in service. Advancements in design and material and the evidence of experience are constantly being added by Addenda.

SERVING THE PUBLIC FOR 87 YEARS | top of page
Originating in 1914, the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code is now adopted in part or in its entirety, by 49 states and numerous municipalities and territories of the United States and all the provinces of Canada.

Current and "Live"
The Code is kept current by the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee, a volunteer group of more than 950 engineers. The Committee meets regularly to consider requests for interpretations, revision, and to develop new rules.

In the formulation of its rules and in the establishment of maximum design and operating pressures, the Committee considers technological advances including materials, construction, methods of fabrication, inspection, certification, and overpressure protection.

Automatic 3-Year Update Service Addenda | top of page
Addenda are published annually and will be sent automatically to purchasers of the applicable Sections up to the publication of the 2004 Code. Any page affected by the Addenda is reprinted totally.

Changes are incorporated into the appropriate page and additional pages are provided for overflow material. Each affected area is identified with a designator corresponding to the Addenda issue date.

The designators remain on the pages in subsequent Addenda, enabling the user to identify those areas affected by more than one Addenda.

Each Addenda includes a Summary of Changes that lists the pages being replaced or added, the material affected by the Addenda, and the nature of the change.

Interpretations | top of page
ASME issues written replies to inquiries concerning interpretation of technical aspects of the Code.

The Interpretations for each individual Section will be published separately and will be included with the update service to that Section; they will be issued twice a year, up to the publication of the 2004 Code.

Interpretations of Section III, Divisions 1, 2, and 3 will be included with the update service to subsection NCA. Interpretations are not part of the Code or Addenda.

Code Case Supplements
Code Cases clarify the intent of existing requirements or provide, when the need is urgent, rules for materials or constructions not covered by existing Code rules.

Cases will appear in the applicable Code Cases book (1) Boilers and Pressure Vessels or (2) Nuclear Components.

Supplements will be sent automatically four times per year to the purchasers of the Code Cases books up to the publication of the 2004 Code.

The Boiler Code is made of 11 sections and contains over 15 divisions and subsections. See the detailed breakdown of each section, division and subsection.

ASME Code Symbol Stamps are used to indicate that stamped items conform to the latest edition of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

Utilization of the ASME Code Symbol Stamp is a means of complying with the laws and regulations in most of the US and Canada, as well as other countries throughout the world.

See a complete list of Code Symbol Stamps and their requirements.