On January 1, 1999 ASME, Section I Power Boiler Code (high-pressure steam or high temperature water) began requiring documentation and hydrostatic testing of all external piping within ASME jurisdictional limits. ASME requires this procedure on all new boilers after December 31,1998. Some changes have been incorporated in Section I, which clearly differentiates between what is considered boiler external piping and their respective testing requirements. 

This external piping must be documented on the Manufacturer's Data Report and a hydrostatic test of the piping at 1.5 times the boiler design pressure must be conducted. An Authorized Inspector must witness it. For piping supplied and installed in the field, by other than them boiler manufacturer, the piping is to be documented on new form P-4B. When the piping is supplied and certified by the boiler manufacturer, it may be documented on the boiler's ASME Manufacturer's Data Report or on an ASME Supplemental Form P-6.

This change affects piping of all external valves, including bottom blowdown, surface blowdown, feedwater chemical feed, vent and any piping between boiler and steam valves or hot water supply/return valves. When two or more boilers with manholes are connected to a common steam header, steam piping must include the full assembly to the second (downstream) valve. Installations with two or more boilers fed from a common feedwater pump must include certification and testing of piping up to and including the by-pass valves on the regulating feedwater valve. If a 3-valve by-pass is not included, piping must be included to the regulating valve. 

Order your new boiler to meet these new requirements with as much factory furnished and installed valving and piping as possible.  The effort and expense to coordinate, test, and document compliance with these requirements on site far exceeds the effort when completed in the factory during equipment manufacture.