ASME B31.3 incorporates the concept of safeguarding.

Safeguarding involves
consideration of factors beyond the simple design of the pipe in the overall safety of the
piping installation. It brings in the concepts
of consequences of failure and probable sources of damage, which essentially
considers risk.
Safeguarding is a concept that works well in the context of ASME B31.3, because the
owner has over-all responsibility for all aspects of the piping system. This differs from
the much more limited scope of responsibilities in ASME B31.1 and ASME BPVC,
Section VIII, Division 1. Because the owner has complete responsibility for both design
and operation, the owner also has the ability to effectively specify and implement
safeguarding provisions.
ASME B31.3 permits the use of certain components, joining methods, and other
procedures when appropriate safeguards are provided. For example, brazed joints are
prohibited from use in piping systems
containing flammable or toxic fluids, unless safeguarded. Because the concern with
brazed joints is failure of the joint on fire exposure due to melting of the brazing
material, appropriate safeguards could involve protecting the joints from fire exposure.

A partial list of conditions where safeguarding is required includes the following:

 Paragraph 305.2.2, use of ASTM A 134 pipe made from ASTM A 285 plate and A 139
pipe for other than Category D Fluid Service
 Paragraph 308.2.4, use of flanges other than weld neck flanges meeting certain criteria
for severe cyclic conditions
 Paragraph 313, use of expanded joints when the fluid is toxic or damaging to human
tissue
 Table 314.2.1, use of threaded joints in sizes larger than DN 50 (NPS 2) when the fluid
is flammable, toxic, or damaging to human tissue
 Paragraph 314.2.2, use of straight-threaded joints under severe cyclic conditions when
the joint is subject to external moment loadings
 Paragraph 315.2, use of flared, flareless, or compression-type tubing fittings covered
by listed standards, in normal fluid service, subject to severe cyclic conditions
 Paragraph 317.2, use of brazed and braze-welded joints in fluid services that are
flammable, toxic, or damaging to human tissue
 Paragraph 318.2.3, use of bell and gland-type joints (other than caulked joints, which
are subject to further limitations in para. 316) under severe cyclic conditions
 Paragraph 323.2.2(d), exemption of safeguarded piping from impact testing based on
the stress state from external loads
 Paragraph 323.4.2, use of cast iron other than ductile iron permitted for specified
conditions only when safeguarded against excessive heat and thermal shock and
mechanical shock and abuse
 Paragraph A323.4.1, safeguarding against excessive temperature, shock, vibration,
pulsation, and mechanical abuse when nonmetallic materials are used in any fluid
service
 Paragraph A323.4.2(a), use of thermoplastics in other than Category D fluid service
 Paragraph A323.4.2(b), use of reinforced plastic mortar (RPM) in other than Category
D Fluid Service
 Paragraph A323.4.2(c), use of reinforced thermosetting resin (RTR) piping in toxic or
flammable fluid service
 Paragraph A323.4.2(d), use of safeguarding against large, rapid temperature changes
when borosilicate glass and porcelain are used in any fluid service; additionally, use of
general safe-guarding when they are used in toxic or flammable fluid services
The following safeguards are also mentioned in the Code:
 Paragraph M300(d) requires consideration be given to additional engineered
safeguards for Category M fluid service.
 Paragraph FA323.4(b) (Appendix F) recommends safeguards for thermoplastic piping
in above ground compressed gas (including air) service.
Appendix G of ASME B31.3 discusses the concept of safeguarding and provides
examples of safeguarding by plant layout and operation and engineered safeguards.
Safeguarding requires addressing the potential consequences of failure. Therefore, the
hazardous properties of the fluid, the quantity of the fluid that could be released by a
piping failure, the consequences of such a release with respect to personnel exposure
and equipment damage (with potential additional consequences), and the conditions of
the environment and their effect on the hazards caused by a possible piping failure are
all considerations of safeguarding. These address the consequence aspect of risk. The
safety inherent in the piping by virtue of materials of construction, methods of joining,
and history of service reliability, also mentioned, addresses the probability-of-failure
aspect of risk.
Safeguarding by plant layout and operation includes the following examples from
Appendix G of ASME B31.3:
 Plant layout features, such as open-air process equipment structures; spacing and
isolation of hazardous areas; slope and drainage; buffer areas between plant
operations and populated communities; and control over plant access.
 Protective installations, such as fire protection systems; barricades or shields;
ventilation to remove corrosive or flammable vapors; instruments for remote monitoring
and control; and containment and/or recovery facilities or facilities (e.g., incinerators)
for emergency disposal of hazardous materials.
 Operating practices, such as restricted access to processing areas; work permit
system for hazardous work; and special training for operating, maintenance, and
emergency crews.
 Means for safe discharge of fluids released during pressure relief device operation,
blowdown, clean out, etc.
 Procedures for startup, shutdown, and management of operating conditions, such as
gradual pressurization or depressurization and gradual warmup or cooldown, to
minimize the possibility of piping failure, e.g., brittle fracture.
Examples of engineered safeguards include the following:
 Means to protect piping against possible failures, such as (1) thermal insulation,
shields, or process controls to protect from excessively high or low temperature and
thermal shock; (2) armor, guards, barricades, or other protection from mechanical
abuse; (3) damping or stabilization of process or fluid flow dynamics to eliminate or to
minimize or protect against destructive loads (e.g., severe vibration pulsations, cyclic
operating conditions).
 Means to protect people and property against harmful consequences of possible piping
failure, such as confining and safely disposing of escaped fluid by shields for flanged
joints, valve bonnets, gages, or sight glasses; or for the entire piping system if of
frangible material; limiting the quantity or rate of fluid escaping by automatic shut-off or
excess flow valves, additional block valves, flow-limiting orifices, or automatic
shutdown of pressure source; limiting the quantity of fluid in process at any time, where
feasible.
The above serve as examples of what is meant by safeguarding. They do not, however,
represent all the possibilities of how piping systems can be safeguarded. #Little_PEng