What is the difference between Code, Standard & Specification?

Summary

This lecture explores the concepts of standards, codes, and specifications in the process industry. Standards provide technical guidelines to ensure quality, safety, and compatibility across products, while codes are enforceable standards adopted by governments or contracts. Specifications define additional requirements tailored to specific materials or services. The lecture categorizes standards into system design codes, material standards, and dimensional standards, detailing their roles in design, fabrication, inspection, and installation. Emphasizing safety, reliability, and cost efficiency, the session highlights how consistent standards enable global compatibility, reduce inventory, and improve overall process system performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Standards are technical definitions and guidelines used by designers and manufacturers to ensure quality and safety.
• 😀 Codes are legally enforceable standards adopted by regulatory bodies or incorporated into business contracts.
• 😀 Specifications provide additional, project-specific requirements beyond what codes and standards mandate.
• 😀 Standards and codes ensure compatibility of components from different countries and manufacturers.
• 😀 System design codes cover material selection, design, fabrication, assembly, installation, inspection, and testing requirements.
• 😀 Material standards define acceptable materials, chemical and mechanical properties, manufacturing processes, heat treatment, testing methods, and permissible defects.
• 😀 Dimensional standards provide size, diameter, wall thickness, pressure/temperature ratings, bolting, threading, gasket requirements, and permissible variations for components.
• 😀 Adopting standards reduces production costs by enabling bulk manufacturing for global markets and minimizing inventory requirements.
• 😀 Codes and standards ensure safe, reliable, and economical installation and operation of process plants.
• 😀 In process industries, combining system design codes, material standards, and dimensional standards is essential for constructing safe and reliable systems.
• 😀 Specifications allow purchasers to customize products according to design and service conditions, ensuring all requirements are met.
• 😀 Following internationally accepted standards, like USB for electronics, ensures global compatibility and user confidence in product quality.

Q & A

What is a standard and why is it important in the process industry?

A standard is a set of technical definitions, guidelines, or instructions used by designers and manufacturers. It is important in the process industry because it ensures product quality, safety, and compatibility, allowing materials from different countries to fit together on-site and enabling efficient mass production.

Can you give examples of commonly used standards?

Examples of commonly used standards include AM (ASM), API, MSS, and ISO. AM alone has over 12,000 standards covering a wide range of products from toys to aircraft.

What is a code and how does it differ from a standard?

A code is a standard that has been adopted by a government body or included in a business contract, making it legally enforceable. While a standard serves as a guideline, a code specifies mandatory rules when legally adopted.

Why are codes necessary in the process industry?

Codes provide a set of rules specifying the minimum acceptable safety and quality levels for manufactured, fabricated, or constructed goods. They also reference standards or specifications for additional detailed requirements.

What is a specification and when is it used?

A specification provides additional requirements beyond code or standard requirements. It is used to address project-specific needs, such as material grades or chemical properties, allowing customization according to design and service conditions.

What are the three main categories of standards and codes?

The three main categories are: 1) System Design Codes, which cover complete system design and inspection requirements; 2) Material Standards, which define material properties, manufacturing processes, and testing; 3) Dimensional Standards, which specify sizes, tolerances, and component dimensions.

What do system design codes cover?

System design codes cover material selection, component types, design methodology, fabrication, assembly, installation, inspection, and testing requirements for an entire system.

What is included in material standards?

Material standards include manufacturing processes, chemical and mechanical properties, heat treatments, mechanical and non-destructive testing, inspection methods, marking requirements, permissible defects, and supplementary requirements.

What information do dimensional standards provide?

Dimensional standards provide component-specific requirements including sizes (inside and outside diameter), wall thickness, pressure and temperature ratings, flange and bolting specifications, threading, gasket thickness, finishes, and permissible dimensional variations.

Why are piping codes and standards critical for process plant installation?

Piping codes and standards ensure safe, reliable, and economical installation and operation by providing consistent dimensions and ratings for components. This reduces inventory requirements, improves system reliability, and lowers costs.

How do standards and codes help reduce production costs?

By standardizing components and processes, manufacturers can produce items in bulk for a global market, reducing material, production, and inventory costs while ensuring compatibility and quality.

What is the role of supplementary requirements in material standards?

Supplementary requirements are additional conditions listed in material standards that the purchaser can specify in a purchase order to address specific project or service needs beyond the base standard requirements.