The 19th edition of CSA B51 is here, and in it are a number of key changes aimed at enhanced safety in the design, construction, installation, operation, inspection, testing, and repair practices for boilers, pressure vessels, fittings, and piping. Developed and maintained by a technical committee comprising over 75 technical experts from across North America under the jurisdiction of the Mechanical Industrial Equipment Safety Strategic Steering Committee, this standard has undergone the following changes to help the industry keep pace with advancements in technologies and adapt to the changing needs of regulators and the marketplace at large.

Here are the top changes you should know:

• New information for Canadian Registration Numbers CRNs  is provided for registering designs with the local regulator.
• Various enhancements have been made throughout the  CSA B51 that align with the ASME code, such as requirements for liquid phase thermal fluid heaters and consideration when necessary of alternative loadings when designing a boiler.
• Guidance for condition assessments on high-energy steam (HES) piping systems addresses new safety concerns around this equipment.
• Proper identification is ensured through revised requirements for nameplate stampings on equipment.
• Expanded requirements for additional information that mustnow be included on manufacturer data reports. Existing data report forms in Annex D have been revised to reflect these expanded requirements, and ten new data report templates have been added to help align with the corresponding ASME code forms. These forms are now electronically fillable in the PDF.
• Changes have been made to the general requirements for getting approval of pressure piping systems by the regulatory authority.
• New provisions address boilers that allow for very small clearances upon installation.
• A gap in boiler design codes was closed by adding consideration of loadings such as superimposed static reactions from weight of attached equipment, cyclic and dynamic reactions, temperature gradients, and test pressure.
• The cold-stretch technique for pressure vessels, a relatively new technology used to enhance material properties, has been addressed in a new mandatory annex.
• Requirements were refined for design and installation of pressure relief devices and discharge piping, including updates to the maximum in-service testing and service intervals.
• Updates and enhancements were made to the annexes on automotive propane vessels and historical boilers.
• Requirements have been updated for high-pressure natural gas and hydrogen cylinders used as fuel for automotive use.

CSA B51 is now available on the CSA Store.