Scribd
Upload
38 views7 pages

Codes & Standards for I&C Engineers

Uploaded by

darkmahn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
38 views7 pages

Codes & Standards for I&C Engineers

Uploaded by

darkmahn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 7

Introduction to Codes and Standards

that are useful for I&C Engineers

Regardless of industry, codes and standards developed by


organizations including ISO, ANSI, and IEEE are an integral part
of the environment in which we work and have a major
influence on engineering and design.
Every engineering discipline uses codes and standards. Some codes and
standards are specific to an engineering discipline while some cross
multiple disciplines. This article will focus on United States standards,
as the U.S. and other standards vary greatly and could be the subject of
another article in itself.

What is the Difference Between a Code and a Standard?

Before you can figure out what codes and standards you should focus
on, you need to understand what they are and some of the differences.

A standard is a technical guideline used by manufacturers and


engineers in order to create a uniform product that can be produced
independently by unrelated individuals, groups or companies.
Adherence to standard by a manufacturer or company can be optional
or have options that allow the user some leeway.

Mobile phones are a good example of the optional use of a standard.


Not all mobile phones have adopted the same standard for the
communications and charging port, but those that do adhere to a
particular standard, are all interchangeable.

A code is a set of rules, sometimes adopted by law, that manufacturers


and engineers must abide by to achieve a satisfactory level of safety
and reliability.

Codes are stricter than standards, especially if adopted by law.


Noncompliance to codes can have dire consequences that could result
in accidents, injury or even death. A code may dictate how the
structure of a building is constructed and which materials are used. Not
following the code may result in the building collapsing and the
potential for injury by its inhabitants.
What Codes and Standards do you need to study as C&I Engineers?

There are thousands of published codes and standards out there and it
is inconceivable for any one person to be thoroughly knowledgeable in
all of them. The key is to be familiar with them and be able to quickly
recall which codes or standards apply to your current situation or
circumstance.

Codes and standards are not written with the intent of capturing your
imagination and sweeping you away to a far-off distant land like many
novels, so reading them can be a chore. Nonetheless, sometimes the
best introduction to a code or standard is by reading, or at the very
least, skimming through the pages from front to back.

You should not go out and try to do this to every code and standard
published but to the few that will be re-occurring in your daily
professional career. The standard or code should then be revisited as
needed by your current assignment at which time a more in-depth
understanding may be required.

Who are the Code and Standard Organizations?

Following are some of the major organizations that individually


contribute hundreds, some even thousands, of codes or standards
across all disciplines and multiple industries.
Abbreviation Organization
ANSI American National Standards Institute
API American Petroleum Institute
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM
ASTM International)
DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
International Society of Automation formerly Instrument
ISA Society of America
ISO International Organization for Standardization
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
SAE Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE International)

Not all of the above organizations will apply to every industry, but being
aware of their existence, and which codes and standards may apply to
your application will help prepare you when your industry crosses paths
with another.
Code and standard organizations are responsible for uniformity,
security, and safety of processes across many industries.

What Industry Standards are relevant to C&I Engineer Career?

Your career path and the industry you work in is going to determine
which codes and standards are relevant for you, but there are a few
that are difficult to avoid no matter what industry you serve.

Below is a partial list of standards that have been particularly useful in


my career.

Abbreviation Code/Standard
BPVC Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
B31.1 Pressure Piping Code – Power Piping
B31.2 Pressure Piping Code – Fuel Gas Piping
B31.3 Pressure Piping Code – Process Piping
ISA-5.1 Instrumentation Symbols and Identification
ISA-5.4 Instrument Loop Digrams
Human Machine Interfaces for Process
ISA-101.01
Automation Systems
NFPA 70 National Electric Code
NFPA 79 Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery
NFPA 85 Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code
NFPA 86 Standard for Ovens and Furnaces

ISA
As an I&C Engineer, the ISA is going to be high on the list for your
source of standards that are bound to be relevant in your field.

By far, the most popular standard is ISA-5.1, Instrumentation Symbols


and Identification.

Originally developed in 1949, this standard continues to be the


roadmap used in the development of the P&ID (Process and Instrument
Diagram) across U.S. factories, power plants, and refineries. ISA-5.1 has
evolved over the years during my career to now include much more
than just P&ID symbols.

As of the latest revision (2009), the standard now includes binary logic
and function block symbols as well as electrical schematic symbols. This
standard is a “must-read” for any person designing, reviewing or even
using P&IDs.
NFPA and NEC
There are several codes and standards published by the NFPA that I feel
are applicable to C&I Engineers. The NEC (National Electric Code) has
several sections that can affect decisions you may make like choosing
instrument housing types; wiring practices; grounding; and more.

NFPA 85 is applicable to any engineer involved in the engineering of


boilers and other combustions systems. NFPA 79 is a good place for
equipment manufacturers to start when designing machinery with
automation and control.

ASME
As a mechanical engineer in the power or process industry, the ASME
Boiler and Pressure Vessel code along with the various Pressure Piping
Codes will be open on your desk constantly. But it’s not a bad idea, as
an I&C Engineer, to be at least familiar with their purpose as well and
be vaguely familiar with some of the major portions of these codes.

The recommendations in this article can only begin to graze the surface
of the piles of codes and standards that you may come across in your
career as an I&C Engineer.

Many factors, such as your industry, customer expectations, and your


engineering discipline will greatly affect the codes and standards that
you come in contact with every day.

Hopefully, this article has sparked your interest enough to at least


explore some of the codes and standards mentioned as well as
researching further into more of the codes and standards that surround
this field we call engineering.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy