Pipeline Personnel Qualification

ASME Code for Pressure Piping, B31

AN A MERICAN NA TIONAL S T AND ARD

Pipeline Personnel Qualification

ASME Code for Pressure Piping, B31

AN AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Date of Issuance: June 30, 2014

The next edition of this Standard is scheduled for publication in 2016.

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CONTENTS

iii

FOREWORD

Using pipelines for the transmission and distribution of gas and hazardous liquids is one of the safest forms of transportation. However, investigations of pipeline accidents from 1975 through 1986 revealed that human error was a contributing factor to some failures. The failures prompted the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to make explicit recommendations for the training, testing, and qualification of pipeline employees in 1987. The qualification of pipeline personnel is an important measure against failures caused by human error.

The development of this Standard originated from the need for the pipeline industry to take a rational and technical approach to operator qualification (OQ) and from regulatory actions in the United States from 1987 through 2003. In 1987, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a notice inviting public comment on the need for additional regulations or a certification program for the qualification of personnel who design, construct, operate, and maintain gas or hazardous liquid pipelines. Shortly thereafter, work began in the United States Congress to amend the Pipeline Safety Laws to include OQ requirements. The Pipeline Safety Act of 1992 included language requiring that personnel responsible for the operation and maintenance of pipelines be tested for qualifications and certified to operate and maintain those pipelines.

In response to this congressional action, DOT published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in 1994 to establish specific training requirements for the qualification of pipeline workers. This training rule met with varying responses, including a petition for withdrawal of the NPRM from pipeline industry representatives. In the meantime, Congress amended the 1992 law with the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 1996 requiring simply that individuals who operate or maintain pipelines be qualified. In addition, this Act required that the qualifications address the ability to recognize and react appropriately to abnormal operating conditions (AOCs) that may indicate a potentially dangerous situation or a condition exceeding design limits. In 1996, DOT withdrew the 1994 proposed rulemaking and simultaneously issued a notice to form a negotiated rulemaking committee (RegNeg Committee) to develop a final rule on the qualification of pipeline personnel.

The negotiated rulemaking process was intended to provide an opportunity for affected parties to present their views and reach a consensus on a proposed qualification rule. The RegNeg Committee members came from various organiza- tions representing broad interests, including industry, government, labor, and the public. The committee met several times from 1997 through 1999, when consensus on the final rule was reached.

The Final Rule on the Qualification of Pipeline Personnel was issued by DOT on August 27, 1999. This final rule delin- eated the essential elements of a qualification program and limited the scope of the rule with a four-part test for covered tasks. It also set timeframes for the development of the operators’ qualification programs and the completion of initial qualification of pipeline personnel in 2002.

The Final Rule was not prescriptive, and the resulting flexibility built into the performance-based rule made it dif- ficult to measure operators’ compliance with the rule. This led to the development of “protocols” to assist regulators in the evaluation of qualification programs. Protocols were finalized after a series of public meetings in 2003; however, dif- ferences still existed between the pipeline industry and DOT regarding the implementation, inspection, and subsequent enforcement of the OQ rule. Both groups committed to the development of a national consensus code on personnel qualification, where the outstanding issues could be resolved.

The pipeline industry approached ASME International to sponsor the development of a consensus code on pipeline personnel qualification. The ASME Standard for Pressure Piping, B31 Committee formed the B31Q Project Team on Qualification of Pipeline Operators. This project team met for the first time in August 2003 and began the task of crafting a consensus code for the qualification of pipeline personnel to resolve the outstanding issues and maintain as much of the current regulatory requirements as possible.

The B31Q Project Team included representatives from federal and state regulatory agencies, contractors, industry associations, labor, and three industry sectors: hazardous liquid, gas transmission, and local distribution companies. The project team met regularly over a period of 20 months to reach consensus on the content of the code. Additional resources, including Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), industry associations, and service providers, were utilized regu- larly. In all, over 100 people worked diligently within the ASME process, utilizing technically based data where possible, in an attempt to meet the diverse needs of the industry and regulators. Unlike most ASME standards, however, this Standard is focused on the human aspects of operating and maintaining pipeline equipment instead of on the instruc- tions for designing or operating this equipment. Therefore, technical-based data were not always available. For those areas where technically based data did not exist, the project team utilized accepted industry practices or reached consen- sus within the Project Team. Nonmandatory appendices, which include a covered task list, have been added to provide additional guidance to assist pipeline operators in developing or modifying their personnel qualification programs.

iv

This Standard provides general and specific requirements for the qualification of pipeline personnel. The implemen- tation of this Standard is intended to minimize the impact on safety and integrity of the pipeline due to human error that may result from an individual’s lack of knowledge, skills, or abilities during the performance of certain activities. This Standard does not impose a requirement to perform specific tasks that affect the safety or integrity of the pipeline. It does, however, set the requirements for qualification of individuals in the event these types of tasks are performed.

This Standard establishes the requirements for identifying covered tasks that impact the safety or integrity of pipe- lines performed during operation, maintenance, or construction, properly qualifying individuals to perform those tasks, and for managing the qualifications of pipeline personnel. Design and engineering tasks are excluded because assur- ance of their quality is provided by the fact that appropriately educated or experienced individuals perform these tasks using guidelines and procedures for the conduct of their work. In addition, the quality of the work product is generally confirmed procedurally through review and ultimately by field inspection and testing of the design that are required by the applicable ASME Standard (B31.4 and B31.8 for hazardous liquid pipelines and gas pipelines, respectively) and jurisdictional authority. Design and engineering tasks involving analysis and integration of data associated with integ- rity management are excluded from this Standard.

It is recognized that this Standard is being issued at a time when numerous entities have previously developed and implemented qualification programs. Therefore, as part of implementation of this Standard, the implementer should determine what changes to provisions of its existing program (e.g., span of control, subsequent qualification intervals, evaluation methods) are required to meet this Standard. An individual qualified to perform a covered task under the existing program could be considered to be qualified under the program described by this Standard. Individuals cur- rently qualified under an existing program can maintain their qualifications by meeting the subsequent qualification requirements established in this Standard. A documented performance evaluation, if not previously performed for a task that requires performance evaluation for initial qualification under this Standard, should be performed either dur- ing the implementation period or at the time of subsequent qualification.

Suggestions for the improvement of this Standard are welcome. They should be addressed to The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Secretary, B31 Standards Committee, Two Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5990.

This Standard was approved as an American National Standard on April 15, 2014.

This Foreword is provided as an aid to the user and is not part of the requirements of this Standard. This Foreword should not be interpreted as containing any requirements or limits enforceable or auditable by any entity. Where, in the judgment of the Committee, any of the topics covered by this Foreword ought to be addressed in the requirements of this Standard, appropriate requirements have been formulated and included in the body of this Standard.

v

ASME B31 COMMITTEE

Standard for Pressure Piping

STANDARDS COMMITTEE OFFICERS

J. E. Meyer, Chair

J. W. Frey, Vice Chair

N. Lobo, Secretary

STANDARDS COMMITTEE PERSONNEL

G. A. Antaki, Ex-Officio, Becht Engineering Co.

R. J. T. Appleby, ExxonMobil Development Co.

C. Becht IV, Becht Engineering Co.

A. E. Beyer, Fluor Enterprises

K. C. Bodenhamer, Willbros Professional Services, Engineering

R. Bojarczuk, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co.

C. J. Campbell, Air Liquide

J. S. Chin, TransCanada Pipeline U.S.

D. D. Christian, Victaulic

R. P. Deubler, Fronek Power Systems, LLC

1. Eskridge, Jr., Jacobs Engineering

2. J. Fetzner, BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc.

P. D. Flenner, Flenner Engineering Services

J. W. Frey, Stress Engineering Services, Inc.

D. R. Frikken, Becht Engineering Co.

R. A. Grichuk, Fluor Corp.

R. W. Haupt, Pressure Piping Engineering Associates, Inc.

L. E. Hayden, Jr., Ex-Officio, Consultant

B. P. Holbrook, Babcock Power, Inc.

G. A. Jolly, Flowserve/Gestura, USA

A. J. Livingston, Ex-Officio, Kinder Morgan

N. Lobo, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

W. J. Mauro, American Electric Power

J. E. Meyer, Louis Perry and Associates, Inc.

T. Monday, Team Industries, Inc.

G. R. Petru, Enterprise Products Co.

E. H. Rinaca, Dominion Resources, Inc.

M. J. Rosenfeld, Kiefner and Associates, Inc.

J. T. Schwartz, Southwest Gas Corp.

S. K. Sinha, Lucius Pitkin, Inc.

W. J. Sperko, Sperko Engineering Services, Inc.

J. Swezy, Jr., Boiler Code Tech, LLC

F. W. Tatar, FM Global

K. A. Vilminot, Black and Veatch

B31 QUALIFICATION OF PIPELINE PERSONNEL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

A. J. Livingston, Chair, Kinder Morgan

M. Burkhart, Vice Chair, Nicor Gas

P. D. Stumpf, Secretary, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

L. B. Ables, Contributing Member, Enterprise Products

T. Cash, Veriforce

A. Chamblin, Kinder Morgan

J. S. Chin, TransCanada Pipeline U.S.

R. L. Cooper, T. D. Williamson, Inc.

K. Denny, Spectra Energy

T. Eng, California Public Utilities Commission

1. Evans, USDOT/PHMSA

   V. Frederick III, Henkels & McCoy

2. Frye, Jr., Arizona Corp. Commission

S. Goodman, CenterPoint Energy

C. Grimard, TECO Peoples Gas

M. A. Gruenberg, Southwest Gas Corp.

S. C. Gupta, Contributing Member, Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd.

D. Haifleigh, Flint Hills Resources, LP

T. Hall, Contributing Member, Sunoco Logistics, LP

B. A. Heck, Miller Pipeline Corp.

L. L. Hughes, LECET

G. W. Isbell, Contributing Member, ENERGY Worldnet, Inc.

D. D. Lykken, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

W. B. McGaughey, Jr., Contributing Member, Veriforce

T. Meek, Kinder Morgan

W. Miller, USDOT/PHMSA

D. K. Moore, TransCanada Pipeline U.S.

L. P. Murray, Midwest Energy Association

K. Riddle, Magellan Midstream Partners, LP

D. Ristig, CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission

J. T. Schmitz, Southwest Gas Corp.

G. Shaw, Contributing Member, Colonial Pipeline Co.

L. Simpson, Enterprise Products

R. C. Smith, AGL Resources

R. L. Stump, Consumers Energy

J. Trevino, Valero

J. Urtz, LIUNA Training & Education Fund

J. W. Frey, Chair, Stress Engineering Services, Inc.

B31 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

H. Kutz, Johnson Controls Corp./York Process Systems

N. Lobo, Secretary, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

G. A. Antaki, Becht Engineering Co.

R. J. T. Appleby, ExxonMobil Development Co.

D. D. Christian, Victaulic

D. R. Frikken, Becht Engineering Co.

R. A. Grichuk, Fluor Corp.

L. E. Hayden, Jr., Consultant

A. J. Livingston, Kinder Morgan

J. E. Meyer, Louis Perry and Associates, Inc.

M. L. Nayyar, NICE

G. R. Petru, Enterprise Products Co.

S. K. Sinha, Lucius Pitkin, Inc.

J. Swezy, Jr., Boiler Code Tech, LLC

vi

B31 FABRICATION AND EXAMINATION TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

J. Swezy, Jr., Chair, Boiler Code Tech, LLC

F. Huang, Secretary, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

R. Campbell, Bechtel National, Inc.

D. Couch, EPRI

R. J. Ferguson, Metallurgist

P. D. Flenner, Flenner Engineering Services

S. Gingrich, URS Corp.

J. Hainswertz, Consultant

A. D. Nalbandian, Thielsch Engineering, Inc.

R. J. Silvia, Process Engineers and Constructors, Inc.

W. J. Sperko, Sperko Engineering Services, Inc.

P. L. Vaughan, ONEOK Partners

K. Wu, Stellar Energy Systems

B31 MATERIALS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

R. A. Grichuk, Chair, Fluor Corp.

N. Lobo, Secretary, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

W. P. Collins, WPC Sol, LLC

R. P. Deubler, Fronek Power Systems, LLC

Z. Djilali, Contributing Member, BEREP

W. H. Eskridge, Jr., Aker Kvaerner E & C

G. Jolly, Consultant

C. Melo, S & B Engineers & Constructors, Ltd.

M. L. Nayyar, NICE

M. B. Pickell, Willbros Engineer, Inc.

D. W. Rahoi, Metallurgist

R. A. Schmidt, Canadoil

H. R. Simpson, Stantec

J. L. Smith, Jacobs Engineering Group

B31 MECHANICAL DESIGN TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

G. A. Antaki, Chair, Becht Engineering Co.

J. C. Minichiello, Vice Chair, Bechtel National, Inc.

R. Lucas, Secretary, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

D. Arnett, Fluor Enterprises, Inc.

C. Becht IV, Becht Engineering Co.

R. Bethea, HII-Newport News Shipbuilding

J. P. Breen, Becht Engineering Co.

P. Cakir-Kavcar, Bechtel Corp.

N. F. Consumo, Consultant

J. P. Ellenberger, Consultant

D. J. Fetzner, BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc.

D. Fraser, NASA Ames Research Center

J. A. Graziano, Consultant

R. W. Haupt, Pressure Piping Engineering Associates, Inc.

B. P. Holbrook, Babcock Power, Inc.

H. Kosasayama, Delegate, JGC Corp.

W. J. Koves, Pi Engineering Software, Inc.

R. A. Leishear, Savannah River National Laboratory

G. D. Mayers, Alion Science and Technology

J. McCabe, General Dynamics Electric Boat

T. Q. McCawley, TQM Engineering PC

J. E. Meyer, Louis Perry and Associates, Inc.

A. W. Paulin, Paulin Resource Group

R. A. Robleto, KBR

E. C. Rodabaugh, Honorary Member, Consultant

M. J. Rosenfeld, Kiefner and Associates, Inc.

T. Sato, Japan Power Engineering & Inspection Corp.

G. Stevick, Berkeley Engineering and Research, Inc.

A. Bell, Bonneville Power Administration

R. A. Coomes, Commonwealth of Kentucky

D. H. Hanrath, Consultant

1. J. Harvey, Alabama Public Service Commission

2. T. Jagger, Ohio Department of Commerce

K. T. Lau, Alberta Boilers Safety Association

B31 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

P. Sher, State of Connecticut

M. E. Skarda, Arkansas Department of Labor

D. A. Starr, Nebraska Department of Labor

D. J. Stursma, Iowa Utilities Board

R. P. Sullivan, NBBI

J. E. Troppman, Division of Labor/State of Colorado Boiler

R. G. Marini, New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission

I. W. Mault, Manitoba Department of Labour

A. W. Meiring, Fire and Building B & PV Division/Indiana

R. F. Mullaney, B & PV Safety Branch/Vancouver

Inspections

W. A. M. West, Lighthouse Assistance, Inc.

T. F. Wickham, Rhode Island Department of Labor

vii

INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

viii

ASME B31Q-2014

PIPELINE PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION

1. INTRODUCTION

   1. Scope

      This Standard establishes the requirements for devel- oping and implementing an effective Pipeline Personnel Qualification Program (qualification program) utiliz- ing a combination of technically based data, accepted industry practices, and consensus-based decisions. The Standard also offers guidance and examples of a variety of methods that may be used to meet selected requirements. The Standard specifies the requirements for identifying covered tasks that impact the safety or integrity of pipelines, for qualifying individuals to per- form those tasks, and for managing the qualifications of pipeline personnel.

      With the following exceptions, this Standard applies to tasks that impact the safety or integrity of pipelines:

      1. design or engineering tasks

      2. tasks that are primarily intended to ensure per- sonnel safety

         
         

   2. Purpose and Objectives

      The purpose of this Standard is to establish require- ments for the qualification and management of quali- fications for pipeline personnel. The objective of this Standard is intended to minimize the impact on safety and integrity of the pipeline due to human error that may result from an individual’s lack of knowledge, skills, or abilities during the performance of certain activities.

      Individuals who perform covered tasks and those indi- viduals responsible for ensuring a qualified workforce shall meet the applicable requirements of this Standard.