Changes Needed to Address Current Institutional Problems

The voluntary support of ASME boiler and pressure vessel Code-writing activity began with the boiler manufacturer leaders getting together to address the problem of catastrophic failures of boilers and pressure vessels. Even into the 1970s, many companies sent their V-P level engineering people to the “Boiler Code”. Not just the major manufacturers, but also the architect-engineers, material suppliers, and inspection/insurance companies had staffs devoted to ASME codes and standards activities. In 1969 I was assigned to a group of four engineers whose full-time responsibility was to the work of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee. And there were many others in the company who were also heavily involved in these and other ASME standards committees. The companies were also making other related contributions, such as designing, manufacturing, and donating test vessels to industry R&D groups. All of this meant that we had a great deal of technical support, as well as the usual secretarial support. And six Code meetings per year.