Code Case N-513 provides evaluation rules and criteria for temporary acceptance of flaws, including through-wall flaws, in moderate energy piping. The application of the Code Case is restricted to moderate energy, Class 2 and 3 systems, so that safety issues regarding short-term, degraded system operation are minimized. The first version of the Code Case was published in 1997. Since then, there have been four revisions to augment and clarify the evaluation requirements and acceptance criteria of the Code Case that have been published by ASME. The technical bases for the original version of the Code Case and the four revisions have been previously published [1, 2, and 3].
There is currently work underway to incorporate additional changes to the Code Case and this paper provides the technical basis for the changes proposed in a fifth revision. These changes include clarification for buried piping, investigation of various radii used in the Code Case, removal of the 0.1 limit on the flexibility characteristic for elbow flaw evaluation, and an update of the stress intensity factor parameters for circumferential through-wall flaws. In addition, a new flaw evaluation procedure is given for through-wall flaws in gate valve body ends. This procedure evaluates flaws in the end of the valve body as if in straight pipe. These changes and their technical bases are described in this paper. Clarifications and changes deemed editorial are not documented in this paper.
