[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR56.50-15]

[Page 194-195]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 56_PIPING SYSTEMS AND APPURTENANCES--Table of Contents
 
    Subpart 56.50_Design Requirements Pertaining to Specific Systems
 
Sec. 56.50-15  Steam and exhaust piping.

    (a) The design pressures of the steam piping connected to the boiler 
drum or to the superheater inlet header shall not be less than the 
lowest pressure setting of any drum safety valve. The value of allowable 
stress for the material shall not exceed that corresponding to the 
saturated steam temperature at drum pressure and shall be selected as 
described in Sec. 56.07-10(e).
    (b) Main superheater outlet piping systems, desuperheated piping 
systems, and other auxiliary superheated piping systems led directly 
from the boiler superheater shall be designed for a pressure not less 
than the pressure at which the superheater safety valve is set. In the 
case of a superheated safety valve which is drum pilot actuated, the 
design pressure of such piping systems shall not be less than the 
pressure setting of the actuator valve on the drum. Where it can be 
shown that the limitations set forth in 102.2.4 of ANSI-B31.1 will not 
be exceeded, the design pressure of such piping systems may be reduced 
but shall not be less than the

[[Page 195]]

pressure setting of the actuator valve on the drum less the pressure 
drop through the superheater, including associated piping and a control 
desuperheater if fitted, at the normal rated operating condition. In 
both cases, the value of allowable stress shall be selected using a 
temperature not less than that of the steam at the superheater outlet at 
the normal rated operating conditions in accordance with Sec. 56.07-
10(e). Valves and fittings shall be selected for the above temperature 
and pressure from the accepted standards in Table 56.60-1(b), using the 
pressure-temperature rating in the standard.
    (c) Steam stop valves in sizes exceeding 6 inches shall be fitted 
with bypasses for heating the line and equalizing the pressure before 
the valve is opened.
    (d) In multiple boiler installations each boiler's main, auxiliary 
and desuperheated steam lines shall be fitted with two valves, one a 
stop valve and one a stop check valve.
    (e) Main and auxiliary steam stop valves must be readily accessible, 
operable by one person and arranged to seat against boiler pressure.
    (f) Where vessels are equipped with more than one boiler, the 
auxiliary steam piping shall be so arranged that steam for the whistle, 
steering gear, and electric-lighting plant may be supplied from any 
power boiler.
    (g) Steam and exhaust pipes shall not be led through coal bunkers or 
dry cargo spaces unless approved by the Commandant.
    (h)(1) Steam piping, with the exception of the steam heating system, 
must not be led through passageways, accommodation spaces, or public 
spaces unless the arrangement is specifically approved by the Marine 
Safety Center.
    (2) Steam pressure in steam heating systems must not exceed 150 
pounds per square inch gage, except that steam pressure for 
accommodation and public space heating must not exceed 45 pounds per 
square inch gage.
    (3) Steam lines and registers in non-accommodation and non-public 
spaces must be suitably located and/or shielded to minimize hazards to 
any personnel within the space. Where hazards in a space cannot be 
sufficiently minimized, the pressure in the steam line to that space 
must be reduced to a maximum of 45 pounds per square inch gage.
    (4) High temperature hot water for heating systems may not exceed 
375 [deg]F.
    (i) Where positive shutoff valves are fitted in the exhaust lines of 
machinery, and the exhaust side, including engine steam cylinders and 
chests, turbine casings, exhaust piping and shutoff valves, is not 
designed for the full inlet pressure, the exhaust side must be protected 
from over pressure by one of the following means:
    (1) A full flow relief valve in the exhaust side so set and of 
sufficient capacity to prevent the exhaust side from being accidentally 
or otherwise subjected to a pressure in excess of its maximum allowable 
pressure.
    (2) A sentinel relief valve or other warning device fitted on the 
exhaust side together with a back pressure trip device which will close 
the inlet valve prior to the exhaust side pressure exceeding the maximum 
allowable pressure. A device that will throttle the inlet valve, so that 
the exhaust side does not exceed the maximum allowable pressure, may be 
substituted for the back pressure trip.
    (j) Shore steam connections shall be fitted with a relief valve set 
at a pressure not exceeding the design pressure of the piping.
    (k) Means must be provided for draining every steam pipe in which 
dangerous water hammer might otherwise occur.

[CGFR 68-82, 33 FR 18843, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGFR 69-127, 35 
FR 9978, June 17, 1970; CGFR 72-59R, 37 FR 6189, Mar. 25, 1972; CGD 73-
254, 40 FR 40165, Sept. 2, 1975; CGD 77-140, 54 FR 40607, Oct. 2, 1989; 
CGD 83-043, 60 FR 24772, May 10, 1995]