When shopping their options for industrial heating equipment, plant and facility managers often wonder about which codes and standards they truly need to adhere to in order to get the best equipment.
With so many requirements, codes, and regulating agencies out there, it can be hard to know what’s really important when it comes to investing in equipment that’s safe, efficient, and ultimately worth the expense.
One question we often hear from clients and potential customers as they’re doing their research before choosing an industrial heater or heating system is: What’s the difference between ASME code and API code? They are often aware of the importance of both, but not entirely certain how the two codes differ and if one, the other, or both apply to the equipment they’re planning to purchase.
Here, we’ll delve into the details of these two codes to showcase their differences and explain why they’re both important when it comes to industrial heating equipment.
Understanding ASME Code: What It is and Why It Matters for ASME Industrial Heaters
ASME code – also known by its longer name: ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code – regulates the design, development, and manufacturing of boilers used in a variety of industries and applications.
This code was developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, an organization that has been around for well over 100 years and is focused on establishing safety codes and standards for mechanical equipment.
Within the industrial heating industry, ASME code is the established standard that many pieces of equipment are built to.
Heating systems that adhere to the specifications set forth by ASME code have been constructed according to guidelines intended to promote safety and quality. As such, heating equipment that is ASME code compliant has been thoroughly inspected to assure that it meets high safety and quality standards.
Understanding API Code: What It is and Why It Matters for API Industrial Heaters
API specifications are recommended practices developed based on insight gleaned from the petroleum and petrochemical industry – which makes sense given that API stands for American Petroleum Institute.
API standards are intended to encourage safety in the oil and natural gas industries specifically. Some of the specifications established by the API have actually been incorporated into state and federal regulations for industrial heating equipment.
As a result, if you invest in API-style equipment, you may be meeting other regulations and standards that apply to your industry and facility as well.
API-style thermal fluid heaters have a few key features, including coil type, capacity, efficiency, and ease of maintenance – among others – that differentiate them from non-API thermal fluid heaters. For more details about what sets API-style equipment apart, check out our comparison of API-style vs. non-API heaters.
You can learn more about API specifications and why they are important here.
Shopping for Heating Equipment for Your Facility? Wondering Which Codes and Specifications You Should Follow? We Can Help.
At American Heating Company, we’ve been manufacturing heating equipment for customers in a wide variety of industries for decades. During our tenure, we’ve learned a lot about codes and specifications, including API code, ASME code and many others.
If you’re in the market for new heating equipment and looking for some guidance in terms of which codes apply to your facility, industry and heating equipment, we can point you in the right direction.
Ready to invest in new equipment for your facility? Our thermal fluid heaters and industrial heating equipment adhere to many of the established standards, plus we can build systems to suit your specifications.
We can help you find a solution that meets your needs and adheres to the appropriate codes. Call us today at (715) 748-5888 or contact us online to get the conversation started.
Interested in learning more about our equipment? You can review some of the major advantages of investing in heaters and heating systems designed and manufactured by American Heating Company here.
Shopping your options? Find answers to frequently asked questions about industrial heaters and heating equipment here.