A code is a standard that has been adopted by one or more governmental bodies and has the force of law, or when it has been incorporated into a business contract.
- Codes are generally the governing documents, providing a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for manufactured, fabricated or constructed objects.
- Most codes will provide acceptance and rejection criteria for the required inspections but often refer to the ASTM performance standards for the methodology used in applying the best nondestructive testing (NDT) method and technique.
- ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Codes are legally enforceable in many US states. Whereas, in the other part of the world they are not legally enforceable but such countries have their own similar codes.
Examples of some commonly used Codes are:
1.ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC)