ISO 13623

Covers — the full lifecycle of pipeline transportation systems for petroleum and natural gas: design, materials, construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and abandonment, onshore and offshore, with amendments extending scope to CO2 and hydrogen.

Does NOT cover (exclusions) — the following are governed elsewhere:

• North American pipeline design → ASME B31.4 (liquids) / B31.8 (gas).
• Submarine pipeline structural/limit-state detail → DNV-ST-F101 and DNV RPs.
• Plant/process piping → ASME B31.3; line-pipe material → API 5L.

ISO 13623 is the international pipeline code; jurisdiction and contract decide whether it or the ASME/regional codes govern.

ISO 13623 sets minimum requirements across the pipeline lifecycle:

• Design — pressure design using design factors linked to location/consequence class, plus loads for onshore/offshore.
• Materials & Construction — line-pipe/material selection, welding, and installation.
• Testing — pre-commissioning hydrostatic/pressure testing.
• Operation, Maintenance & Abandonment — integrity management and end-of-life provisions.

ISO 13623 is the international whole-lifecycle standard for petroleum and natural-gas pipeline transportation systems — the ISO counterpart to the ASME B31.4/B31.8 pair, used widely on international and non-North-American projects. It applies a design-factor/location-class approach across onshore and offshore pipelines and, via recent amendments, extends to CO2 and hydrogen service.

It covers design, materials, construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and abandonment. For submarine pipelines it is complemented by the DNV structural standards; line-pipe material comes from API 5L.

Engineering Note: Confirm the governing pipeline code first — ISO 13623, ASME B31.4/8, and regional codes use different design factors and location-class definitions, so mixing their rules on one project produces inconsistent wall thickness and safety margins.