Does anyone have experience at applying for a CRN (Canadian Registration Number) for Cat C valves/Balance Valves that are B16.34 design but are made from a material that is not listed in B16.34?
I know that there are two options:
1) Burst Proof Test witness by Third Party
2) Detailed engineering Calculations

Question: What exactly do they mean by Detailed Engineering Calculations?

My guess is that you are dealing with ABSA, which can be quite a challenge.

ABSA is responsible for the administration and delivery of safety programs related to boilers, pressure vessels and pressure piping systems in the province of Alberta, Canada.  In that ABSA's requirements are the most stringent in Canada, seeking a CRN issued through ABSA is often the best choice, because once you have an ABSA issued CRN, the submission to the remaining provinces can refer to the ABSA CRN.  While the other provinces are not required to issue a CRN on this basis (because they have their own law) they often will defer to ABSA's rigorous requrements.

I've not personally submitted a valve design package that included materials that were not shown in ASME B16.34, but I did discuss the issue with them, and the outlook is not too promising.  The issue at its core is that ABSA will not look past recognized codes when performing their survey of a design.  It's important to note that "recognized code" are codes recognized by ABSA, no one else.  For example, ASBA do not recognize ASME VIII Division 2, because it is alternate rules for pressure vessel design.  I've submitted flange design calculations in accordance to 2007 ASME VIII D2 paragraph 4.16, only to have them rejected on the basis that D2 provides alternate rules which are not recognized by ABSA.

This being said, my advice to you, for you material selection, is to find an internationally recognized design code (that ABSA recognizes) that provides pressure and temperature ratings for your material selection.  If such a design code does not exist, you will have to make a selection from ASME B16.34.  If you do not, ABSA will continue to reject your design.

To your question regarding what is meant by "detailed engineering calculations".  In my experience with ABSA, since their charter is essentially to provide engineering survey of pressure vessels and piping systems, for the purpose of public safety, they are only concerned with pressure containment.  They do not care a bit about valve performacne, or leakage rates, or stem thrust/torsion, only pressure containment.  So, the detailed engineering calculations you should provide are only those related to pressure containment.  Wall thickness, bolting end-load, bonnet bolting, weldment design for fabricated products, etc.  If your stat dec does not state full compliance to ASME B16.34, which yours may or may not, depending on your final material selection and the rest of your valve design, ABSA will require you to provide Finite Element Analysis of the pressure boundary (to prove your proprietary design), including all welded or bolted joints.  If your design has a flanged connection, as in a bonnet flange, and that flange is not in compliance with ASME B16.5 or ASME B16.47, then the FEA will have to include the flange design as well.  (Yes, this implies that ABSA expects bonnet flanges to meet ASME B16.5/16.47 because these are known and proven designs.)  ABSA provides details on their requirements for FEA at the link provided below.

MORE NEWS