Creating the Plant Pipe Code

W.N. Weaver, PE

1. INTRODUCTION

Pipes codes are used to standardize piping practices in a facility, to ensure each fluid is
conveyed in the appropriate materials, to control piping costs and to ensure plant safety.
There are multiple pipe codes in use in the various industries involved with pipe; some
are listed below:

ASME BPE For the pharmaceutical industry

ASME B31 Pressure piping
B31.1 Power Piping
B31.2 Fuel Gas Piping
B31.3 Process Piping
B31.4 Liquid Hydrocarbon Transmission Pipelines
B31.5 Refrigerant Piping
B31.8 Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines
B31.9 Building Services
API Piping in the Petroleum Industries
ASHRAE Refrigerant piping
AWWA American Water Works Associations water piping
Local governments Potable water
Local governments Waste water
Local governments Storm water
Hydraulic systems Tubing and piping for high pressure fluid power systems
NFPA Sprinkler piping
NFPA Extinguishing agent piping

Creating proper pipe codes for your facility is generally a combined effort between
engineering, operations and maintenance. Where available piping, corrosion and welding
engineers should be included in the design group.
It is not necessary to start the creation process with a blank sheet of paper; starting from
an existing national code simplifies the process and gives everyone a view of what the
finished product should look like and contain.
Before we go further let us see why we even need a pipe code. It’s generally easier to
produce an appropriate document if we understand the reason we need the document in
the first place.

2. WHY HAVE A PIPE CODE?

Most process plants have pipe codes in place which are used for bidding, construction,
new design planning, and repairs. Several points will indicate some of the benefits of
internal pipe codes.

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 2 of 19

• Pressure safety
• Ensures proper wall thickness, connection types and gasketing to hold the
required pressure
• Consistency of connection types
• Ensures proper joint efficiencies, gaskets and flange types to maintain design
conditions
• Consistency in materials of construction for specific fluids
• Ensures corrosion is controlled
• Pre use testing of new and or repaired pipe lines
• Provides standardized testing for all pipe codes
• Proper gasket materials selection
• Ensures gaskets reflect corrosion research and pressure requirements
• Proper structural support for pipe lines
• Provides pipe span details for each pipe size and schedule
• Control of fugitive emissions from the piping system
• Reduces fugitive emissions by reducing leaks from improperly selected
connections
• Reduction or elimination of contamination of raw materials and products
• Reduces corrosion contamination by ensuring proper materials for each fluid
• Reduction in leakage which results in money saved in raw materials and finished
product, reduces environmental problems, reduces fire and injury hazards
• Maximizes control of leakage by ensuring proper gaskets and joint types

Some cities and counties have had individual disaster experiences, which have caused
them to institute pipe codes for specific materials within their political jurisdictions.
These may well be more restrictive than the recognized national codes.
Certain areas of the country exposed to hazards specific to their locations have added
requirements to piping systems which, are more restrictive than those in other areas. As
an example you would expect California to have more requirements for pipe supports on
hazardous materials than non earthquake prone areas.
Individual facility pipe codes can generally be more restrictive than nationally recognized
codes. Great care and consultation with the company legal and insurance departments are
called for if the developed pipe code is less restrictive than the national standard.

3. WHY CREATE A PLANT PIPE CODE?

Why not just use an existing nationally recognized code? Let’s look at various materials
in pipes and see if we can find justification for facility specific pipe codes.

Compressed Air
Over the years I have seen or installed compressed air piping systems using the following
types of pipe:
Carbon steel, schedules 40 and 80
Stainless steel, schedules 5, 10, 20 and 40 using 304 and 316
Copper, K, L and M

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 3 of 19

 Copper pipe in .065 inch wall and schedule 40
Galvanized steel
PVC
Aluminum
Which is the correct one for your facility?

Common to almost all facilities is Potable Water (City Water and Well Water in some
companies)
Types of pipe encountered in use
Carbon steel
Stainless steel, schedules 5, 10, 20 and 40 using 304 and 316
Copper, K, L and M
Galvanized steel
PVC, schedules 40 and 80
CPVC
Glass
Fiber glass
Cast iron
Cement lined steel
Rubber lined steel

From these two examples it is obvious there are multiple codes for some fluids. More
importantly each of these codes does the job and is considered as a correct application for
the fluid by someone.

4. WHAT DOES THE PIPE CODE ACCOMPLISH?

A fully developed pipe code provides the following:

• Allowable design pressures

• Allowable temperatures
• Acceptable selection of materials of construction
• Pipe wall schedule verses fluid pressure
• Acceptable valve types
• Connections to be used for the pipe: welded, flanged, threaded, etc.
• Branch connection table
• Bolting for flanges
• Acceptable gasket materials
• Reinforcing requirements (reinforcing pads)
• Surface protection required
• Acceptable insulation
• Heat Tracing
• Heat or cooling jacketing
• Allowable unsupported spans
• Accepted methods of fabrication of the pipe

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 4 of 19

It is not necessary that all pipe codes contain all of the above items, later we’ll see how to
determine what is needed for your facility and how the facility can benefit by using a
home grown pipe code.

5. PIPING CONNECTION OPTIONS

Invariably pipes must be connected to other pipes, valves, instruments and equipment.
How these connections are made is critical to the longevity of the piping system and the
cost of maintenance. Additionally these connections frequently limit the allowable
pressure of the system.
Piping connections need to offer some or all of the following characteristics:

• Pressure tightness
• Fluid tightness
• Material compatibility
• Temperature capability
• Corrosion resistance
• Connection rigidity
• Connection longevity
• Relative ease of use

Commonly used piping connection methods include the following:

1. Socket welded
2. Butt welded
3. Threaded
4. Flanged
5. Grooved
6. Soldered
7. Brazed
8. Flare fittings
9. Silver soldered
10. Compression fittings
11. Adhesives
12. “O” ring fittings
13. Sheet metal couplings (ex. Morris Coupling)

1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are common in metal piping systems.

6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are common in metallic tubing systems
10, 11 and 12 are generally useful in plastic piping systems
12 and 13 are generally used in duct conveying systems

The acceptable connection systems for each pipe code should be included in the codes
you create.

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 5 of 19

6. POINTS TO CONSIDER

Most pipes have several mechanical properties to be considered when being selected for a
specific task. Let’s look at the two characteristics most often considered; Pressure Rating
and Allowable Temperature.

PRESSURE

Pipes have four pressures of importance.

• MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PRESSURE. Established by a nationally recognized

organization such as ASME, insurance, local political jurisdiction, or calculations
based on materials of construction structural properties.
• DESIGN PRESSURE. Established by the facility pipe code, perhaps a nationally
recognized code or the facility insurance carrier. Usually an arbitrarily selected value
which meets facility needs.
• OPERATING PRESSURE. Established by operational needs, the facility pipe code,
or a nationally recognized code. Another arbitrarily selected value which meets
facility needs.
• BURST PRESSURE. Established by the manufacturer or a national code such as
ASME / ASTM by actual testing or by calculations based on the metal alloy and
temperature.

TEMPERATURE

We also have several temperatures to consider.

• DESIGN TEMPERATURE. Established by the facility pipe code, perhaps a

nationally recognized code or the facility insurance carrier. Usually an arbitrarily
selected value which meets facility needs.
• OPERATING TEMPERATURE. Established by operational needs, the facility pipe
code, or a nationally recognized code. Another arbitrarily selected value which meets
facility needs.
• MAXIMUM USABLE TEMPERATURE. Established by the manufacturer or a
national code such as ASME / ASTM by actual testing or by calculations based on
the metal alloy.

Note that metal pipe (actually almost all pipe) has a temperature / pressure curve which
means that Design Pressure and Design Temperature must be considered together. As a
general rule metal pipe will withstand less pressure at higher temperature and in some
cases at lower temperatures as well. This tells us we must know the maximum expected
Operating Temperature before we can actually select a suitable material of construction

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 6 of 19

for the pipe. We must combine this information with the Design Pressure and potential
for corrosive attack in order to select the proper material.

This should be clearer if we look at some actual pipe ratings verses temperatures. First
let’s see what happens to the allowable stress, S, for A106 steel verses temperature. A106
is a common steel specification for pipe.

TEMPERATURE, ºF 150 250 350 400 500

ALLOWABLE STRESS, S, psi 12,000 11,520 11,040 10,800 10,320

TEMPERATURE, ºF 600 700 800 900 950

ALLOWABLE STRESS, S, psi 9,840 9,100 7,250 4,400 2,600

Note that the Allowable Stress decreases with rising temperature, this means we must
reduce the Operating Pressure as the temperature climbs, we must also reduce the Design
Pressure as the temperature rises. For some carbon steel alloys we also have a lower
acceptable operating temperature. Although not simply a pressure problem some carbon
steel alloy pipes become brittle below certain temperatures. For A105 that temperature is
about –20 ºF.

Therefore our Design Pressure / Design Temperature numbers need to take into account
both the reduction in Allowable Stress and the increase in low temperature shock
sensitivity for carbon steel pipe. Most pipe materials will experience a range of
temperatures below and above which they should not be used. Polymeric piping materials
have a relatively narrow temperature range between too brittle for use and too weak for
use because of loss of tensile strength caused by an increase in temperature.

The following shows what happens to Maximum Allowable Pressure, psig, for 2 inch
A106 Grade B schedule 40 steel pipe as the temperature rises. Reference ASME B31.1.

TEMPERATURE, ºF 100 200 300 400 500

ALLOWABLE PRESSURE, psi 1,783 1,783 1,783 1,783 1,783

TEMPERATURE, ºF 600 650 700 750

ALLOWABLE PRESSURE, psi 1,783 1,783 1,712 1545

Notice that the Allowable Pressure remains constant until we reach over 650 ºF. This
reflects the decrease in strength for carbon steel as the temperature rises; up to about 650
ºF the change in allowable stress per 100 degrees temperature rise is around -4%, at 650
the change jumps to -7.5% and continues to rise from there on.

Pipe burst strength and design pressures relate directly to allowable stress. The following
is the burst pressure for various sizes of schedule 40 wrought carbon steel pipe at
constant temperature. The decrease in burst strength is related to the decrease in hoop
strength. Allowable stress remains constant at constant temperature. Hoop strength
calculations incorporate Allowable Stress, diameter and wall thickness. This combination

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 7 of 19

causes the burst strength to decrease as diameter increases. Burst Pressure P = 2tS/D
where t = thickness, S = Allowable Stress and D = diameter.

SIZE, INCHES ½” ¾” 1” 1 & ¼” 1 & ½” 2”

BURST PRESSURE, PSI 10,380 8,610 8,090 6,745 6,100 5,185

We’re only interested in burst pressure in that it reflects on our safety factor; we would
never knowingly design or operate at or even near the burst pressure. ASME, other codes,
various government agencies and insurance companies dictate how closely we may
approach the burst pressure for a piece of pipe.

Following all this verbiage we need to select our design pressures based on a variety of
physical properties; most of the time it is easier and safer to accept allowable pressures
from someone like ASME and keep our design pressures at or below these values.

7. WHAT PIPING SYSTEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE PIPE CODES?

Generally all piping systems should be included in the plant pipe codes. These codes are
a tool for engineering, estimating, maintenance, construction and purchasing to use to
ensure proper piping installation in the plant therefore the maximum number of piping
systems should have specific codes created for them.
The field of pipe codes can be broad so to limit the topic we will concentrate on standard
pipe materials and common connection approaches. Understanding the necessary steps to
be used to develop one pipe code applies to all other codes. Most process facilities have
some or all of the following piping systems in use:

Utilities
Steam
Condensate
Tower Water
Compressed Air
Fuel Gas
Potable Water
Fuel Oil
Waste Water
Nitrogen
Rain Water (from building roof)
Storm Water (underground)
Hot Oil
Chilled Water
Brine Systems
Refrigerant
Vacuum
Engine Exhaust Piping
Dust Collection Systems
Lubricant Systems

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 8 of 19

 Process
Liquid Raw Materials (solvents, acids, caustics, other chemicals)
Finished Products
Heat Traced Pipe
Jacketed Pipe (heating or cooling)
Pneumatic Conveying Systems
Safety Systems
Sprinkler Piping
Safety Shower / Eyewash Stations
Pressure Relief Device Discharge Piping
Fire Lines

8. DEVELOPING THE CODE

A complete pipe code will contain significant information on the requirements the pipes
must meet during operation. Or stated differently, the pipe codes give us the acceptable
ranges of temperatures and pressures under which our facility has agreed a particular type
of pipe can be used. Notice that the authority in this case is “our facility”; it is no less an
authority than ASME or a local code and a violation of this code puts facility insurance
coverage in jeopardy. In the event of a failure of a piping system which results in lawsuits
the violation of a “plant standard” pipe code generally can be expected to have negative
effects in court.

The first activities in developing the code require we establish three process related
criteria:
• Corrosion Resistance For example this process requirement determines if we can
use carbon steel pipe or need a stainless alloy to resist the
effects of the fluids.
• Operating Temperature This criteria separates polymeric materials from most
metallic piping materials and is the expected normal or
maximum temperature the system will experience.
• Operating Pressure This criteria with the first two provides the data necessary
to determine the required wall thickness for the pipe and is
the expected normal or maximum pressure the system will
see.

Corrosion resistance can be determined from a variety of corrosion tables (Perry’s

Handbook, pipe manufacturer’s web sites, etc.), facility chemists and historical data from
the maintenance department. In addition to normal corrosion concerns maintenance
records, industry experience and insurance records may indicate problems with threaded
connections with some raw materials, utilities or finished products.

Design Temperature is selected based on Operating Temperature plus some tolerance to

allow for system deviation from normal operating conditions. Determining the tolerance
required can be complicated and needs to incorporate consideration of items like the
following:

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 9 of 19

• Possible loss of temperature controls causing a rise in temperature
• A change in reaction kinetics which could cause temperature rises.

Only a complete analysis of the system and its range of operations can lead to a
determination of the required tolerance for Design Temperature; for this reason facility
chemists, maintenance, R&D, Operations and engineering should all be involved in this
criteria development.

Design Pressure is selected based on Operating Pressure plus some tolerance to allow for
system deviation from normal operating conditions. Determining the tolerance required
can be complicated and needs to incorporate consideration of items similar to the
following:
• Possible deadheading of pumps
• Possible loss of temperature controls causing a rise in pressure
• A change in reaction kinetics which could cause pressure rises.
• System pressurization using inert gas
• Thermal expansion of some fluids

Decisions about these three items will allow us to select the pipe and establish some
boundaries within which it must operate.

9. EXAMPLE: PLANT STEAM PIPING

For our real life example let us assume that the plant has a 150 psig steam system fed
directly from the boiler through a reducing station and protected by a properly set and
sized relief device.

Corrosion Potential for Steam Piping System

• Operating Pressure 150 psig

• Operating Temperature 365.9 ºF

Pipe Material Corrosion Potential Comments

Carbon Steel LOW INDUSTRY STANDARD
304 Stainless Steel NONE EXPENSIVE
316 Stainless Steel NONE EXPENSIVE
Galvanized Steel PLATING PROBLEMS GALVANIZING MAY
FLAKE OFF UNDER
CONTINOUS USE
Copper NONE VERY EXPENSIVE
Cast Iron LOW DOESN’T MEET SOME
CODES
PVC NONE ABOVE TEMPERATURE
USE LIMITS

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 10 of 19

From the table we can see that carbon steel is probably the least expensive choice and has
a long history in this fluid service.

From earlier data we can safely use carbon steel at 650 ºF, well above our Operating
Temperature.

Now all that is left is to select the applicable wall thickness, or schedule number. There
are multiple sources of allowable pressures, and calculation methods to determine
schedule numbers and burst pressures. So many sources that it sometimes becomes
difficult to select the appropriate data source. See the References section for some
additional sources.

We’ll use a commonly available source, the ASME table in B31.1 for A106 carbon steel
pipe. The selection of a commonly used national standard as an allowable pressure
reference usually provides adequate liability protection for the engineer. The following
table for our 2 inch pipe gives us the data we need.

TEMPERATURE, ºF 100 200 300 400 500

ALLOWABLE PRESSURE, psig 1,783 1,783 1,783 1,783 1,783

TEMPERATURE, ºF 600 650 700 750

ALLOWABLE PRESSURE, psig 1,783 1,783 1,712 1545

We can now establish the basics for the pipe code for 150 psig steam at 365.9 ºF to be:

Schedule 40 Carbon Steel Pipe

10. CONNECTIONS

Each pipe code needs to tell the user what method of connection between sections of
pipe, fittings, valves, instruments and equipment is acceptable. We can look at the most
common pipe connections for our steam line with some subjective comments. All of the
following connections provide adequate pressure capability when properly applied.

CONNECTION Ease of Longevity Maintenance Cost Structural

Installation Concerns Integrity
THREADED Easy Fair High Low Fair
WELDED Easy Excellent None Low Excellent
FLANGED Most Involved Excellent Moderate Moderate Excellent

Properly butt welded or socket welded pipe produces joints at least as strong as the pipe.
Threaded couplings and other fittings are rated by their pressure class and produce some
concern where flexing of the pipe might occur. The table below lists pressure verses
temperature rating for 150# and 300# threaded fittings.

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 11 of 19

Temperature, ºF 150# Class 300# Class
psig psig
All Sizes ¼” to 1” 1& ¼” to 2” 2 & ½” to 3”
200 265 1785 1350 910
300 150 1360 1050 735
500 510 450 385

Pipe flanges also have their own set of classes including 125, 150, 300, 400, 600, 900,
1500 and 2500 # classes. Frequently individuals make the assumption that a “150#”
flange is only good for 150 psig and end up spending extra dollars for heavier than
necessary flanges.

A 150# flange has the following temperature / pressure curve

TEMPERATURE -20 to
ºF 100 200 300 400 500 600 650 700 800 1000
ALLOWABLE 285 260 230 200 170 140 125 110 80 20
PRESSURE, psig

A second curve provides additional information necessary for pipe code creation. This
table details Allowable Pressure verses Flange Class at 300 ºF.

FLANGE CLASS, # 150 300 400 600 900 1500 2500

ALLOWABLE
230 655 875 1315 1970 3280 5470
PRESSURE, psig

NOTES
• A facility may create pipe codes allowing for multiple methods of
connection; pipe codes allowing both welding and flanges are common.
• A single pipe code usually covers a range of pipe sizes and may allow for
threads on small pipe, socket weld on some pipe and flanges only above a certain
size.
• A single material of construction, pipe size and schedule number may
occur in several different pipe codes having different design pressures and
temperatures.
• A pipe code is a Facility Tool and as such needs to be created to match the facility’s
needs and help the facility maintain piping system integrity.
• Pipe flanges come in a variety of styles which need to be included in the pipe code:

Connection Type
• Weld neck
• Socket weld
• Back up
• Threaded

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 12 of 19

 • Various specialty types

And several gasket face types

• Flat faced
• Lapped
• Ring Joint
• Raised face
• Large male / female
• Small male / female
• Various specialty types

For the flange to hold the design pressure several things must be correct:
• Gasket surfaces must be flat and in good condition
• The proper gasket must be specified
• The proper bolts torqued to the proper amount must be installed

For welded joints to perform up to the design conditions the welds must be proper and the
pipe fit up correct.

For threaded fittings the threads must be clean, properly cut, have the proper pipe dope
and have the proper amount of thread engagement.

11. WHAT DO WE HAVE SO FAR?

For our steam pipe code we have the following items:

Material of Construction: Carbon Steel

Schedule for 150 psig: Schedule 40 pipe is acceptable being rated at 1783
psig at 400 ºF
Connections: 150 # flanges or welded
(a 150# flange is acceptable for 200 psig for an
operating temperature of 400 ºF which gives us a 50
psi and about 40 ºF tolerance)
300# threaded connections are good up to 280 psig
(interpolated from table data to 365.9 ºF)

12. WHAT IS LEFT?

Determining the extent of the pipe code contents is influenced by the fluid contents of the
pipe, system pressure, temperature, installation environment, facility needs and available
engineering time.
The following provides guidance for the remaining items which can be beneficial if
incorporated into a pipe code.

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 13 of 19

13. VALVES Generally a code will provide a variety of acceptable valves
depending on the need. Those include gate, globe, ball, plug and
specialty valves. Generally the valve type is listed along with
acceptable model numbers and manufacturer’s names. Also listed
are the acceptable connections for each valve type. Because of it
size the listing of acceptable valves is usually separate from the
pipe code and contains reference numbers for use on P&ID’s and
piping arrangements. See the attached sample.

14. BRANCH CONNECTION TABLE A branch connection table provides details

on acceptable branch connections by size. This is generally a two
scale table with Header Size on one scale and Branch Size on the
other. Generally the options available are: Straight Tee (T),
Reducing Tee (R), Reinforced Nozzle Weld (X), Coupling (or half
coupling) welded to Header (C), Weld-O-Let (W)(see Bonney
Forge in Section 26), Thread-O-Let (L), or Socket-O-Let (S). This
ensures the Header and Branch maintain the pipe pressure rating.
The following is a representative table.

HEADER SIZE, in.

2” 1 & ½” 1” ¾” ½”
½” S R R R T
BRANCH
SIZE, in.

¾” S R R T
1” W W T
1 & ½” W T
2” T

The selection of how branch connections are made belongs to the facility and is
influenced by pressure, temperature, fluid and pipe sizes involved. The goal is to produce
branch connections, which maintain the pipe code pressure rating. The sample table
above is interpreted as follows:

A ½” Branch is connected to a 2” Header using Sock-O-Let (S)

A ½” Branch is connected to a ¾” Header using a Reducing Tee (R)
A ½” Branch is connected to a ½” Header using a Tee (T)

15. BOLTING FOR FLANGES All flanges have a specified number of bolts, a
specific bolt size, a specific bolt torque value and a tightening pattern. It is critical
that these values are followed in order to obtain the stated flange pressure rating.

16. ACCEPTABLE GASKET MATERIALS Gaskets become a critical part of the

piping system in that they must contain pressure and avoid
degrading the fluid in the pipe. This degradation can take the form
of dissolved gasket material or mechanical failure resulting in
particulate in the fluid. Gasket failure creates hazardous situations

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 14 of 19

 including toxic fumes, flammable vapor or liquid releases and
personnel injury.
Gasket selection should be handled by the same team that
established materials of construction for the piping system.
Each flange has a gasket surface, which must be protected
from scratches and other damage. Gasket materials have a specific
bolt torque requirement, which may not be the same as the
minimum for the flange itself. This torque value is established by
the gasket manufacturer and is designed to prevent gasket blow out
at the rated allowable pressure of the flange. A proper pipe code
will contain gasket types with required torque values and thickness
for each pipe size, temperature and pressure.

17. REINFORCING REQUIREMENTS (reinforcing pads) Are generally a part of the

Header – Branch table and are established by specific calculations
or data from a reference source such as ASME.

18. ALLOWABLE UNSUPPORTED SPANS Whether the pipe is suspended

overhead, attached to a wall or lying on sleepers on the ground
there is a maximum allowable unsupported span for each size,
schedule and material of construction of pipe. Spans should be
determined based on the weight of the pipe, any insulation and the
contents of the pipe. Spans for pipe are usually limited to the
standards of structural steel or approximately 1/360th of the span.
For a 10 foot span that means the pipe is allowed to sag
approximately 0.33 inches. Allowable sag is a facility decision
rather than a national standard.
When specifying the allowable span remember that small pipe also
requires support and generally more frequently than large diameter
pipe. A ¾” sch 80 pipe allowable span is about 10’0” whereas a
sch 80 1.5” pipe allowable span is about 17’0”. When the pipe
supports are spaced for small diameter pipe then most larger
diameter pipes are adequately supported.
Calculations of sag and span are based on material of construction,
wall thickness, pipe outside diameter, moment of inertia and
modulus of elasticity using standard beam formulas from the
structural steel handbooks.
An example table of allowable spans for pipe containing water is
shown below.

Nominal Pipe Size, Schedule # Allowable Span

in.
2” 40 19’0”
2” 80 20’0”

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 15 of 19

19. SURFACE PROTECTION REQUIRED This is another item best determined by
the corrosion and gasket team and is influenced by installation
conditions, materials of construction, insulation, and temperature.
If the plant has a specific Surface Protection standard it should be
referenced in the Pipe Code along with any required color coding
for the pipe’s contents.

20. ACCEPTABLE INSULATION This is another item best determined by

the corrosion and gasket team with input from the facility
maintenance and energy representatives and is influenced by
installation conditions, materials of construction, insulation type,
temperature and energy policy.

21. HEAT TRACING Depending on the type of heat tracing in use there may be a
need for a Heat Trace Pipe Code. Generally heat tracing is
accomplished using hot water, hot oil, steam or electric heat wire.
Most fluid trace system use copper or stainless steel tubing as the
trace piping and details on how it should be specified and installed
should be incorporated into a pipe code.

22. HEAT OR COOLING JACKETING Pipe jackets are a separate pipe code and
require sketches and considerable detail for a pipe code. Jacket
pipe codes contain two sections: one for the core or inner pipe and
one for the jacketing pipe. This is generally a stand alone code
rather than a portion of another code and incorporates a variety of
information:
Pipe to be jacketed
Desired temperature within core pipe
Pressure in core pipe
Materials of construction of core pipe
Connection details for branches in core pipe
Jacketing pipe with sizes related to the core pipe
Jacketing pipe schedule
Jacketing termination at valves, fittings and equipment
Jacket connections and flow patterns
Jacket spacers designed to hold the jacket off the core pipe
This can quickly become very complicated and it may be necessary
to develop a jacketing standard independent of the pipe codes in
order to put in all the necessary details.

23. ANCHORING All pipe requires support (see section on allowable spans) and
how the supporting is accomplished is a critical detail. Supports
include the following items:
Rigid anchors
Guides (to allow for thermal expansion or other movement)
Thrust

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 16 of 19

 Pipe shoes (protects pipe from structural members which
support it)
Trapeze hangers
Simple rod hangers
Spring loaded hangers (hanging and stool)
Rigid clamps (simple U-bolts)
Roller supports
Supporting pipe requires considerable information about the
stresses in the pipe and the resulting loads transferred by or to the
supports. Simple straight runs of pipe rarely cause serious
problems in the determination of the loads generated by the pipe in
operation and for these the selection of techniques for anchoring
the pipe is fairly simple. As pipe stresses increase because of
heating, wind, equipment growth or vibration it becomes more
important to do a detailed analysis of the required supporting
systems. Pipe codes do not usually address any but the simplest
anchoring requirements.

24. TESTING

Testing is an essential part of installation of successful piping systems. Most engineers

test piping systems to 1.5 times the design pressure and generally do this with water.
Several questions always arise:
• What do we do when the piping system is to handle hot oil and cannot be completely
drained of the testing water?
• What do we do when the design pressure is specified at an elevated temperature?
• Is it necessary to test low pressure systems at 1.5 times design pressure?
• Can we do pneumatic testing instead of hydrostatic testing?

For systems handling hot oil, chemicals which might react with water and create
corrosive conditions or when the pipe line must be dry or when there might be damage to
a lining or freezing using water then fluids other than water may be considered. For
example pressurization might be carried out with non flammable liquids, antifreeze
solutions, or some other compatible liquid.

When the design temperature is higher than the test temperature the following calculation
can be used to establish a minimum test pressure.

Pt = 1.5P St where: Pt = low temperature test pressure (psig)

S P = Internal Design Gage Pressure (psig)
St = Allowable stress at test temperature, psi
S = Allowable stress at design temperature, psi

Care must be taken using this calculation and it is critical to review ASME B31.3 during
the calculation phase whenever this testing situation occurs.

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 17 of 19

When dealing with low pressure systems carrying non toxic, non environmentally
damaging fluids which offer no hazards to life testing may, at the engineer’s discretion
consist of a “tightness test” only. Basically a static liquid filled line with no pressure
applied.

The choice of testing fluids (water or air, etc) belongs to some extent to the engineer, to
recognized national standards and codes, the insurance company and local or national
authorities. Research in creating the pipe code usually will provide sufficient information
to guide the engineer in selecting the proper test procedure. Incorporating the test
procedure into the pipe code eliminates confusion and problems later.

CAUTION 1: It is generally not a good idea to pressurize equipment connected to piping

systems during pressure testing.
CAUTION 2: Using air for pressure testing must be considered very carefully. Pipe
failure under liquid pressure generally results in a short spurt of water whereas with air
the failure may well become explosive.
CAUTION 3: Frequently instrumentation is removed or valved off during hydrostatic
testing.

25. PIPE FABRICATION

Metallic pipe can be fabricated in several ways and is classified in such as way as to
define the manufacturing technique.

Cast Iron Cast in a foundry and generally not part of a process industry except for some
utilities and drainage.
Seamless Essentially extruded in some fashion around a mandrel. Considered to be the
best pipe since there is no seam to offer a weak spot or allow corrosion to
begin..
ERW Electric Resistance Welded in an automatic machine as the formed pipe exits
a forming machine.

This becomes a team decision as ERW is usually somewhat less expensive than seamless.

26. CONCLUSION

Properly prepared pipe codes provide a variety of services to the facility engineer
including:

• increased fluid safety

• reduced detail creation for bidding purposes
• consistent treatment of various chemicals and utility fluids
• minimal and consistent piping system costs
• simplified instructions transfer to contractors and maintenance
• improved detail in P&ID’s
• satisfaction of legal and insurance requirements

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 18 of 19

The effort required may seem significant but by utilizing existing codes as a starting point
the task is simplified and the result worth the effort in future time saved and problems
avoided. A completed pipe code standard relieves the engineer of having to re-invent the
code each time a piping project is approved.

27. REFERENCES

“Perry’s Chemical Engineer’s Handbook” McGraw-Hill

Mark’s “Mechanical Engineer’s Handbook”, McGraw-Hill
ASME various codes
McCabe and Smith “Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering”
Engineering Toolbox, www.Engineeringtoolbox.com
Bonney Forge, Mount Union, PA

©2008 W.N. Weaver, PE Page 19 of 19