P&I Diagrams
Chapter 2
2.1 Bubbles and Symbols
2.2 Tag Numbers
Piping and instrumentation (P&I) diagrams are
of fundamental importance in process automation
and are discussed, for example, by Coulson (2004).
Their formulation is a major stage in the design
of a process plant. They are subsequently used as
the basis for the detailed design of the plant’s con-
trol system, and become reference documents for
other purposes such as HAZOP studies. P&I dia-
grams depict, from a process point of view, mea-
surements and control schemes in relation to items
of plant and their interconnecting pipework. They
are represented by means of symbols and tag num-
bers.
2.1 Bubbles and Symbols
Symbols are used to represent individual elements
such as sensors and valves, or combinations of el-
ements such as measurement channels or control
loops. They are linked together by signal lines. Tag
numbers are written inside circles, referred to as
bubbles or balloons. They consist of letter codes
and reference numbers. Letter codes indicate the
function of the elements and are generic. Refer-
ence numbers are specific to particular elements
and are used for identification purposes.
The amount of detail shown on a P&I dia-
gram varies throughout a project according to the
amount of information available.In the early stages
it tends to be sketchy and functional only; later on
the information becomes more comprehensive and
specific. An important point to appreciate is that
the same set of symbols, signals and letter codes
is sufficient to enable elements to be represented
whether the version of P&I diagram be outline or
detailed.
Consider Figure 2.1 which is a section of an out-
line P&I diagram that depicts a flow control loop
associated with a centrifugal pump.
FC
Fig. 2.1 P&I diagram of flow control loop
The diagram states that the function of the loop
is flow control, a feedback strategy is implied and
a regulatory type of control valve is indicated. No
information is given about the type of measure-
ment or signals involved. The elements of the loop
are shown in their correct positions in a func-
tional sense, i.e. the control valve is downstream
of the pump and the flow measurement is between
the valve and the pump. However, the symbols do
not necessarily indicate their relative positions in a
physical sense, e.g. the flow measurement and valve
could be a long way from the pump.
Arrows are normally put on the signals to in-
dicate the direction of flow of information. How-
ever, if this is obvious as in Figure 2.1, they may be
omitted. Power and air supply lines to the various
elements are not normally shown on P&I diagrams
to avoid confusion with the signals.
 10 2 P&I Diagrams

Broken lines are used in Figure 2.1 to depict the The process stream flows through a sight glass FG
signals. Strictly speaking, broken lines should only 47, an orifice plate FE 47 and a control valve FV
be used for electrical signals. However, on outline 47. These are all in-line elements. Note the differ-
P&I diagrams it is common practice to use broken ent use of the bubbles: as a symbol for the sight
lines for most signals on the basis that they will glass but as an identification for the orifice plate
probably be electrical anyway. Representations for and control valve. Note also that hand operated
the most common signal types are as shown in valves are indicated on either side of all these ele-
Table 2.1. ments so that they can be isolated prior to removal
for maintenance or repair.Additionally, the control
Table 2.1 Representation of signal types valve has a bypass line to enable flow to continue
under manual control in the event of the control
Signal type Representation
valve having to be removed.
Capillary The pressure drop across the orifice plate is
Data link measured using a dp cell FT 47 which transmits the
Electrical flow rate as an electrical signal to the totaliser FQR
47, the low level switch FSL 47 and the controller
Electromagnetic
FIC 47. If the flow drops below some pre-set lower
Hydraulic limit the flow switch FSL 47 will activate a low level
Mechanical alarm FAL 47. The controller indicates the current
Pneumatic value of the flow rate and generates a control signal
Process which is transmitted, via an I/P converter FY 47, to
the control valve. FV 47 is a pneumatically actu-
Consider Figure 2.2 which is a section of a detailed ated diaphragm type of regulatory valve. It has a
P&I diagram that depicts the same flow control positioner attached, as indicated by the box on the
loop. stem of the valve symbol. The arrow on the stem

FSL FAL
47 47

FQR
47 FIC
47

FT FY
FE 47 47 FV
47 47

FG
47

Fig. 2.2 Detailed P&I diagram of flow control loop


indicates that, in the event of a loss of air supply,
the valve will fail shut.
Information about the location of an element
is indicated by the presence or otherwise of a line
through its bubble. No line means that the element
is field mounted, i.e. it is installed on or adjacent to
a pipe, vessel or some other item of plant. A single
line through the bubble, as with FAL 47 and FIC
47, means that the element is located in a central
control room. And a double line, as with FQR 47,
means that it is panel mounted elsewhere, say on a
field termination cabinet.
2.2 Tag Numbers
There are several national standards which relate
to the representation of instrumentation and con-
trol schemes. The most important English lan-
guage ones are BS 1646 and ISA S5.1. Also, most
major companies have their own internal stan-
dards. Whilst there are many differences in detail
between them, the basic symbols and letter code
structure are essentially the same.
ISA S5.1 is used throughout this guide on the
grounds that it is the most widely used standard in
practice. Its letter code structure is as indicated in
Table 2.2 which also lists the meaning of the more
commonly used letters.
Letter codes are configured according to func-
tion. The first letter corresponds to the measured
variable and, if necessary, may be qualified by a
modifier. Succeeding letters describe an element’s
readout or control functions; these may themselves
have modifiers. A certain amount of judgement
may be necessary to establish the most appropriate
letter code for an element.
It is important to appreciate that the letter code
is determined by the function of the element and
not by its design or installation.For example,the dp
cell in Figure 2.2 is designated as a flow transmitter
FT 47 rather than as PDT 47 even though it mea-
sures differential pressure across the orifice plate.
The first letter of all elements within a loop is
that of the measured variable. Thus the I/P con-
2.2 Tag Numbers 11
verter is designated FY 47 although its input is a
current and its output a pressure.
Within the letter code,modifiers must immedi-
ately follow the letter that they qualify.For example,
the modifier Q changes the measured variable F of
element FQR 47 into a totalised flow. In addition,
the modifier L states that the alarm FAL 47 will
only be activated by low flows.
If a loop contains two or more elements with
the same function they may be distinguished by
means of suffixes. For example, if the flow loop had
two control valves in a duplex arrangement, they
could have been designated as FV 47A and FV 47B.
Sometimes the letter code is insufficient to give
an adequate description of the function of an el-
ement. Additional information may be provided,
either in a box attached to its bubble or as adjacent
text. For example, FT 47 has a square root function
to compensate for the square relationship inher-
ent in the flow measurement by the orifice plate.
The total flow computed by FQR 47 is obtained
by means of an integral function. Some of the
more common functional designations are given
in Table 2.3.
Numbering of elements is in accordance with
some plant based convention. There are two ap-
proaches, serial and parallel, of which serial is the
more common. On a serial basis each channel, loop
or scheme is allocated a unique number, 47 in the
case of Figure 2.2. Regardless of the letter code, all
its elements then assume the same number. On a
parallel basis, blocks of numbers are allocated ac-
cording to instrument type or function, depending
on its letter code. This results in similar elements
in different loops having contiguous numbers.
The bubbles used in Figure 2.2 indicate the
function of the elements. It is implied that each el-
ement is a discrete item of instrumentation which
may be either analogue or digital in nature. With
computer-based control systems many of these in-
dividual functions are realised by means of config-
urable software in common hardware. For repre-
sentation of such functions, ISA S5.1 recommends
a different set of symbols. These are listed in Ta-
ble 2.4: note that the symbols listed for input and
output (I/O) channels are non-standard but are
 12 2 P&I Diagrams

Table 2.2 ISA letter codes for tag numbers

First letter Succeeding letters

Measured or initi- Modifier Readout or passive Output function Modifier

ating variable function

A Analysis Alarm
B Burner or combus- User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice
tion
C User’s choice, e.g. Control
conductivity
D User’s choice, e.g. Differential
density
E Voltage or emf Sensor or primary
element
F Flow rate Ratio or fraction
G User’s choice Sight glass or view-
ing device
H Hand High
I Current (electrical) Indicate
J Power Scan
K Time or schedule Rate of change Control station
L Level Light (pilot) Low
M User’s choice, e.g. Momentary Middle or inter-
moisture mediate
N User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice
O User’s choice Orifice or restric-
tion
P Pressure or vacuum Point (test)
Q Quantity Integrate or
totalise
R Radiation Record or print
S Speed or frequency Safety Switch
T Temperature Transmit
U Multivariable Multifunction Multifunction Multifunction
V Vibration Valve or damper
W Weight or force Well or pocket
X Unclassified X axis Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
Y Event or state Y axis Relay, compute or
convert
Z Position or dimen- Z axis Driver, actuator or
sion other control ele-
ment
 2.2 Tag Numbers 13

Table 2.3 Additional functions for use with tag numbers Table 2.4 P&I diagram symbols for computer-based systems
Function Symbol Configurable functions Symbol

Average AVG
Bias + or − Shared display and control
Boost 1: 1
Characterise f (x)
Derivative d Computer function
dt
Difference 
Divide ÷
Programmable logic controller
High select >

Integrate
Low select < Undefined logic
Multiply × or sequence control
Raise to power xn
Input channel
Ratio 1: n
Reverse REV
√
Square root Output channel

Sum

nevertheless commonly used. A solid line across Figure 2.3 shows an implementation of the previ-
the symbol means that the function has a shared, ous flow control loop by means of a distributed
screen based display: the absence of a line means control system (DCS). The square root extraction
that the function is inaccessible to the operator. previously associated with FT 47, the shared dis-

FQR
47
FICA LOW
47

FT FY
47 47 FV
FE
47
47

FG
47

Fig. 2.3 P&I diagram of DCS-based flow control loop

 14 2 P&I Diagrams
play and control functions, and the low flow alarm
previously handled by FSL 47 and FAL 47 are now
all realised by FICA 47. The integration is realised
by FQR 47 which logs, but does not display, the
totalised flow.
The reader is encouraged to browse through the
appendix to ISA S5.1 which contains a host of ex-
amples on the use of symbols,signals and tag num-
bers in a variety of contexts. The reader is also re-
ferred to ISA S5.3 on symbols for computer control
systems.