Installation[edit]

Pipe installation is often more expensive than the material and a variety of specialized tools,
techniques, and parts have been developed to assist this. Pipe is usually delivered to a customer
or jobsite as either "sticks" or lengths of pipe (typically 20 feet (6.1 m), called single random
length) or they are prefabricated with elbows, tees and valves into a prefabricated pipe spool [A
pipe spool is a piece of pre-assembled pipe and fittings, usually prepared in a shop so that
installation on the construction site can be more efficient.]. Typically, pipe smaller than 2 inches
(5.1 cm) are not pre-fabricated. The pipe spools are usually tagged with a bar code and the ends
are capped (plastic) for protection. The pipe and pipe spools are delivered to a warehouse on a
large commercial/industrial job and they may be held indoors or in a gridded laydown yard. The
pipe or pipe spool is retrieved, staged, rigged, and then lifted into place. On large process jobs
the lift is made using cranes and hoist and other material lifts. They are typically temporarily
supported in the steel structure using beam clamps, straps, and small hoists until the pipe
supports are attached or otherwise secured.
An example of a tool used for installation for a small plumbing pipe (threaded ends) is the pipe
wrench. Small pipe is typically not heavy and can be lifted into place by the installation craft
laborer. However, during a plant outage or shutdown, the small (small bore) pipe may also be
pre-fabricated to expedite installation during the outage. After the pipe is installed it will be tested
for leaks. Before testing it may need to be cleaned by blowing air or steam or flushing with a
liquid.

Pipe supports[edit]
Pipes are usually either supported from below or hung from above (but may also be supported
from the side), using devices called pipe supports. Supports may be as simple as a pipe "shoe"
which is akin to a half of an I-beam welded to the bottom of the pipe; they may be "hung" using
a clevis, or with trapeze type of devices called pipe hangers. Pipe supports of any kind may
incorporate springs, snubbers, dampers, or combinations of these devices to compensate
for thermal expansion, or to provide vibration isolation, shock control, or reduced vibration
excitation of the pipe due to earthquake motion. Some dampers are simply fluid dashpots, but
other dampers may be active hydraulic devices that have sophisticated systems that act to
dampen peak displacements due to externally imposed vibrations or mechanical shocks. The
undesired motions may be process derived (such as in a fluidized bed reactor) or from a natural
phenomenon such as an earthquake (design basis event or DBE).
Pipe hanger assembles are usually attached with pipe clamps. Possible exposure to high
temperatures and heavy loads should be included when specifying which clamps are needed. [10]