Piping Plans Piping Elevations

Equipment Layout Elevation and section identification

Beginning the layout
Piping Layout
Equipment layout
Pipe Breaks Piping layout
Dimensioning Structural features
Valves & Instrument Placement Dimensioning
Notes and abbreviations
Pipe specifications & symbols
Section notations

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Piping Plan:

How do you construct a piping plan?

A pipe drafter has to know what reference drawings and information he/she will need AND
they have to know where to find those items that will provide the necessary information to begin the
process of making a piping plan.

Below you will find a list of drawings and references you will need to get started:

Flow diagrams

Vendor information

Structural drawings

Tank drawings

Equipment schedules

Project specification

AND maybe site plans and general arrangements

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There is a “method to the madness” or a “plan of attack” to dealing with all the
drawings and sources of information you will use in making a piping plan.

1. Define drawing limits and plotted scale

2. Locate and draw equipment centerlines
3. Locate and draw concrete and foundation outlines, walls &
structural columns.
4. Draw equipment outlines and nozzles
5. Draw steel grating, platforms, ladders & structural components
6. Locate and draw piping centerlines, connection points & changes
in direction and elevation
7. Draw or insert all pipe, fittings, valves & instrumentation
8. Dimension the drawing
9. Insert pipe specification symbols in the pipe
10. Locate all local and general notes

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Equipment Layout

One of the first things that you want to do in starting an equipment layout is define your limits and
determine your drawing scale. In piping the final plot of your layout will be 3/8” = 1’-0”
BUT remember, you will be doing your model layout FULL size.

In your drawing assignment for this chapter, you will

be given a sheet showing a small layout in a
processing plant similar to the one at the left.

Notice the location of the North arrow and the use

of coordinates to define the boundaries or limits of
the area as well as the location of equipment and
structural members.

Match Lines & Battery Limits (the boundaries of the

area) are shown using a Phantom line with a line-weight
of .024”
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 Start with the area in which you’re going to be
working.
In the example in the last slide, the western most
edge of the area is W. 655’-0” and the eastern
most edge is W. 639’-0”
655’- 0” – 639’- 0” = 16’-0”
The Northern most edge of the area is N. 116’-0”
and the southern edge is N. 95’-0”
116’- 0” – 95’- 0” = 21’- 0”
So, now you have the area within which you will
make your drawing.

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Equipment Centerlines PS#336
E-402

Again, let’s look at the coordinates of the

equipment, V-501 in the lower left, E-402 in
the upper left and the structural support,
PS#336 in the upper right.

In your assignment, you solve for the

dimensions needed to locate the
equipment & support by again using the
coordinates on the provided drawing.
The centerlines shown in this example V-501
provide the location of the equipment and
support.

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The next task is to draw the outlines of the equipment you’ve located.
Don’t forget to add the nozzles, platforms, concrete pads/foundations that go
along with the equipment!!!!

PS #336
E-402
In a job situation,
you will have used
tank, equipment &
structural drawings V-105
to complete this
task.

For our class

assignment, you will
have been given
reference sheets for this
Concrete Slab: 3’-7½” x 7’-7¾” information.
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 Piping Layout

The flow diagram or P&I is going to be your “road map” when you work on the piping layout in any situation.

It provides:

pipe size

type of pipe

direction of flow of process

pipe runs between equipment

valves and instrumentation
It DOES NOT tell you how to route the pipe… that’s
up to you.

In a job situation at entry level, you will be working with sketches or preliminary drawings given to you by
an engineer, group leader or design drafter.
But, as an experienced drafter, you will responsible for layout & routing of pipe without assistance. This
means you need to be able to interpret the P&I as well as visualize interferences & clearances you might
encounter during your layout/routing of the pipe.

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Visualization of interferences and clearances involved in routing pipe is no more difficult
than visualizing an object. Use the orthographic method to give you another dimension
or viewpoint in which to work with the plan view.

The example view at left shows the Plan

or Top view of a processing area. The
Elevation or Front view shows supports &
piperack, to make it easier to see
obstacles that might be encountered in
routing the pipe between pump and
overhead vessel.

Each routing is different and the more

congestion you have in an area, the
more elevations you might need to “see”
possible routing problems. Don’t just
“assume” you can see everything with
just one view.

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Pipe breaks

At times, not everything is visible when viewing a pipe layout… there are pipes, steel or even walls &
tanks that block or “hide” the view of a run of pipe. The best way to show the hidden features is to
“break” the pipe or other object so as to “see” what’s really going on.

If the picture at left wasn’t in color, could you tell what’s

going on with the single line pipes below #1??? Even
with the color, it’s hard to tell exactly how the pipes are
routed, which one is closest to you or if they have
“hidden” flanges or fittings.

If we look at the same group of pipe in an elevation view

we can immediately tell the location of each below the #1
pipe. We can also see fittings and turns in the pipe that
the first plan drawing didn’t show.

So, how can you use pipe “breaks” to better show all the hidden elements?

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By “breaking” the pipe, a clearer picture is given of the underlying pipe. You “break” pipe for identification
purposes or to reveal the details of pipe or objects below.

When a lower pipe disappears

under a higher one, there’s no
The break symbol is shown on the closest pipe
pipe break

There is a small gap on

the lower pipe.

In this color version, it’s easy to see each pipe, but in your plot, they will all be black… thus making it
more difficult to discern, without pipe breaks, the actual way they are “stacked” on top of each other.

And NO, showing the numbers, as in the example, is NOT acceptable.

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Dimensioning
This is one of the most important aspects of a piping plan…AND they have
to be accurate because they will be used in creating the spools and
isometrics needed for fabrication.
Equipment centerlines should be located from reference points; such as
structural steel or other pieces of equipment.
Plant Coordinates are shown at key locations to provide an overall
reference to the “plant datum”
A Few Basic Rules for Dimensioning:
 Piping should be dimensioned at each direction change
 Dimensions should follow the pipe from its beginning to its end
 Dimensions are shown in feet and inches
 Dimensions are written ABOVE the line for horizontal dimensions & to the
LEFT of the line for vertical dimensions.
 Structural steel columns or vertical members of pipe racks should be
dimensioned as these can be important reference points for locating equipment,
piping or for general communication about the drawing.
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Structural columns:

also referred to as bay lines and column lines are labeled with numbers and letters

bay lines span the width of a building
 space between bay lines is referred to as the bay

column lines run the length

structural steel columns comprise the skeletons of buildings or the vertical members of pipe racks
and are important reference points when locating equipment or piping

in this class the drawings used in assignments will designate bay and column lines

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Valve and Instrument placement

This is another instance in which the flow diagram or P&I diagram becomes really
important to the pipe drafter.

The P&I is the principal reference for finding

the number and placement of valves and
instruments.
You’ll also use a project specification
sheet(s) to determine the type of valves
used on specific pipes and the type of
connections needed for different
instruments.

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Valves:

P&I diagrams also show the valves that are in the runs of pipe.
Examples of typical symbols you will see are shown at right.

Rules for drawing & dimensioning valves:

 should be drawn to scale and located in the
best position for easy access.
 in a straight run of pipe should be located
with a dimension with the dimension to the
face of the mating flange
 those attached directly to a fitting (“fitting-to-
fitting”) don’t necessarily have to be
dimensioned (again, this is based on your
company standards)

Straight run Fitting-to-fitting

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Typically, instruments are shown as a circle with the
appropriate code designation.

Instruments seldom have to be located with a dimension.

The exception to that “rule” is when a flow meter or orifice
flange set is inserted in a pipe run. (Chapters 2 & 6 in the text)

An orifice flange set is two flanges with a

plate inserted between them.

The plate has a small hole drilled in (the size of which is determined
by the fluid within the pipe) and by using a pressure-sensing device a
flow-rate of the fluid can be determined… remember, orifice flanges,
both weld-neck and threaded are manufactured in 300# and larger
pound ratings.

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 To get an accurate flow rate reading, there needs to be minimum amount of
fluid turbulence in the pipe as it enters and leaves the Orifice flange set. A
basic rule of thumb in placing an orifice flange set is:
30 x NPS = upstream straight run
6 x NPS = downstream straight run

upstream downstream

The 6” pipe in the above example illustrates the given formula.

Upstream = 30 x 6” = 180” = 15’-0” (the minimum length of straight run of pipe

upstream)
Downstream = 6 x 6” = 36” = 3’-0” (the minimum length of straight run of pipe
downstream)

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Notes & abbreviations

Notes:

most revealing aspect of piping plan

notes and callouts explain and describe things

should be added AFTER drawing is dimensioned

General notes – located on one side of the drawing

Local notes – identify individual items on the drawing and should be
located as close as possible to items which they apply

Abbreviations:
 usually a big part of notes
 use company standard forms of abbreviation
 save space and time

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Pipe specifications and symbols

Depending on the company you work for, pipe specification symbols

will either be incorporated into the line itself, attached to the pipe by a
short leader or placed above and aligned with the pipe.

Pipe specification symbols should be one of the last things placed on your
drawing…so don’t try to skip a step and place them as you are working on
your drawing because you’ll wind up moving or changing them…making
more work for yourself in the long run.
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Section notations

As you gain experience, you will be able to determine where sections (elevations) are
needed in order to show details of the piping system.

Sections are indicated on the piping plan with

cutting-plane lines.
Cutting-plane lines:

have LARGE arrows

the arrows point in the direction in which
YOU are looking at the objects

have identifying LETTERS

the letters identify the section just as letters
are used to identify details on drawings

Example of Section View

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Piping Elevations

Elevations:

Side views or sections cut through pipe and
equipment

Provide important aspects to piping drawing

Can be used to determine vertical features,
dimensions & other relationships between equipment
and piping.
Elevation and section identification

 sections are always labeled on the plan

drawing view
 the same label is always used beneath the
section
 if the section view is located on another
drawing, then the drawing number is also
included with the label on the plan view
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 Beginning the layout…

1. Sections may be drawn at the same scale as your plan or they can be larger…
this is dependent on the amount of detail to be shown in the section…most are the
same scale as the plan view… in most cases it is a good practice to identify the
scale with your section view.
2. As you gain experience, you will be able to determine the “best” view for a section.
In this course, for the most part, you will be given the view needed
3. The number and locations of the sections in any situation, will depend on the
amount of detail to be shown.

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Equipment layout

You should determine the size of the section to allow you to balance the section view on your
drawing.
You begin the layout of a section or elevation view much as you did in laying out the plan view:

Draw centerlines of equipment first

Determine the heights of equipment using Vendor drawings

Draw equipment outlines

Pump outlines may be drawn or you can use only centerlines to identify them for now.
The centerlines are the most important feature in locating pumps in that the suction and
discharge are commonly used as reference dimensions in drawings.

After drawing the outlines of equipment it’s time to locate the nozzles using the tank, vessel
& vendor drawings.

Elevations are used instead of dimensions to locate all centerlines. They are calculated
from ground or grade elevation in the area.

You also need to check the equipment foundation drawings for their specific location and
height.

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Piping elevation layout

When you start drawing the piping in your elevation view, you should start
with the highest nozzles.

Helpful Hints:
 It’s ALWAYS a good practice to do freehand sketches of your pipe BEFORE
placing it. It helps work the “bugs” out of possible interference or routing
problems.
 Don’t panic… in this course you will not have to route the pipe by
yourself.
 When you enter a job situation, you will be guided in your first
endeavors of routing pipe as it takes time to learn the art of laying out
piping using flow diagrams and equipment drawings… not to mention
numerous field trips to the construction site to view the actual installation
and obstacles encountered.
 For future reference: Draw pipe centerlines first… makes it easier if you
have to move the pipe during your design layout

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Piping elevation layout (cont’d)

There are many variables that will affect the way your piping is routed:
 Some are going to be unforeseen obstacles; such as existing pipe, equipment,
steel or supports, that might be in the area you’re working in
 Some are based on national published standards:
 ANSI – American National Standards Institute
 ASME – American Society for Mechanical Engineers
 API – American Petroleum Institute
 OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Act
 Some will be based on your company’s needs & processes in combination with
the above set standards
 Line specifications – different line specs will call for different materials to be
used; such as pipe, flanges, valves, fittings, bolts…etc

Again working with the various standards, line specs and physical obstacles in routing
pipe will become easier with experience.

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Structural features

Sections don’t just show the pipe process, they also show elements of various
structures that are relative to that process.

The non-piping OR “background information” elements of a section drawing might include:

foundations,

structural steel columns,
Typically, these elements are drawn with a thinner

pipe racks, lineweight than the pipe… but if you’ve already set up

ladders and your layers for this class you already know that. (You
should have a “steel” & “foundation” layer in your table)

platforms

Check out Fig. 6-15 & -16 in your text (pgs.164-165) for
more details.

Appropriate symbols for concrete should be shown where needed and if required footings
and foundations below grade level may be shown with dashed (hidden) lines. Consult your
instructor if in doubt as to amount of detail required in your class projects and assignments.

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 Dimensioning

Piping elevations have few, IF ANY, linear dimensions.

Pipe heights (typically noted by centerlines), nozzle locations, flange faces & steel heights are
designated by elevations.

In most instances with regard to a process system, a

“datum” elevation is set by a marker of some sort. The
elevation above sea level of this point is known and is
used throughout the entire process system site as a
reference.
ALL elevations in the process area relate to this point.
In our class the “datum” elevation is grade and it’s
reference elevation is noted as GRADE EL. 100’-0”. All
your elevations will be based off this designated
elevation.

Elevation EXAMPLE

Example: If you have a vessel or tank nozzle that measures 12’-6 ½” above the datum elevation of
100’-0”, the elevation for that nozzle is recorded on your section drawing as centerline EL.112’-6
½”.

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Elevations and Abbreviations used:
 Some elevations are given as centerlines, face-of-flange (FOF) or even as
Top or Bottom
 Platforms, floors, steel beams, concrete pads or foundations are noted with
an elevation as to the TOP of the feature
Pipe in a pipe rack are located with an elevation that might say BOP
(bottom of pipe) or TOS (top of steel)
The bottom of the pipe rests on a piece of steel, so the elevation of the
bottom and not the centerline is important.

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