P ID Diagram Basics Symbols 1

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I&C.net - Technical Information May 2020
P&ID Symbols
Part 1
How to Read a P&ID?
Version Date Description

A 2020/11/21 First Release
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Index
1. Difference between P&ID and PFD 3
2. What information is contained on a P&ID 3
3. P&ID Diagram Design 5
3.1. What is included in a P&ID Drawing 6
3.2. What it is not included in a P&ID Drawing 6
3.3. Direction of Flow 6
3.4. Crossing lines 7
3.5. Instrument Locations 8
4. Legend Sheets 11
5. References 11
https://instrumentationandcontrol.net Page 2 of 12
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1. Difference between P&ID and PFD

The P&ID starts from the PFD and includes the control loops. If we compare
both kind of documents, PFD and P&ID, the P&ID Diagram has more details
about the plant topology and displays equipment (including spare units), pipe
lines (with details about scheduling and isolation), instrumentation and valves
and signal related.
So, the P&ID Diagram let you visualize in just one time the process flow and
all the related control functions and monitoring functions.
2. What information is contained on a P&ID 
Information usually displayed in P&ID diagrams: 
• Plant equipment, normally we will find all types of process pumps,

compressors and any other type of rotating element, such as
centrifuges or air coolers. It is possible that in the tanks or vessels we
can find the different design levels (maximum, normal and minimum).
• It is good practice to represent the relative size, shape, and location of

the actual equipment in the plant. Pitting, nozzles and access routes
should normally be defined in this type of diagram.
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• Regarding the instrumentation, we will find in this type of diagram all

the information related to the connection of the instrument with the
control system, either through a current loop connection or through a
data bus.
• In the P&ID diagrams we will find information on all the process pipes,
control valves and ON / OFF valves, any type of derivatives of the
process flow, relief valves, safety valves, drains, and any other type of
element or device in line such as, for example, check valves, filters or
reductions / extensions.
• Typically you will also find the design and set pressure of all the relief
and safety valves, as well as the same information for the rupture discs,
pressure and temperature regulators.In the case of lines with a layout,
we will normally find the type of layout if it is steam or electric, and if it
also has an automatic control system, it will appear in the diagram.
• When it is necessary to indicate the existence of sloping lines, the slope

will normally be displayed. A common case can be the arrangement of
the pulse lines of an orifice plate with the corresponding pressure
instrument.
• In the case of motors, its voltage and power can be displayed or

displayed.Usually the motors have a typical and standard connection
diagram for the entire plant.
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• The logic associated with starting and stopping the motor is usually
included in P&ID diagrams.
• Elements related to control and instrumentation:
• All instruments are represented by standardized symbols that

indicate the location of the equipment, whether it is in the plant or
in the technical room, and the type of connection of the
instrument with the associated control system.
• Depending on the type of connection and the equipment where it

is connected, a different symbol will be used.The P&ID will use
symbols and circles to represent each instrument and how they
are inter-connected in the process.
• For example, the same symbol is not used for an instrument that
is connected to a distributed control system (DCS) or for an
instrument connected to a Safety Instrumented System.In
addition, we will also find represented the signal transmission
method and the actions of the control valve in case of air /
electrical failure, that is, failure to open (FO), failure to close (FC)
or last lock failure. position (FL). 
More information can be found in our article related to P&ID Diagram - P&ID
Symbol Diagram Basics - Part 1 Purpose, Owner & Contents.
3. P&ID Diagram Design

The design of a P&ID diagram generally follows from left to right in the
drawing.
Notes are usually added to the right side of a P&ID above the title block and
are used to:
• Describe elements of the P&ID.

• Provide guidance in understanding the P&ID information.
• Make reference to other documents
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Any piece of equipment or instrument should be shown only once in a

single P&ID diagram. If it is necessary to show it in more than 1 P&ID
diagram, it is necessary to indicate or represent the equipment or instrument
through dotted lines or clouds.
3.1. What is included in a P&ID Drawing

• Shows relative location of process equipment, sensors, actuators in a
process.
• Conceptual outline of a chemical plant.
• Provide common language for discussing a plant.
• Show control connections between sensors and actuators.
3.2. What it is not included in a P&ID Drawing

• Not an architectural diagram of a process. Positions in a P&ID do not
correspond to a 3D position, but more a connectivity.
• Not to scale
• Not a diagram of the reaction kinetics
• Not a control diagram (block diagram), influence graph, incidence graph,
Bayesian network, or correlation network.
Reactors, tanks, vessels and equipment are not drawn to scale.
What do we mean? The elements present in the diagram are not to scale,
which implies that it is possible to find that the location of some elements, for
example drains, is not in their exact position.
3.3. Direction of Flow

In general, the main direction of flow proceeds from left to right and from top
to bottom. Inlet and outlet arrows are used for indicating the inlet and outlet of
flows into or out of the diagram. Arrows are incorporated in the line for
indicating the direction of the flows within the flow diagram. If necessary for
proper understanding, arrows may be used at the inlets to equipment and
machinery (except for pumps) and upstream of pipe branches.
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Process lines entering and leaving the diagram from/to other drawings in the
Unit shall be terminated at the left-hand or right-hand side of the drawing.  
3.4. Crossing lines
To obtain a clear representation, different line widths shall be used. Main flow
lines or main piping shall be highlighted.
To indicate that two lines are connected we will use the diagram on the left, to
indicate that there is no connection between the lines we will use the diagram
on the right.
Connected Lines Non-Connected Lines
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As shown in the figure below, the pipe and signal lines, also known as the
major and minor lines, should be broken according to the hierarchy in the
order of major- minor and primary-secondary lines, when they cross.
Crossing lines (Walker, 2009︎)
3.5. Instrument Locations

Instrumentation symbols reflect process instruments, for example,
transmitters, gauges, valves, analyzers, or controllers.
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These symbols and their corresponding labels identify the instrument's

functions and their locations. To learn more about the different instrument
naming systems you can read our article:
P&ID Symbol Diagram -Basics Part 3 - Functional Identification

and Naming Conventions.
The following figure from the ISA standard document lists common
instrumentation symbols.
As shown in the previous figure, we can find 4 types of graphical shapes,

such as circles, squares, hexagons, and diamonds, possess specific
denotation.
• A circle indicates a device is located in the field area of a plant.
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• A circle with an external square represents devices or functions which

belong to a shared display and control system, for example a DCS
system.
• A hexagon represents a computer function.
• A diamond with an external square defines functions within a

programmable logic controller, for example an alarm configured in a SIS
(Safety Instrumented System).
Regarding the lines inside the symbols:
• No horizontal line - located somewhere in the field, probably close to the

general area shown on the P&ID.
• Single horizontal line - One line inside means the device is located in the
central control room or some computer screen in the main control room.
• Two lines inside indicates the device is located in a local panel.
• Dotted line inside means the device is installed behind or inside of a

panel and inaccessible to the operator (normally not in view).
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4. Legend Sheets
Also called "Lead Sheets" or “Master Sheets”, this kind of documents are
required to explain line identifications and describe all the symbols used on
P&IDs. The detail shown on such a legend P&ID will vary with corporate
culture, but typically includes these main sections :
• Line Identification
• Equipment Identification
• Instrument Identification
• Fluid Identification
• Other Legends
• Valve Positions
• Tracing & Insulation Codes
• Transducer Functions
• Line symbols
• Instrumentation symbols
• Valve symbols
• Vents & Drains symbols
• Equipment
• Piping & Connecting Shapes
• Tags & Labels 
5. References
1. ASME - B31 Series "For Pressure Piping”
2. ASME - B16.1 "Cast Iron Pipe Flange and Flanged Fittings, Class 25,
1st.Ed.,1989”
3. ISA - S5.1 "Instrumentation Symbols and Identification 1st. Ed., 1984”
4. ISA - S5.2 "Binary Logic Diagrams for Process Operations 2nd. Ed., 1981
(Reaffirmed 1992)”
5. ISA - S5.3 "Graphic Symbols for Distributed Control / Shared Display
Instrumentation, Logic and Computer Systems ìEd.,1983”
6. ISA - S5.4 "Instrument Loop Diagrams Ed., 1991”
7. ISA - S5.5 "Graphic Symbols for Process Displays 1st. Ed., 1985”
8. ISA - S18.1 "Annunciator Sequences and Specifications 1st. Ed., 1979
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9. ISA - S50.1 "Compatibility of Analogue Signals for Electronic Industrial

Process Instruments 1st. Ed., 1975 ( Reaffirmed 1995)”
10. ISA - S51.1 "Process Instrumentation Terminology 1st. Ed., 1979
11. ISO - 3098 "Drawings-Lettering, Part 1: Currently Used Characters 1st.
Ed. 1974”
12. ISO - 3511 "Process Measurement Control Functions and
InstrumentationSymbolic Representation
13. ISO - 6708 "Pipe Work components-Definition and Selection of
DN(Nominal size) “
14. API - Standard 602 "Compact steel gate valves flanged, threaded,
welding and extended body ends 7th Ed., 1998”
15. Graphical Symbols for Process Flow Diagrams, ASA Y32.11 (New York:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1961).
16. Austin, D. G. Chemical Engineering Drawing Symbols.
17.Instrument Symbols and Identification Research Triangle Park, NC:
Instrument Society of America, Standard ISA-S5-1, 1975.
18.Bausbacher, E. and R. Hunt, Process Plant Layout and Piping Design
(Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall PTR, 1998).
19.DIN - 19226 - Control Technology
20.DIN - 19227 - Graphical symbols and identifying letters for process control
engineering.
21.Hervé Baron (2013) The Oil & Gas Engineering Guide
22.P&IDs Notation, Construction, & Interpretation by Peter Woolf University of
Michigan
23.Walker, V., 2009. Designing a Process Flowsheet. Chemical Engineering
Progress.
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I&C.net - Technical Information May 2020

Version Date Description

1. Difference between P&ID and PFD

2. What information is contained on a P&ID

Information usually displayed in P&ID diagrams:

• Plant equipment, normally we will find all types of process pumps,

• It is good practice to represent the relative size, shape, and location of

• Regarding the instrumentation, we will find in this type of diagram all

• When it is necessary to indicate the existence of sloping lines, the slope

• In the case of motors, its voltage and power can be displayed or

• Elements related to control and instrumentation:

• All instruments are represented by standardized symbols that

• Depending on the type of connection and the equipment where it

3. P&ID Diagram Design

• Describe elements of the P&ID.

Any piece of equipment or instrument should be shown only once in a

3.1. What is included in a P&ID Drawing

3.2. What it is not included in a P&ID Drawing

Reactors, tanks, vessels and equipment are not drawn to scale.

3.3. Direction of Flow

3.4. Crossing lines

Connected Lines Non-Connected Lines

Crossing lines (Walker, 2009︎)

3.5. Instrument Locations

These symbols and their corresponding labels identify the instrument's

P&ID Symbol Diagram -Basics Part 3 - Functional Identification

As shown in the previous figure, we can find 4 types of graphical shapes,

• A circle indicates a device is located in the field area of a plant.

• A circle with an external square represents devices or functions which

• A hexagon represents a computer function.

• A diamond with an external square defines functions within a

Regarding the lines inside the symbols:

• No horizontal line - located somewhere in the field, probably close to the

• Two lines inside indicates the device is located in a local panel.

• Dotted line inside means the device is installed behind or inside of a

9. ISA - S50.1 "Compatibility of Analogue Signals for Electronic Industrial

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2. What information is contained on a P&ID 

Information usually displayed in P&ID diagrams: 