Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Structure drawings [beams and channels are commonly used for the structure].
P&ID
Piping GA drawings
Piping isometrics
Piping Support Drawings from Pipe Support Standard.
P&ID is considered to be the heart of piping, they include pipeline number, size, material,
and insulation. Process condition & physical data, operation condition, streamflow details,
Equipment numbers, etc.
Piping Isometric drawings include proportionate drawings with exact dimensions represented,
line numbers, pipe fittings, valves, flanges, special components, tables including a list of all
fittings in the drawings, etc.
Piping GA drawings include the locations of the main equipment in the plant, main piping items,
fittings and valves, nozzle orientation of the concerned equipment, etc. Fig. 1 below shows
typical drawings required for piping installation and a piping erection and installation flow chart.
Piping Installation Procedure
Piping Installation normally starts after civil supports are erected and major types of equipment
are placed on the construction site. The installation of piping can be grouped into the following
parts:
Pipework Erection
Installing Piping Flanges, Valve, and equipment Flange Connection
Installing pipe Supports
Pressure testing
Insulation and Painting
Marking and Identification
Installing Expansion Joints
Vents and Drains
Underground Pipe Installation
All tools, equipment, ropes, and pipes must be inspected and certified by HSE
guidelines before erection to ensure that they are safe and ready, clean, and free from
loose contamination.
Pre-fabricated spools need to be identifiable and numbered/tagged.
Pipework should be erected on supports designated for the specific line. Primary pipe
supports can be welded prior to erection following pipe support drawings. The number
of temporary supports shall be minimized.
Undue stresses should not be applied to force the piping to keep it in the proper place.
To avoid the ingress of moisture and foreign matter, pipe openings should be sealed
during erection.
Installation of piping on pipe racks should be done from lower elevation to higher
elevation.
Large-bore piping shall be installed prior to small-bore piping.
Piping Joints shall be properly aligned.
Pipe clearances from other pipes, equipment, and structures should be maintained.
Installing Piping Flanges
Clean pipe flanges should be brought up flush and square without forcing to bear uniform bolt
tension and gasket compression. Line items like orifice flanges, spectacle blinds, strainers, etc
shall be installed following proper orientation. A logical bolt tightening (Hydraulic bolt
tensioning & torque tensioning) sequence needs to be followed.
The flange connections to this equipment shall be checked for misalignment, excessive gaps, etc.
Until both side flanges are ready for mating connection, flange covers shall be retained on all
flanged connections to the valve or equipment.
Extra care is to be exercised for flange connections to pumps, turbines, compressors, cold boxes,
air coolers, etc. Blanks or spades should be used on equipment to prevent the ingress of internal
pipe debris. Bolting shall move freely through accompanying bolt holes at the right angle to the
flange faces and a clear gap between the two flange faces for the gasket needs to be maintained
before gasket installation.
Pressure Testing
Following the guidelines, hydrostatic or pneumatic testing should be performed to check the
system’s integrity. In case of leakage, those are repaired and re-tested again. Click here to know
more about Pressure testing
Welder’s gauge
Pipefitters square
Fitter grips
Centering head
Flange aligners
Pipe wraps
Pipe clamps
Pipe cutter
Pipe stands
Water hose
Welding machine
A-frame
Adjustable wrench
C clamp
Center punch
Chain block
Forklift
Steel tape
Tower crane
Boom lifter
Cranes
Spanners and Torque Wrenches
Identifying the hazards associated with piping services. This is mainly concerned
while working in operating plants.
Understanding the color codes: Pipes are normally colored following standard
guidelines to identify based on fluid service categories. The following image (Fig. 2)
provides a sample color-coding table based on BS 1710 standard.
Exercise extra care while tying a pipe to an operating system.
Use proper safety guidelines while working at heights and confined spaces.
Always be aware of what can go wrong and what to do if things go wrong.
Personal safety equipment must always be carried.