28  Chapter 1

•  Support friction. Inclusion of support friction in the design analysis is costly. Therefore, support
friction is included only in the analysis of critical piping systems specified. Piping systems con-
nected to large rotating equipment are normally analyzed with support friction included.
•  Stress intensification factors for sustained loads. Use of the stress intensification factor on sustained
loads is not explicitly stipulated in some codes. In such cases, the owner may have to specify the
policy to be used in the design analysis.
•  Special allowable stresses. This includes allowable stresses for special conditions, such as one-time
foundation settlement.
•  Standards to be used for rotating equipment and stationary equipment. The allowable piping loads
given in the equipment standard are generally applicable to normal operating conditions. Greater
allowable loads, if permitted, for the standby, idle, upset, and occasional conditions need to be
specified.
•  Stresses at active valves. To ensure the proper function of the safety related valves, special require-
ments are imposed on the active valves such as safety relief valves and control valves. A reduced
allowable stress and/or a minimum flange class can be specified.
•  Stiffness of fittings and equipment. The stiffness of valves and flanges is normally considered as three
times as stiff as the connecting pipe of equal length. The stiffness of the rotating equipment is
normally considered rigid, which is set to be 1000 times as stiff as the connecting pipe of the same
length. These or other desirable numbers have to be specified.
•  Special limitations and requirements. Limitations are normally placed on the use of rod hangers,
springs hangers, expansion joints, flexible hoses, snubbers, and other special supports and com-
ponents.

1.6.2  Project Specification

Project specification is also called job specification, or job requirements in some cases. It combines
the requirements given in the owner’s specification and those of the constructor into one document
for the design engineers to follow. The basic document has the same features as the owner’s specifica-
tion. The project specification, as a whole, also includes material specification, line list, and standard
support details. Aside from covering the general requirements, it also defines the specific requirements
for every piping system in the plant.

(1)  Material specification

The materials required for piping systems in the project are classified into material specification
groups. Each group covers a certain portion of similar piping systems, and is assigned a specification
number or name. Each company uses its own set of identification symbols, usually consisting of two or
three characters for easy reference. Some companies use names that are related to the class of flanges
and valves used in the group, such as 150-A, 150-B, etc. Material specification generally contains the
following items:
•  Group Name: Name to be referenced by other documents, such as the line list and isometrics
•  Service: Type(s) of fluid(s) handled
•  P
 ipes: The wall thickness, given as schedule number or weight designation, and the ASTM or
ASME specification name for the pipes. All pipe sizes are covered. Different specifications may
be used for different pipe sizes.
•  C
 orrosion Allowance: This is the additional thickness to be allowed for combined corrosion and
erosion. Manufacturing under-tolerance is given in the applicable ASTM or ASME specification,
and is not specified here.
•  S
 ervice Limits: Each material specification has limits placed on its services by pressure and tem-
perature combinations. This is mainly determined by the allowable stress of the pipe material. A