Classification: Internal Use

Addendum to SES Addendum No: A1

Date: MAR 2020

Flexibility Analysis Requirements
ENGINEERING STANDARD
of Piping System Page: 1 of 1

S.N. SES No.: P01-E04 Rev. No.: 4 Paragraph No.: 5.33

1 Original Text:

5.33 RTR/FRP Piping

RTR/FRP piping system (AG & UG) stress analysis requirements shall be as per Table-IV.
However, RTR/FRP piping for non-pressure/gravity systems does not require stress analysis.

New Text:

5.33 RTR/FRP Piping

RTR/FRP piping system (pressurized and non-pressurized) stress analysis requirements shall be
as per Table-IV.

Justification:

For improved reliability and integrity, stress analysis of all FRP piping system shall be performed.

Notes:
1. Template shall be repeated for each addendum proposal
2. Separate forms shall be used for different standards.
SES Addendum-P01-E04-A1
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Flexibility Analysis Requirements of

Piping System

This document is issued by PE&S, SABIC E&PM, Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The information contained
in this document is the confidential property of SABIC. It cannot be disclosed, copied or used for any purpose without approval
from SABIC. If you are not authorized to posses this document, please destroy it immediately.
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CONTENTS
1 Scope ...........................................................................................................................................3
2 References ...................................................................................................................................3
3 Definitions.....................................................................................................................................4
4 General.........................................................................................................................................4
5 Analysis Parameters ....................................................................................................................4
5.1 Piping System ..........................................................................................................................4
5.2 Installation Temperature ..........................................................................................................5
5.3 Stress Range Calculation ........................................................................................................5
5.4 Analysis Temperature ..............................................................................................................6
5.5 Friction .....................................................................................................................................7
5.6 Spring hangers.........................................................................................................................7
5.7 Maximum Pipe Spans and Deflections ....................................................................................8
5.8 Water Hammer.........................................................................................................................8
5.9 Steam Out ................................................................................................................................8
5.10 Steam Tracing..........................................................................................................................8
5.11 Differential Movement ..............................................................................................................8
5.12 Hydrotest..................................................................................................................................8
5.13 Seismic Loads..........................................................................................................................8
5.14 Wind Loads ..............................................................................................................................8
5.15 Snow Loads .............................................................................................................................9
5.16 Impulse Loads..........................................................................................................................9
5.17 Two phase other lines ..............................................................................................................9
5.18 Jacketed Pipes.........................................................................................................................9
5.19 Centrifugal Pump .....................................................................................................................9
5.20 Steam Turbines........................................................................................................................9
5.21 Centrifugal Compressors ...................................................................................................... 10
5.22 Reciprocating Compressors ................................................................................................. 10
5.23 Reciprocating Pumps ............................................................................................................ 10
5.24 Fired Heaters ........................................................................................................................ 10
5.25 Air Coolers ............................................................................................................................ 11
5.26 Storage Tanks....................................................................................................................... 11
5.27 Packaged Equipment ............................................................................................................ 11
5.28 Pressure Vessels & Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers ........................................................ 11
5.29 Control Valve Sets ................................................................................................................ 12
5.30 Refractory, Pipe fittings and Other parameters. ................................................................... 12
5.31 Flange Leakage Analysis Criteria ......................................................................................... 12
5.32 Flange Misalignment Analysis Criteria ................................................................................. 12
6 External Load Limits on Equipment .......................................................................................... 12
7 Criteria for Manual Calculations / Computer Analysis of a Piping System ............................... 13
8 Computer Analysis .................................................................................................................... 13
8.1 Analysis Requirements ......................................................................................................... 13
8.2 Stress Sketches .................................................................................................................... 13
8.3 Calculation Report ................................................................................................................ 14
9 Revision Summary: ................................................................................................................... 15

Table I - Graphical Representation for Differential Temperature Range .............................................. 5

Table II - Temperature Consideration for Spare Pump’s Piping ........................................................... 7
Table III - Allowable Nozzle Loadings on Equipment ....................................................................... 16
Table IV - Criteria for Manual Calculations / Computer Analysis of a Piping System ........................ 17
Figure 1 - Temperature Consideration for Spare Pump’s Piping ........................................................ 7
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1 Scope
1.1 This standard provides minimum requirements for analyzing the flexibility of aboveground and
underground piping systems.
1.2 This standard supplements the requirements of ASME B 31.3 code on flexibility, layout,
supports, and anchoring of piping systems.
1.3 The standard establishes a design basis for permissible piping loads on various equipment
nozzles.

2 References
Reference is made in this standard to the following documents. The latest issues, amendments, and
supplements to these documents shall apply unless otherwise indicated.
SABIC Engineering Standards (SES)
B01-E01 Design Criteria for concrete and steel structures
G13-S01 Reciprocating Compressor for Process Service
P01-E01 Design of Plant Piping and Transportation pipelines
P01-E08 Cold spring and expansion joints
P01-E09 Plant Layout, Spacing, and Clearances
P01-E12 Dynamic effects on piping systems
P01-E41 Requirements for Piping Design and Engineering
Q01-S01 Pressure Vessels “General”
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
B 31.1 Power Piping
B 31.3 Process Piping
B31.4 Pipeline Transportation System for Liquid Hydro Carbons and Other Liquids
B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
B 73.1 Specification for Horizontal End Suctions Centrifugal Pumps for Chemical Process.
B 73.2 Specification for Vertical In-line Centrifugal Pumps for Chemical Process.
ASME Boiler and pressure vessel code section III Division I – Sub section NC
American Petroleum Institute (API)
560 Fired Heaters for General Refinery Services
610/ISO 13709 Centrifugal Pumps for Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Natural Gas Industries
611 General Purpose Steam Turbines for Petroleum, Chemical, and Gas Industry services
612 Special Purpose Steam Turbines for Petroleum, Chemical, and Gas Industry services
617 Axial and Centrifugal Compressors and Expander
618 Reciprocating Compressors for Petroleum, Chemical and Gas Industry Services
620 Design and construction of Large, welded low-pressure storage tanks
650 Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage
661 Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Natural Gas Industries-Air-cooled Heat Exchangers
662 Plate Heat Exchangers for General Refinery Services, Part-1
674 Positive Displacement Pumps-Reciprocating
676 Positive Displacement Pumps – Rotary
RP 686, Recommended practice for machinery installation and installation design
RP 688 Pulsations and Vibration Control in Positive Displacement Machinery Systems for Petroleum,
Petrochemical, and Natural Gas Industry Services
American Society of Civil Engineers
ASCE/SEI 7-10 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
Process Industry Practices (PIP)
PNC00001 Piping support criteria for ASME B31.3 Metallic Piping
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PNC00004 Piping stress analysis criteria for ASME B31.3 Metallic Piping
Welding Research Council (WRC)
Bulletin 297 Local Stresses in Cylindrical Shells Due to External Loadings on Nozzles
Bulletin 537 Precision Equations and Enhanced Diagrams for Local Stresses in Spherical and
Cylindrical Shells due to External Loadings for Implementation of WRC Bulletin 107

3 Definitions
BEDD: Basic Engineering Design Data
Critical Equipment: The equipment, which is crucial to the operation and safety of a plant. Examples
of critical equipment are: Reactors, Process Compressors, Turbines, Large capacity process pumps,
and furnaces/reformers. Pipes and valves are not considered critical.
Sensitive equipment: The equipment which is sensitive to displacement strain and any small
increase of excessive strain due to external piping loads may affect the equipment operation and
could cause objectionable vibration. The sensitive equipment such as Centrifugal pumps &
Compressors, reciprocating pumps & compressors, fans, screw pumps, steam turbines, fired
heaters, start-up heaters, furnaces, plate fin exchangers, cold boxes, air fin coolers , Aluminum or
cast iron equipment including valves, thin walled, brick refractory or glass lined vessel or pipe, shell
and tube exchanger fitted with expansion bellows and such other equipment as defined in project
“Design Basis” as “strain sensitive”.
Stress Critical Lines: Stress Critical Lines are lines that require consideration by the piping stress
group of Design Engineering Company. These lines are selected with regard to temperature,
pressure, size, equipment connection and abnormal process conditions as well as special flow
regimes such as 2-phase flow, slug flow etc.

4 General
4.1 The use of expansion joints is subject to SABIC approval. The expansion joints shall conform
to SES P01-E08.
4.2 Adequate and proper restraint should be provided to prevent flow induced vibration.
4.3 The use of cold spring shall is prohibited.
4.4 The requirements specified in PIP PNC00001, for Reciprocating compressor and pump’s
piping, Spring Supports, Sway Braces, Sway Struts and hydraulic or mechanical snubbers
shall be considered.
4.5 Flexibility requirement and stress analysis of power piping shall be as per ASME B31.1
4.6 Flexibility requirement and stress analysis of transportation pipelines shall be as per ASME
B31.4 & B31.8

5 Analysis Parameters
5.1 Piping System
For the purpose of analysis, a piping system has to be defined properly. A piping system
means the main piping (biggest size) along with its connected branch piping (if any). While
defining the system, its associated supports, restraints, end connection should be properly
considered. The piping system should be terminated up to the point where rigid restraint is
available. The end connection should be rigid type, i.e. preferably anchor, otherwise semi-
anchor. In case the end connection has no anchor/ semi-anchor in reality, then the system is
to be extended up to the next anchor. Alternatively, to avoid the system becoming too large, a
semi-anchor (directional stops) should be provided at the terminal point. As far as possible,
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anchor, only for sake of system isolation, should be avoided; as it is harmful to the system for
thermal effect.
The connected branch piping (if any) reduces the flexibility of the piping. But its inclusion in
the system increases the size of the system resulting in the difficulty of handling. The following
should be considered for practical approach compromising these two divergent effects:
a. Small bore NPS 1.5 & below branch is excluded.
b. Branches having section modulus 10 percentage of main pipe and below is
excluded. However, only the branch element should be included with its stress
intensification factor (SIF).
c. Branches having section-modulus more than 10 percentage is to be included. The
extent of such branch is up to a point where anchor/ semi-anchor/ or directional
stops are there.
5.2 Installation Temperature
5.2.1 Extreme installation temperature shall be taken into account in displacement stress
range check.
5.2.2 For cold service lines, the extreme maximum ambient temperature shall be taken.
5.2.3 For hot service lines, the extreme minimum ambient temperature shall be taken.
5.2.4 The minimum and maximum ambient temperature shall be obtained from project
BEDD for various locations in Saudi Arabia.
5.3 Stress Range Calculation
For stress range calculation, whichever of the equations listed below produces the greatest
temperature differential shall be used:
a. Pipe design temperature (Tp) shall be obtained from the Piping Line list.
b. The temperature difference ΔT to be considered in verifying flexibility, shall be
determined as shown in Table - I
Table I
Graphical Representation for Differential Temperature Range
CASE PIPING DESIGN TEMPERATURE GRAPHIC
TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE REPRESENTATION
(Tp)
∆T

Hot Service TP > TMAX ∆T = TP -TMIN - • - • - x →T

TMIN TMAX
TP
∆T

Ambient Service TMAX ≥ TP ≥ ∆T = TMAX - TMIN - • - x - • →T

TMIN TMIN TP
TMAX
∆T

Cold Service TMIN > TP ∆T = TP - TMAX - x - • - • →T

TP TMIN
TMAX
Where, T min = Extreme minimum ambient temperature
T max = Extreme maximum ambient temperature
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5.4 Analysis Temperature

The flexibility analysis shall be carried out based on the temperature as below:
5.4.1 Use installation temperature for hot and cold service piping as explained under the
heading ‘Installation temperature’.
5.4.2 The equipment design temperature and the line list design temperature shall be used
to verify the stresses in accordance with ANSI B31.3.
5.4.3 For rotating equipment and some of the static equipment ( like Air fin coolers, fired
heaters), the equipment’s maximum temperature and line’s mechanical line list
maximum operating temperature shall be used to evaluate movement, forces and
moments on equipment’s nozzles and on line supports. Where necessary occasional
loads and hydraulic test condition shall be considered to evaluate movement, forces
and moments on nozzles and supports. Conditions like start-up, shutdown,
regeneration, depressurizing and other special conditions) should also be considered
for system integrity check.
5.4.4 For static equipment like, vessels, drums, heat exchangers etc., the mechanical line
list’s design temperature shall be used to evaluate movement, forces and moments
on equipment’s nozzles and on line supports.
5.4.5 For any non-insulated piping with a design temperature below solar temperature and
subject solar radiation heat gain, the metal temperature shall be solar temperature of
the region.
5.4.6 Operating temperature of steam shall be considered for steam-out temperature.
5.4.7 Thermal displacement for equipment nozzles shall be calculated by using the
operating temperature. Thermal displacement for equipment support (e.g. Skirt on
columns) should be calculated considering average temperature. For bare support,
the average temperature is the arithmetic average. For insulated case, the average
temperature is the average considering 180 ºC temperature drops per meter or other
equivalent approach.
5.4.8 Operating temperature shall be used for spring support design.
5.4.9 When pumps are arranged with one pump operating and another at stand-by, three
different cases shall be considered: -
a. Both pumps operating
b. Pump A operating, Pump B stand-by.
c. Pump B operating, Pump A stand-by
5.4.10 When pumps are arranged with two pumps operating and another at stand-by, three
different cases shall be considered: -
a. Pumps A & B operating, Pump C stand-by.
b. Pumps A & C operating, Pump B stand-by.
c. Pumps B & C operating, Pump A stand-by.
5.4.11 Lines that do not have flow, (such as branch piping connected to spare pumps), the
analysis temperature for that portion of line shall be as represented in Figure.1 and
Table II.
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Figure 1
Temperature Consideration for Spare Pump’s Piping

Table II
Temperature Consideration for Spare Pump’s Piping

NON- WARM-UP
INSULATED TRACED
INSULATED BYPASS

Fluid operating Fluid operating Fluid operating Fluid operating

T1 temperature temperature temperature temperature

75% of fluid 50% of fluid 70% of operating 70% of Fluid

T2 operating operating temperature of the operating
temperature temperature steam line temperature

70% of operating 70% of fluid

Ambient Ambient
T3 temperature of the operating
temperature temperature
steam line temperature

5.5 Friction
5.5.1 Equipment nozzle loads, anchor and support loads shall consider the effect of friction.
Friction effects shall never be used to reduce applied loads.
5.5.2 The value of coefficient of friction (µ ) acting at pipe supports shall be in accordance
with SES-B01-E01
5.5.3 PTFE may be used to reduce equipment loads to within the acceptable limits where
no other logical piping routing can be achieved.
5.5.4 Frictionless unrestrained movement of the piping system shall be assumed only if the
entire system is supported by means of rod or spring hangers.
5.6 Spring hangers
5.6.1 Spring hanger’s displacements shall be calculated in operating conditions and the
characteristic (loads, spring rates, etc.) imposed in final calculations. Design
Engineering Company to check that the spring shall be suitable for all severe and
normal operating conditions. For proper determination of spring hanger loads, all
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weights of piping components including spring’s tie-rod, turn buckle and clamps shall
be validated.
5.6.2 The load variation percentage shall not exceed 25 percentage. For piping connected
to rotating equipment the load variation shall not exceed 10 percentage.
5.6.3 Horizontal movement of the attachment point of the pipe shall be taken into
consideration and shall not cause an assembly rotation greater than 4°.
5.6.4 The spring travel shall be verified for all thermal condition.
5.7 Maximum Pipe Spans and Deflections
For determining pipe spans, the maximum sag / deflections shall be limited to 16 mm (5/8 in). This value
does not apply to slope lines.
5.8 Water Hammer
5.8.1 Piping systems subject to water hammer shall be considered in stress analysis.
5.8.2 Forces due to water hammer shall be determined and suitable pipe restraints shall be
provided.
5.9 Steam Out
The analysis shall consider whether the equipment and the piping are steamed out together
or separately. The allowable sustained stresses can be increased by a factor of 1.33.
5.10 Steam Tracing
Lines which are steam traced shall have an additional check to a temperature of 70 percentage
of the steam tracing temperature,
5.11 Differential Movement
5.11.1 Differential settlement of 20 mm for the compressor foundation shall be considered
during the stress analysis of compressor piping.
5.11.2 Differential movements of equipment nozzles shall be considered in the Piping
analysis as per Table IV.
5.12 Hydrotest
Hydrotest loads shall be calculated for pipes NPS 10 and larger.
5.13 Seismic Loads
5.13.1 Seismic analysis is to be considered as an occasional load case during stress analysis
and it should not be combined with other occasional load cases such as wind loads.
5.13.2 Seismic load on piping system shall be determined in accordance with the procedure
outlined in SES B01-E01.
5.13.3 The Spectrum method (quasi-static) is used for piping as per P01-E12, as it is
preferred to equivalent static method because of non-linear/ distributed mass system
of piping. However, Equivalent static method is also acceptable considering 100
percentage mass participation.
5.13.4 Piping stress analysis shall consider seismic load for line sizes NPS 6 and above.
5.14 Wind Loads
5.14.1 Wind Analysis is to be considered as an occasional load case during stress analysis
and it should not be combined with other occasional load cases such as earth quake
loading. Wind load on piping system shall be determined in accordance with the
procedure outlined in SES B01-E01.
5.14.2 Equivalent static method is acceptable for stress analysis of wind loads
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5.14.3 A shape factor of 0.7 shall be applied to these loads to calculate the loads acting on
the pipes.
5.14.4 Piping stress analysis shall consider wind load for line sizes NPS 12 and above
(including insulation thickness). The elevation of piping shall be considered 10 m and
above.
5.15 Snow Loads
Design for snow loads is not required for plants built in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unless
otherwise stated.
5.16 Impulse Loads
5.16.1 The significant loads caused by Water Hammer, Pressure Safety Valve, Rupture disc
opening and Slug Flow shall be indicated as Impact force and shall be considered in
the analysis with reference to P01-E12.
5.16.2 Piping systems subjected to impulse loads shall be designed to have a minimum
natural frequency of 4 Hz.
5.16.3 Lines that are subject to slug flow shall be restrained where necessary.
5.16.4 An Anchor support shall be considered for safety valve piping. When two or more
safety valves are in parallel, stress analysis shall consider the different operating
conditions. All reaction forces during safety valve(s) blow-off shall be accounted in the
piping stress analysis.
5.17 Two phase other lines
Piping system subjected to vibrations due to two-phase flow and similar flow regimes shall be
designed for a minimum natural frequency of 4 HZ.
5.18 Jacketed Pipes
Two possible operating conditions shall be considered for stress analysis, which are:
a. The core fluid is hotter than the jacket fluid
b. The jacket fluid is hotter than the core fluid.

For both cases stress analysis shall consider the core fluid and the jacket fluid at their operating
temperatures. An additional shutdown calculation is required for case ‘b’ with both pipes at the
jacket fluid temperature.
5.19 Centrifugal Pump
5.19.1 The effect of spare pump piping shall be considered in the thermal analysis of all pump
piping systems
5.19.2 To minimize the damaging effects of water hammer and other impulse type loading on
pump nozzles, consideration shall be given to locating swing type check valves in
discharge lines in the vertical position above rigidly supported elbows so that hammer
loads may be distributed to grade or steel. For details of typical piping arrangement,
refer SES P01-E41.
5.20 Steam Turbines
5.20.1 The dead weight of the piping shall be entirely supported by pipe hangers or supports.
5.20.2 Pressure safety valve discharge lines shall be supported in such a manner that the
relieving force during discharge does not impose loading in excess of the
manufacturer’s recommended allowable nozzle loading.
5.20.3 Turbine piping analysis shall include, as an additional case, bypass line hot with trip
and throttle valve closed. The equipment will be cold.
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5.21 Centrifugal Compressors

5.21.1 Certified weights for valves and actuators shall be obtained from supplier. Weights for
insulation and cladding, pipe support attachments, flanges (including the piping flange
connected to the equipment) and bolts for flanges etc. shall be included.
5.21.2 The dead weight of the piping shall be entirely supported by pipe hangers or supports.
5.21.3 When spring selection has been made and all other restraint types and locations have
been determined a “nozzle released” calculation shall be run. This is to ensure that
the nozzle alignment falls within the agreed tolerances. For allowable tolerances refer
to API RP-686.
5.21.4 The main restraints local to the compressor for protecting the nozzle, shall be
designed to enable site adjustment. Adjustable struts, which are frictionless, are the
preferred method of restraint.
5.22 Reciprocating Compressors
5.22.1 Piping systems shall be supported to ensure that their frequency is higher than the
critical frequency of compressor. This critical frequency shall be agreed with the
equipment manufacturer.
5.22.2 An acoustic simulation and mechanical response study shall be carried out by the
equipment manufacturer, in accordance with SES G13-S01, API 618 and API 688.
Dynamic analysis shall be carried out for reciprocating Compressors piping including
analog study. The natural frequency of the piping system shall be maintained above
7 Hz.
5.22.3 Pipe supports shall be located to avoid the natural frequency of piping spans by
anchoring where necessary and thereafter held down at frequent intervals. Supports
shall be located close to valves and changes of direction to reduce pulsation. Refer
P01-E12 and API RP 686 and API 688 for further details.
5.22.4 Adjustable supports shall be provided for all pulsation dampeners not directly mounted
on top of compressor cylinders.
5.22.5 Hold down piping supports shall be designed and oriented so as to minimize thermally
induced forces and moments at pulsation dampener nozzles.
5.23 Reciprocating Pumps
5.23.1 The acoustic simulation and mechanical response study analysis shall be obtained
from equipment Manufacturer. Dynamic analysis shall be carried out on reciprocating
pumps piping including analog study. The natural frequency of the piping system shall
be maintained above 7 Hz.
5.23.2 Suction and discharge piping to positive displacement reciprocating pumps shall
contain hold-down restraints on piping to minimize the potential of pulsation loading
on pump nozzles should pulsation dampeners become inoperative.
5.24 Fired Heaters
5.24.1 Pipe runs should be arranged perpendicular with the radiant tubes of the heater. This
allows the tubes to be used for piping flexibility as they are designed to move laterally
up to 25 mm, but are not designed for any axial movement.
5.24.2 If the fired heater piping analysis incorporates the heater coil connections in the model,
the calculated displacements at the nozzle/ shell interface shall be submitted to the
equipment manufacturer for review and approval.
5.24.3 The effect of expansion and/or displacement of the tubes shall be reflected in the
computer analysis. Computer analysis of piping systems connected to floating heater
coils shall include the heater coil or an approximate model of the coil as part of the
system and the effects of internal guides and restraints. When heater coils are floating,
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the supports of the connecting piping system shall be completely and independently
balanced so that no dead load is imposed on the coil.
5.25 Air Coolers
5.25.1 The header boxes for multiple bundled Air Coolers shall be supported on low friction
slide plates.
5.25.2 In general the inlet piping to multiple bundled Air Coolers shall be as rigid as possible
local to the header boxes.
5.25.3 The header box movement of a multiple bundled Air Cooler can be controlled in two
ways:
a. One of the center header boxes is fixed to the support frame (preferred).
b. The inlet header pipe is anchored.
In either case, a suitable clearance shall be provided between the header boxes and the
supporting framework. It should be noted that the minimum clearance required by API 661 is
often insufficient. The Design Engineering Company shall need to confirm this requirement.
5.25.4 At “even-pass” units the outlet piping shall have sufficient flexibility to cater for the
lateral expansion of the air cooler bundles.
5.25.5 At “odd-pass” units the outlet piping shall allow for failure of a single fan. Temperature
of the outlet piping shall be assumed to be the same as the inlet piping. If this causes
problems a more accurate outlet temperature is to be obtained.
5.25.6 If isolation valves are located at each Air Cooler bundle a case of one bundle at stand-
by and the others operating shall be considered. The different operating possibilities
shall be considered based on process parameters.
5.26 Storage Tanks
5.26.1 Tank foundation settlement due to both hydrostatic testing and commodity weight shall
be considered in analysis.
5.26.2 When large storage tanks are filled, the walls bulge and nozzles located in the lower
course of the tank rotate downwards. This rotation is to be calculated in accordance
with API 650, latest edition.
5.26.3 Piping to and from tanks shall be rotated through 90o as close to the tank wall.
5.26.4 The combined effects of settlement and tank bulge may suggest supporting the piping
on springs. The use of springs shall be limited due to the possibility of the line
becoming drained and an excessive upward load being applied to the tank nozzle.
5.27 Packaged Equipment
Unless agreed otherwise, the piping to Packaged equipment shall be anchored on the package
equipment Suppliers piping as close as practical.
5.28 Pressure Vessels & Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers
5.28.1 Piping to pressure vessels and shell and tube exchangers shall be analyzed for all
possible load cases including start-up, steam-out and normal operating.
5.28.2 Nozzle flexibility between the nozzle and the vessel shell can be used to reduce nozzle
loads.
5.28.3 On shell and tube exchangers any force created by piping loads that is greater than
12 percentage of the attached equipment weight, shall be considered in structural
design.
5.28.4 The fixed end of horizontal shell and tube heat exchangers and drums shall be
determined by Piping Stress group.
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5.29 Control Valve Sets

5.29.1 Due to the potential pressure change and vibration across Control Valve Sets they
shall be anchored (or by stopper) at one end, and guided at the other. Preferably they
should be anchored on the upstream side.
5.29.2 Ensure that the piping local to control sets and other valve sets is sufficiently supported
so that the piping will not sag when the valves are removed/ installed during
construction or maintenance work.
5.29.3 Stress analysis shall consider the by-pass valve shut. The temperature of the by-pass
line shall be;
a. 50 percentage of operating temperature if the pipe is insulated.
b. 25 percentage of operating temperature if the pipe is not insulated.
5.30 Refractory, Pipe fittings and Other parameters.
Analysis Parameter for Refractory, Pipe fittings and other parameters shall be in accordance
with PNC00004.
5.31 Flange Leakage Analysis Criteria
To avoid leakage at flanged joints, the external bending moments and forces shall be limited.
The external loads shall be analyzed in accordance with ASME Section III, Sub section NC-
3658.3 or by equivalent pressure methods. Any other methods shall be approved by SABIC.
Flange leakage check shall be carried out for the following conditions:
a. NPS 4 and above for Hydrogen services / Category-M fluids.
b. NPS 4 and above for lines having 900# and above.
c. NPS 26 and above for Process lines up to 600#.
d. Any other lines as called in by the project.
5.32 Flange Misalignment Analysis Criteria
5.32.1 In addition to field verification, flange misalignment at rotating equipment shall be
checked by performing analysis with:
a. Piping disconnected from equipment flange
b. Pipe temperature at ambient temperature
c. Spring supports considered as rigid supports
d. Commodity excluded from analysis (pipe without any content)
5.32.2 Paragraph 4.6 of Chapter 6 of API RP 686 to be used as acceptance criteria for
misalignment check.
5.33 RTR/FRP Piping
RTR/FRP piping system (AG & UG) stress analysis requirements shall be as per Table-IV.
However, RTR/FRP piping for non-pressure/gravity systems does not require stress analysis.

6 External Load Limits on Equipment

6.1 The allowable forces and moments on equipment nozzles shall be in accordance with Table-
III.
6.2 Nozzle Loads in excess of the allowable loads shall be issued to Equipment manufacturer for
their design consideration.
6.3 If the requirement in above 6.2 cannot be complied, alternate methods for excessive loadings,
such FEA or WRC 297 or WRC 537, shall be adopted for load evaluation.
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7 Criteria for Manual Calculations / Computer Analysis of a Piping

System
The criterion for the selection of visual analysis, manual calculations or computer analysis is specified
in Table-IV.

8 Computer Analysis
8.1 Analysis Requirements
8.1.1 All piping systems shall be evaluated and, if appropriate, analyzed for applicable
conditions in accordance with ASME B31.3 and this practice. The Design Engineering
Company personnel shall be qualified in accordance with the B31.3 Code para. 301.1.
8.1.2 The most severe, anticipated, coincident pressure and temperature conditions shall
be considered to evaluate the flexibility and sustained load analyses for each
anticipated operating conditions. Design conditions (pressure and temperature) shall
be set in accordance with SES P01-E01. The sole uses for design conditions shall be
in accordance with ASME B31.3 Appendix S, Example 1.
8.1.3 The flexibility analysis can require the combinations of more than one load case to
determine the total displacement stress range.
8.1.4 Stress analysis shall be carried out using a CAESAR-II, latest version program.
Sufficient number of runs shall be made to establish the most severe combinations of
load cases for code compliance and nozzle load qualifications.
8.1.5 Due care to be taken to avoid interference with the other piping or structures due to
thermal expansion of piping.
8.1.6 Liberal Allowable Displacement Stress Range (namely, SA=f[1.25(Sc+Sh)-SL] shall
not be used to qualify the stresses in any of the load cases of the piping system
analyzed.
8.2 Stress Sketches
8.2.1 Calculations shall be supported by a Stress Sketches showing: elevations, distances,
calculation nodes, items, restraints, distance from nozzle to equipment and relative
displacements, etc. In the event of negligible variations, a justificatory note supporting
the calculation made on a preliminary sketch shall be deemed sufficient.
8.2.2 Stress sketches shall normally be drawn on piping Isometrics. System isometrics may
also be used if required.
8.2.3 Stress Sketches shall include the following: -
a. The Calculation number, revision, date of issue, stress engineer’s name &
checkers name.
b. When stress sketches are revised they should clearly show a new revision number
on each sheet and all changes are to be ballooned.
c. Relevant ‘Holds’ and ‘Notes’ required.
d. References to other stress calculations (where known) clearly showing the extent
of the calculations referenced.
e. Assumptions made for the purpose of the calculation.
f. Future piping, where applicable, shall be modeled to prove the current piping layout
will not be over-stressed.
g. Required piping reroutes.
h. Significant pipe support loads.
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i. Pipe displacements larger than 50mm.

j. Location and types of pipe supports.
k. Spring supports shall be identified with an item code number, an operating load
and displacement. Note - the stress engineer shall complete the spring data sheet.
l. Rigid Struts shall be identified with an item code number and an operating load.
Note - the stress engineer shall complete the struts data sheet.
m. Location of slide plates.
n. Dimensions of equipment clearly showing location of fixed end.
o. Process conditions used in the calculation should be shown on the stress sketch
front sheet.
p. Reinforcement pads on trunnion, branch reinforcements where required.
q. Supports from vessels or platforms mounted from vessels to be clearly indicated.
8.3 Calculation Report
8.3.1 The output report shall be with the following contents:
i. Cover sheet
ii. Piping stress isometric drawing with mark-up of node number, support points,
analysis condition and any required information.
iii. Reference documents. It is not necessary to include all these but all reference
documents used ( such as P&ID’s, Line Lists, material specifications etc.) shall
be noted along with the revision in the body of the report. If not referenced
elsewhere then actual copies of reference documents shall be included in the
report.
iv. Analysis input echo (geometry, material properties, and weights of piping
components etc.)
v. Displacement summary
vi. Restraint summary & summary for hydro test load case
vii. ASME B 31.3, B 31.1, B 31.4 and B 31.8 code compliance report
viii. Rotating equipment compliance reports
ix. Data sheet for special item, such as spring hanger, expansion joint, etc.
x. WRC calculations summary
xi. Flange leakage analysis report (if applicable)
xii. Dynamic analysis report (If applicable)
a. Computer generated graphics to verify the input data and results of analysis.
b. Dynamic capability for fluid transient, vibration, earthquake analysis etc.
Refer to SES P01-E12 for details.
xiii. Calculation work sheet for Seismic accelerations (g values) used during the
seismic load case analysis. The calculation shall be in accordance with
ASCE/SEI 7-10. The calculation shall cover the equation used, the definition of
terms in the equation, assumptions made and adopted approach.
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9 Revision Summary

Revision No.2, September 2012:

Restructured : Overall restructuring by combining P01-E07 requirement. The title changed to
“Flexibility Analysis Requirements of Piping System”.
: Scope and Criterion for the selection of manual calculations or computer
analysis
Updated : References
Deleted : ASME Code definitions and generally known definition.
Added : Various kinds of analysis parameters

Revision No.3, March 2016:

Updated : References
Modified : Para.5.13.3, 5.16.1, 5.19.2 & 8.3.1 (xii) (b)
Added : Para. 5.32, 6.3

Revision No.4, December 2017

Updated : References, Table III
Modified : Para 5.28.1
Added : Para. 5.33, 8.1.6, 8.3.1(xiii)
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Table III
Allowable Nozzle Loadings on Equipment

EQUIPMENT EVALUATION CRITERIA OR STANDARD

Rotary positive displacement pumps
Recip. positive displacement pumps
Centrifugal pumps (process)
Centrifugal pumps (chemical process)
General purpose steam turbines
Special purpose steam turbines
Axial and Centrifugal compressors and
Expander-Compressors
Reciprocating compressors
Vessels
Shell and tube heat exchangers
Air-cooled heat exchangers
Plate Heat Exchangers
Flat bottom storage tanks
Fired heaters
API 676
API 674 / Manufacturer’s allowable
API 610 / ISO 13709 / Manufacturer’s allowable
ASME B73.1 / B73.2 / Manufacturer’s allowable
API 611 / / Manufacturer’s allowable
API 612 / / Manufacturer’s allowable
API 617 / Manufacturer’s allowable
API 618 / Manufacturer’s allowable
SES Q01-S01
SES Q01-S01
API 661 / ISO 13706 / Manufacturer’s allowable
API 662
API 650
API 560
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Table IV
Criteria for Manual Calculations / Computer Analysis of a Piping System