REVIEW OF THE MORE

COMMON PIPE SUPPORTS

AND THEIR FABRICATION
DETAILS.
 OBJECTIVE:
• To understand the standard pipe support.
• Review the more common pipe supports.
• To be able to correctly show a pipe support
on an Isometric.
 WHAT ARE PIPE
SUPPORTS?
• The term pipe support is used loosely to designate all
mechanisms which enable the piping system to be maintained
by compensating for various types of mechanical, thermal, or
shock movement and the physical weight of the system.
• A “Standard” Pipe Support is a “Pre-engineered” support that
has been predesigned and load rated for use in multiple
applications.
• Miscellaneous Pipe Supports (MPS) is the term we use for
steel supports that are required for the supporting of pipe that
is not covered or deviates from our FD Piping Standard
Support Details. These must be identified by the piping
designer and designed by structural engineering.
COMMON •
•
BASE SUPPORT
CONCRETE PAD
TYPES of • PIPE SHOE

SUPPORTS: •
•
DIRECTIONAL ANCHOR
GUIDE
• DUMMY SUPPORT
• SUPPORT TRUNNION
• LOAD PAD
• HANGER ROD
• FIELD SUPPORT
• PICK-UP
• U-BOLT
• INSULATION SUPPORT
 COMMON TYPES of
SUPPORTS:
• The next set of slides will review briefly some
common pipe supports.
• We will only look at an example of each, discuss
its use and review its Isometric and Plan
Drawing symbols.
• Each designer will need to refer to the complete
set of fabrication details for a more in depth
study of this subject.
• Fluor’s Standard Fabrication Details are found
in Master Specification: 000.250.50201
 Typical Pipe Support Detail
Design Application

Drawing Presentation

Assembly Tag

Fabrication Details

Material List
 Typical Pipe Support Detail
Design Application
 Typical Pipe Support Detail

Drawing Presentation
Typical Pipe Support Detail

Assembly Tag
Typical Pipe Support Detail
Fabrication Details

Material List
PIPE SUPPORT DESCRIPTIONS:
• BASE SUPPORT – A support that is welded to a pipe or elbow
and rests on or is attached to pavement, platform or steel to support
the pipe. Variations of this could be adjustable, anchored or bolted.
• BASE ANCHOR - Somewhat similar to the base support only
stub is directly welded to the anchored support.
– It provides rigid support and restraint, thereby preventing any thermal
and mechanical movement either translational or rotational.
• CONCRETE PAD - A concrete block used with all base type
supports in unpaved areas. Required for both support and
anchoring purposes.
– Use only whenever the area is sloped, irregular or
unpaved.
• PIPE SHOE -
– A metal piece attached to the underside of a pipe which
rests on supporting steel.
– It is primarily used to reduce wear from sliding for lines
subject to movement.
– Also used to protect the insulation. It elevates the line so
that the insulation will not rest on the support and be
damaged.
• GUIDE -
– Small steel members used to restrain pipe movements due
to mechanical and /or thermal forces
– Used to restrict sideways or lateral movements of pipe but
permits movement parallel to the pipe centerline.
• ANCHOR -
– A rigid support which prevents transmissions of movement.
– It is used so that it will not permit the pipe to move or twist in
any direction at the point it is anchored.
– It provides rigid support and restraint, thereby preventing any
thermal and mechanical movement either translational or
rotational.
– It is used whenever pipeline movement may adversely affect
surrounding equipment such as nozzle connection to vessels.
• DIRECTIONAL ANCHOR -
– It stops movement parallel to the centerline of the pipe, but
permits sideways pipe motion.
• DUMMY SUPPORT -
– An extension piece of pipe “dummy welded” to an elbow in order
to support the line from a nearby structural member.
– It is called “dummy” support to emphasize it is only a support and
not a branch connection or not a part of the system.
– It is called out “dummy welded” to give information to
construction or fabrication that the said piece of pipe to be used as
support will not be stub on the pipe being supported.
• HANGER ROD -
– It is used to support lines from steel above if it is not possible to
support the line from the bottom of the pipe.
• FIELD SUPPORT -
– A type of support using channel or angular steel and usually
attached to various structural members that are close to pipeline to
be supported such as concrete walls, structural steel members and
columns.
– These are used to support one or more vertical and/or horizontal
lines as they pass by a vertical or horizontal steel and/or concrete
columns/walls to satisfy the span requirement of a pipeline.
• PICK UP -
– Piece of structural steel attached to a larger line to support
smaller lines.
– It is used only if there’s no other way to support small lines.
Some client specs do not allow the use of these.
• U-BOLT -
– It is one of the simplest pipe fasteners, it is fabricated from round
steel. It encompasses the pipe to be fastened or supported, and
its two threaded legs pass through the supporting steel and are
then fastened.
• LOAD PAD -
– A piece of plate installed at location of support at bottom of pipe,
material is the same as pipe and usually applicable to 20” and
larger pipe with wall thickness less than Std. Weight.
• SLIDE PLATE -
– Two plates used at a support to prevent friction between pipe and
support steel or to withstand mechanical stress and temperature
changes.