Section 9

Field Piping Guidelines

PIPE ROUTING
The following parameters are typically used to check or perform pipe routings:
 Check proposed pipe routing against civil
and architectural drawings for concrete
wall, masonry block wall, and structural
steel locations.
 Check proposed pipe routing against
equipment locations, and electrical cable
routings.
 Route the pipe to reduce the quantity of
hangers by allowing the piping to be
supported from the building steel.
 Run piping to minimize both the total
footage and number of field connections.
Field connections should be easy to
reach and allow for occasional directional
adjustment in either horizontal or vertical
axes.
 Check piping connections to equipment, look at nozzle elevation and orientation,
piping size, pressure rating and flange facing style.
 Refer to insulation schedule for thickness and spacing requirements to accommodate
movements.
 Always maintain head room clearances consistent with good engineering practices
 3'-0" minimum clear width for walkways
 6'-8" above walkways per OSHA 1910.37 paragraph(i)
 13'-0" above any traffic, but not below the pipe way structure
 22'-0" at a railroad crossing
 Avoid routing pipe within electrical panel door swing areas
 Avoid placing pipe in any equipment removal areas
 Maintain adequate clearance from the floor to permit easy field erection
 Provide sufficient number of bends per design criteria to accommodate thermal
expansion
 Make sure valves and other in-line devices are accessible for operations and
maintenance
 Trap or drain all steam and air lines

© 1996 Bechtel Corp. Piping/Mechanical Handbook 9-1

Section 9 Field Piping Guidelines

 Vent all high points in liquid lines

 Drain the low points at all pockets
 Run parallel piping runs together to
allow multiple line usage of hangers
 Check proper valve orientation and
dismantling space
Consider how the piping will be
supported and what types of hangers
can be used. Do not route pipe
diagonally across the plant. It will
occupy more space and can be difficult
to support.

Vent and Drain Requirements

Vents are installed to remove air from fluid systems at their high points. Drains serve to
remove fluid from the low points or pockets. Hydrostatic testing of the piping system may
require additional vents and drains to be added to support removal of either air or fluid,
while the client may have them plugged after the testing to eliminate possible leak paths.
Additional drains may be required during startup testing and flushing.

Relief Valve Vent Requirements

Relief blow-offs should always be directed or located away from human traffic, air intakes,
or confined spaces.

Instrument Tap Orientation

The major types of instrument taps are pressure, temperature, and flow monitoring. None
of these connections should be located in the lower half of the horizontal pipe. The
preferred location is based on a combination of the type of instrument and the system flow
medium (gas, liquid, or steam). Most gases are lighter than air and consequently are best
monitored with a top connection on a horizontal pipe line. These systems are also subject
to condensation or moisture on the bottom. Liquid or steam on the other hand is best
suited to a side connection at the centerline because of potential air at the top of the pipe
or condensate or dirt on the bottom of the pipe.
Other types of flow control design considerations include:
 Flanges are often required in the header and must be accounted for in the routing.
 Make sure clearances are provided from other pipe and structures.

9-2 Piping/Mechanical Handbook 1996:Rev.2

 Field Piping Guidelines Section 9

 Straight runs of piping should be on the upstream and downstream side of the flow
element. A rule of thumb to use if no design information exists is to provide ten (10)
diameters upstream and five (5) diameters downstream from the flow element.
Sample points are required to provide operational sampling of the piping fluid. They
should be located in sections of the line that will see continuous flow, and should not be
located in stagnant flow areas. It is preferred that these connections be oriented at the
horizontal centerline or slightly above this centerline. Under no circumstance should the
connection be made from the bottom of the pipe.

1996:Rev.2 Piping/Mechanical Handbook 9-3