October 1999

Process Industry Practices

Structural

PIP STF05535
Vessel Circular Platform Details

PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical
requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering
costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice
is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users, individual
applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take precedence over
this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and particular matters or
application of the Practice to particular project or engineering situations should not be
made solely on information contained in these materials. The use of trade names from
time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference but rather recognized
as normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications are equally
correct and may be substituted for those named. All practices or guidelines are intended
to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA requirements. To
the extent these practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or other applicable
laws or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed. Consult an appropriate
professional before applying or acting on any material contained in or suggested by the
Practice.

Process Industry Practices (PIP), Construction Industry Institute, The

University of Texas at Austin, 3208 Red River Street, Suite 300, Austin,
Texas 78705. PIP member companies may copy this practice for their internal
use.

Not printed with State funds

October 1999

Process Industry Practices

Structural

PIP STF05535
Vessel Circular Platform Details
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ............................... 2
1.1 Purpose ........................................... 2
1.2 Scope .............................................. 2

2. References................................. 2
2.1 Process Industry Practices (PIP) ...... 2
2.2 Industry Codes and Standards ......... 2
2.3 Government Regulations ................. 3

3. Definitions.................................. 3
4. General....................................... 3
4.1 Responsibility................................... 3
4.2 Safety .............................................. 3
4.3 Pre-Assembly................................... 3
4.4 Platform Design Loads..................... 3

5. Materials..................................... 4

Process Industry Practices

List of Details
Figure 1 - Typical Plan for Ladders and
Platforms Attached to Vessel............... 5
Figure 2 - Typical Grating Layout for
Circular Platforms................................ 6
Figure 3 - Typical Splice Detail for
Circular Platforms................................ 7
Figure 4 - Typical Bracket Details for
Circular Platforms................................ 8
Figure 5 - Typical Vessel Clip Details for
Circular Platforms................................ 8
Figure 6 - Typical Angle Railing Post
Connection Details for Circular
Platforms............................................. 9
Figure 7 - Typical Pipe Railing Post
Connection Details for Circular
Platforms........................................... 10
Figure 8 - Ladder Exit Detail for Circular
Platforms........................................... 11
Figure 9 - Typical Pipe Railing End Post
Connection Details for Circular
Platforms........................................... 12
Figure 10 - Typical Angle Railing End
Post Connection Details for Circular
Platforms........................................... 13

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PIP STF05535
Vessel Circular Platform Details

1.

October 1999

Introduction
1.1

Purpose
The purpose of this Practice is to provide design engineers and Fabricators with a
standard circular platform design to be used on the vertical vessels in process industry
facilities.

1.2

2.

Scope
1.2.1

This Practice describes the requirements of the design details for fabrication of
typical circular vessel platforms and is intended to be issued to Fabricators
supplying these platforms.

1.2.2

Any conflicts or inconsistencies between this Practice and other Contract

Documents shall be brought to the attention of the Buyer for resolution.

References
Applicable requirements in the following PIP practices, codes and standards, and government
regulations shall be considered an integral part of this Practice. The latest edition in effect on
the date of contract award shall be used, except as otherwise noted. Short titles will be used
herein when appropriate.
2.1

2.2

Process Industry Practices (PIP)

PIP STC01015 - Structural Design Criteria

PIP STF05501 - Fixed Metal Ladders and Cages Details

PIP STF05520 - Pipe Railing for Walking and Working Surfaces Details

PIP STF05521 - Angle Railing for Walking and Working Surfaces Details

PIP STS05120 - Fabrication of Structural and Miscellaneous Steel

Specification

Industry Codes and Standards

Page 2 of 13

American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)

ASTM A36 - Carbon Structural Steel

ASTM A307 - Carbon Bolts and Studs, 60 000 PSI Tensile Strength

ASTM A325 - Structural Bolts, Steel, Heat Treated, 120/105 ksi Minimum
Tensile Strength

ASTM A569 - Steel, Carbon (0.15 Maximum Percent), Hot-Rolled Sheet

and Strip Commercial Quality

Process Industry Practices

October 1999

2.3

PIP STF05535
Vessel Circular Platform Details

Government Regulations
Federal Standards and Instructions of the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), including any additional requirements by state or local
agencies that have jurisdiction where the vessel platform is to be erected, shall apply.

3.

Definitions
Buyer: The party who awards the contract to the Fabricator. The Buyer may be the Owner or
the Owners authorized agent.
Contract Documents: Any and all documents, including design drawings, that the Buyer has
transmitted or otherwise communicated, either by incorporation or by reference, and made part
of the legal contract agreement or purchase order agreement between the Buyer and the
Fabricator

4.

General
4.1

Responsibility
The Fabricator shall furnish all equipment, materials, labor, and supervision and shall
perform all operations necessary for the fabrication of vessel platforms, as indicated
by the Contract Documents. Fabrication shall be in accordance with
PIP STS05120.

4.2

Safety
The Fabricator shall comply with all safety requirements specified in the Contract
Documents.

4.3

Pre-Assembly
The platforms shall be pre-assembled in the shop, up to the maximum size permitted
for shipping.

4.4

Platform Design Loads

The loads given in the following table are based on 6 feet arc length of outside
platform perimeter between the supporting brackets. The design loads are based upon
the criteria specified in PIP STC01015, that is, a live load of 75 psf and the dead load
of actual material weight. A concentrated load of 1000 pounds on 2'-6" x 2'-6" area
will normally not govern the clip design and is not used for these standards. However,
the engineer shall consider specific cases to verify the governing case.
The beam, bolt, and haunch design shall be checked if there is additional loading due
to pipe support, etc., or for strength reduction due to high vessel temperatures
(connection bolts and bracket steel temperature above 350 F). Modification of the
design may be required and/or personnel protection shall be provided for these
circumstances.

Process Industry Practices

Page 3 of 13

PIP STF05535
Vessel Circular Platform Details

Platform Width

V (kips)

M1 (Kip-Feet)

M2 (Kip-Feet)

up to 3'-0"

1.77

1.87

2.97

3'-6"

2.03

2.66

3.92

4'-0"

2.30

3.58

5.01

4'-6"

2.56

4.63

6.23

5'-0"

2.83

5.82

7.58

5'-6"

3.09

7.13

9.06

6'-0"

3.35

8.58

10.68

Notes:

5.

October 1999

V: Shear at centerline of bolts

M1: Moment at face of haunch for beam design
M2: Moment at centerline of bolts for bolt and bracket design (The bracket refers to
the section of the combined beam channel and gusset plate.)
Note: Moment for vessel clip design is equal to M2 + (V) (X), where X is the distance
from the centerline of bolts to the face of the vessel.

Materials
5.1

All structural material shall be ASTM A36 steel unless otherwise noted.

5.2

Welded Steel Bar Grating shall be used on all platforms with 1-1/4" x 3/16" plain
bearing bars on 1-3/16" spacing and cross bars on 4" spacing. The material shall be
per ASTM A569. If the serrated grating is used in lieu of plain grating, the serrated
grating capacity shall be verified for platform width.

5.3

All bolting material shall be 3/4" diameter ASTM A325 bearing type with threads
included in the shear plane, unless otherwise noted. Bolt holes shall be 1/16" greater
than bolt diameter except as noted.

5.4

Railing type shall be as specified in the Contract Documents.

5.5

Unless otherwise shown in the Contract Documents, all steel platform components and
fasteners shall be galvanized in accordance with PIP STS05120.

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Process Industry Practices