[PIPING ENGINEERING 101] - PIPING SUPPORT

"Blueprinting My Journey: Insights from a Junior Engineer"

I plan to provide updates on my learning experiences and share useful insights that could benefit others in the field. This information may not applicable for all cases. If you have more knowledge or expertise, I welcome your corrections and suggestions. Let's learn and grow together!

What is Piping Support?

Piping support is a piping component that transfer load from piping system to supporting structures.

Why Piping Support is important?

Piping supports are crucial for maintaining integrity and functionality of the piping system capable withstanding various conditions such as maintaining structural stability, accommodating thermal movement, reducing vibration/shock, ensuring alignment, leveling, enhancing safety, ease maintenance.

How to Design Piping Support?

1. Check load characteristics: hydrotest, operating, sustained, occasional, expansion, dynamic
2. Do piping support material selection: steel, aluminum, FRP, thermoplastics, coatings
3. Choose piping support type: hangers, anchors, guides, saddles, spring, etc.
4. Determine piping support location: spacing/span and placement

What data input needed for Piping Support Engineer?

• Design Code / Client Specifications
• From Piping Designer: piping plan, piping isometric.
• From Piping Material Engineer: piping component datasheet (material & size)
• From Piping Stress Engineer: piping restrain load data, critical support locations
• From Civil & Structure Engineer: structural drawings, structural materials, connection/foundation details, soil characteristics.

How to Do Piping Support Material Selection?

• Welded-type and Clamped-type pipe support must have the same grade as base piping material.
• Hanger-type pipe support must have clamp support material same grade as base piping material and carbon steel hanger rod attachment.
• All Pipe support must be compatible with minimum/maximum exposure temperatures. (MSS SP-58-Table 1)
• The maximum allowable tensile stress for materials commonly used in the design of pipe hangers and support. (MSS SP-58-Table A2M)
• Consider the cost of materials within the project budget.

How to Determine Piping support spacing/span and placement?

Pipe support span is the ideal separation between two pipe supports, aimed at avoiding excessive stress, vibration, or potential failure of the piping or pipeline system. (MSS SP-58- Table 4)

• Piping Material & Size: Small bore required more frequent support to avoid sagging
• Fluid Weight: Liquid service line needs more frequent support than gas service due to mass density
• Insulation Material: insulated line needs more frequent support due to insulation weight
• Piping design arrangement
• Vibration Possibility: rotating equipment and fluid induced vibrations (FIV) based on fluid viscosity factor (FVF)
• Structural/Soil availability for supporting
• Allowable Loads as per applied code standards
• Supports should not be positioned on valves, flanges, and any other piping components.
• Change direction: Supports should be located as close as possible to change in direction of the piping system.

How to Choose Piping Support Type?

Piping support types refer to the various methods and devices used to secure and maintain the position of pipes within a piping system.

Primary: Primary pipe supports are directly attached to the piping system and provide the main support necessary to maintain the position, alignment, and structural integrity of the pipes.

• Clamped & U-bolt Piping Support
• Welded Piping Support
• Hangers Piping Support
• Sliding Piping Support
• Saddles & reinforcement: Cardel / Wear Pad Piping Support
• Constant load & variable load Spring Piping Support
• Trunnion / Dummy Piping Support
• Special Pipe Supports (SPS)

Secondary: Secondary pipe supports provide additional structural stability and attachment points for the primary supports.

• Angle
• Channel
• Beam
• Plate

What are Data Output From Piping Support?

• Report: Design Basis, Support Tagging, Isometric, Support Data, Support Material
• Load Distribution: Analysis of how the loads from the piping system will be distributed across structural elements.
• Vibration Analysis: Information on how structural elements will respond to vibrations from the piping system and connected equipment.
• Piping Design: Support type, support span, support tagging
• Support Tagging and Identification: All the piping support shown in piping isometric drawing should be neatly tagged with unique identification. This identification of support type can vary from organization to organization.

What is The Standard Code for Piping Support?

• ASME B31.3 para 321.1.1 layout and design of piping support
• MSS SP-58: Pipe Hangers and Supports -Materials, Design, Manufacture, Selection, Application, and Installation
• MSS SP-69: Pipe Hangers and Supports - Selection and Application
• MSS SP-77: Guidelines for Pipe Support Contractual Relationships.
• MSS SP-89: Pipe Hangers and Supports – Fabrication and Installation Practices
• MSS SP-90: Guidelines on Terminology for Pipe Hangers and Supports
• ASCE 7: Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
• AISC 360: Specification for Structural Steel Buildings
• AISC 341: Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings
• AWS D1.1/D1.1M: Structural Welding Code – Steel
• ACI 318M: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary
• BS 3974: Specification for Pipe Supports in the UK
• MITI 501: Technical regulation in Japan
• RCC-M: Specification for Pipe Support applicable in France
• VGB-R-510 L: Standard Support Guideline in Germany
• ISO 14692: GRP piping systems

• ASCE Report 40262: Wind Loads and Anchor Bolt Design for Petrochemical Facilities
• ASCE Report 40264: Guidelines for Seismic Evaluation and Design of Petrochemical Facilities