INTRODUCTION

Piping systems are like arteries and veins. They carry the lifeblood of modern civilization.
In a modern city they transport water from the sources of water supply to the points
of distribution; convey waste from residential and commercial buildings and other
civic facilities to the treatment facility or the point of discharge. Similarly, pipelines
carry crude oil from oil wells to tank farms for storage or to refineries for processing.

The natural gas transportation and distribution lines convey natural gas from the source
and storage tank forms to points of utilization, such as power plants, industrial facilities,
and commercial and residential communities. In chemical plants, paper mills, food
processing plants, and other similar industrial establishments, the piping systems are
utilized to carry liquids, chemicals, mixtures, gases, vapors, and solids from one location
to another.

The fire protection piping networks in residential, commercial, industrial, and other
buildings carry fire suppression fluids, such as water, gases, and chemicals to provide
protection of life and property. The piping systems in thermal power plants convey high-
pressure and high-temperature steam to generate electricity. Other piping systems in a
power plant transport high- and low-pressure water, chemicals, low-pressure steam, and
condensate. Sophisticated piping systems are used to process and carry hazardous and
toxic substances.

The storm and wastewater piping systems transport large quantities of water away from
towns, cities, and industrial and similar establishments to safeguard life, property, and
essential facilities. In health facilities, piping systems are used to transport gases and
fluids for medical purposes. The piping systems in laboratories carry gases, chemicals,
vapors, and other fluids that are critical for conducting research and development. In
short, the piping systems are an essential and integral part of our modern civilization just
as arteries and veins are essential to the human body.

The design, construction, operation, and maintenance of various piping systems involve
understanding of piping fundamentals, materials, generic and specific design
considerations, fabrication and installation, examinations, and testing and inspection
requirements, in addition to the local, state and federal regulations.

PIPING
Piping includes pipe, flanges, fittings, bolting, gaskets, valves, and the pressure
containing portions of other piping components. It also includes pipe hangers and
supports and other items necessary to prevent over pressurization and overstressing of
the pressure-containing components. It is evident that pipe is one element or a part of
piping. Therefore, pipe sections when joined with fittings, valves, and other mechanical
equipment and properly supported by hangers and supports, are called piping.
Pipe
Pipe is a tube with round cross section conforming to the dimensional requirements of
● ASME B36.10M Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
● ASME B36.19M Stainless Steel Pipe

Pipe Size
Initially a system known as iron pipe size (IPS) was established to designate the pipe
size. The size represented the approximate inside diameter of the pipe in inches. An IPS
6 pipe is one whose inside diameter is approximately 6 inches (in). Users started to call
the pipe as 2-in, 4-in, 6-in pipe and so on. To begin, each pipe size was produced to
have one thickness, which later was termed as standard (STD) or standard weight
(STD.WT.). The outside diameter of the pipe was standardized.

As the industrial requirements demanded the handling of higher-pressure fluids, pipes

were produced having thicker walls, which came to be known as extra strong (XS) or
extra heavy (XH). The higher pressure requirements increased further, requiring thicker
wall pipes. Accordingly, pipes were manufactured with double extra strong (XXS) or
double extra heavy (XXH) walls while the standardized outside diameters are
unchanged.

With the development of stronger and corrosion-resistant piping materials, the need for
thinner wall pipe resulted in a new method of specifying pipe size and wall thickness.
The designation known as nominal pipe size (NPS) replaced IPS, and the term schedule
(SCH) was invented to specify the nominal wall thickness of pipe.

Nominal pipe size (NPS) is a dimensionless designator of pipe size. It indicates standard
pipe size when followed by the specific size designation number without an inch symbol.
For example, NPS 2 indicates a pipe whose outside diameter is 2.375 in. The NPS 12
and smaller pipe has outside diameter greater than the size designator (say, 2, 4, 6, . .).
However, the outside diameter of NPS 14 and larger pipe is the same as the size
designator in inches. For example, NPS 14 pipe has an outside diameter equal to 14 in.
The inside diameter will depend upon the pipe wall thickness specified by the schedule
number. Refer to ASME B36.10M or ASME B36.19M. Refer to App. E2 or E2M.

Diameter nominal (DN) is also a dimensionless designator of pipe size in the metric unit
system, developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO).It indicates
standard pipe size when followed by the specific size designation number without a
millimeter symbol. For example, DN 50 is the equivalent designation of NPS 2. Refer to
Table A1.1 for NPS and DN pipe size equivalents.

TABLE A1.1 Pipe Size Designators: NPS and DN

NPS DN NPS DN NPS DN NPS DN

1⁄8 6 31⁄2 90 22 550 44 1100
1⁄4 8 4 100 24 600 48 1200
3⁄4 10 5 125 26 650 52 1300
1⁄2 15 6 150 28 700 56 1400
3⁄₄ 20 8 200 30 750 60 1500
1 25 10 250 32 800 64 1600
11⁄4 32 12 300 34 850 68 1700
11⁄2 40 14 350 36 900 72 1800
2 50 16 400 38 950 76 1900
21⁄2 65 18 450 40 1000 80 2000
3 80 20 500 42 1050 — —

Notes:
1. For sizes larger than NPS 80, determine the DN equivalent by multiplying NPS size
designation number
by 25.

Pipe Wall Thickness

Schedule is expressed in numbers (5, 5S, 10, 10S, 20, 20S, 30, 40, 40S, 60, 80, 80S,
100, 120, 140, 160). A schedule number indicates the approximate value of the
expression 1000 P/S, where P is the service pressure and S is the allowable stress,
both expressed in pounds per square inch (psi). The higher the schedule number, the
thicker the pipe is. The outside diameter of each pipe size is standardized. Therefore, a
particular nominal pipe size will have a different inside diameter depending upon the
schedule number specified.

Note that the original pipe wall thickness designations of STD, XS, and XXS have been
retained; however, they correspond to a certain schedule number depending upon the
nominal pipe size. The nominal wall thickness of NPS 10 and smaller schedule 40 pipe
is same as that of STD.WT. pipe. Also, NPS 8 and smaller schedule 80 pipe has the
same wall thickness as XS pipe.

The schedule numbers followed by the letter S are per ASME B36.19M, and they are
primarily intended for use with stainless steel pipe. The pipe wall thickness specified by
a schedule number followed by the letter S may or may not be the same as that
specified by a schedule number without the letter S. Refer to ASME B36.19M and ASME
B36.10M. ASMEB36.19M does not cover all pipe sizes. Therefore, the dimensional
requirements of ASME B36.10M apply to stainless steel pipe of the sizes and schedules
not covered by ASME B36.19M.

PIPING CLASSIFICATION
It is usual industry practice to classify the pipe in accordance with the pressure
temperature rating system used for classifying flanges. However, it is not essential

TABLE A1.2 Piping Class Ratings Based on ASME B16.5 and Corresponding PN
Designators
Class 150 300 400 600 900 1500 2500
PN 20 50 68 110 150 260 420
Notes:
1. Pressure-temperature ratings of different classes vary with the temperature and the
material of construction.
2 For pressure-temperature ratings, refer to tables in ASME B16.5, or ASME B16.34.

that piping be classified as Class 150, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1500, and 2500. The piping
rating must be governed by the pressure-temperature rating of the weakest pressure
containing item in the piping. The weakest item in a piping system may be a fitting made
of weaker material or rated lower due to design and other considerations. Table A1.2
lists the standard pipe class ratings based on ASME B16.5 along with corresponding
pression nominal (PN) rating designators. Pression nominal is the French equivalent of
pressure nominal.

In addition, the piping may be classified by class ratings covered by other ASME
standards, such as ASME B16.1, B16.3, B16.24, and B16.42. A piping system may be
rated for a unique set of pressures and temperatures not covered by any standard.
Pression nominal (PN) is the rating designator followed by a designation number, which
indicates the approximate pressure rating in bars. The bar is the unit of pressure, and 1
bar is equal to 14.5 psi or 100 kilopascals (kPa). Table A1.2 provides a cross-reference
of the ASME class ratings to PN rating designators. It is evident that the PN ratings do
not provide a proportional relationship between different PN numbers, whereas the class
numbers do. Therefore, it is recommended that class numbers be used to designate the
ratings. Refer to Chap. B2 for a more detailed discussion of class rating of piping
systems.

OTHER PIPE RATINGS

Manufacturer’s Rating
Based upon a unique or proprietary design of a pipe, fitting, or joint, the manufacturer
may assign a pressure-temperature rating that may form the design basis for the piping
system. Examples include Victaulic couplings and the Pressfit system discussed in
Chap. A9.
In no case shall the manufacturer’s rating be exceeded. In addition, the manufacturer
may impose limitations which must be adhered to.

NFPA Ratings
The piping systems within the jurisdiction of the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) requirements are required to be designed and tested to certain required
pressures. These systems are usually rated for 175 psi (1207.5 kPa), 200 psi (1380
kPa), or as specified.

AWWA Ratings
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) publishes standards and
specifications, which are used to design and install water pipelines and distribution
system piping. The ratings used may be in accordance with the flange ratings of AWWA
C207, Steel Pipe Flanges; or the rating could be based upon the rating of the joints used
in the piping.

Specific or Unique Rating

When the design pressure and temperature conditions of a piping system do not fall
within the pressure-temperature ratings of above-described rating systems, the designer
may assign a specific rating to the piping system. Examples of such applications include
main steam or hot reheat piping of a power plant, whose design pressure and design
temperature may exceed the pressure-temperature rating of ASME B16.5 Class 2500
flanges. It is normal to assign a specific rating to the piping. This rating must be equal to
or higher than the design conditions. The rating of all pressure-containing components in
the piping system must meet or exceed the specific rating assigned by the designer.

Dual Ratings
Sometimes a piping system may be subjected to full-vacuum conditions or submerged in
water and thus experience external pressure, in addition to withstanding the internal
pressure of the flow medium. Such piping systems must be rated for both internal and
external pressures at the given temperatures. In addition, a piping system may handle
more than one flow medium during its different modes of operation. Therefore, such a
piping system may be assigned a dual rating for two different flow media. For example, a
piping system may have condensate flowing through it at some lower temperature during
one mode of operation while steam may flow through it at some higher temperature
during another mode of operation. It may be assigned two pressure ratings at two
different temperatures.

Pipes and tubes are not the same

Pipes

The purpose with a pipe is the transport of a fluid like water, oil or similar, and the most
important property is the capacity or the inside diameter.

For a ASME/ANSI B 36.10 Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe the inside
diameter - ID - of a NPS 2 inches pipe with

 schedule 40 is 2.067"
 schedule 80 is 1.939"

The inside diameters are close to 2" and the nominal diameter related to the
inside diameter. Outside diameter are 2.375" for both schedules.

Since the outside diameter of a single nominal pipe size is kept constant the
inside diameter of a pipe will depend on the "schedule" or the thickness of the
pipe. The schedule and the actual thickness of a pipe varies with the size of the
pipe.

It is common to identify pipes in inches by using NPS or "Nominal Pipe Size".

The metric equivalent is called DN or "diametre nominel". The metric
designations conform to International Standards Organization (ISO) usage and
apply to all plumbing, natural gas, heating oil, and miscellaneous piping used in
buildings. The use of NPS does not conform to American Standard pipe
designations where the term NPS means "National Pipe Thread Straight".
Nominal Bore (NB) may be specified under British standards classifications along
with schedule (wall thickness).

The tolerances are looser to pipes compared with tubes and they are often less
expensive to produce.

Tubes

The nominal dimensions of tubes are based on the outside diameter. If we look at
Copper Tubes - ASTM B88 the outside diameter of a 2" pipe is 2.125", relatively
close to 2".

The inside diameter of a tube will depend on the thickness of the tube. The
thickness is often specified as a gauge. If we look at Copper Tubes - ASTM B88
the wall thickness of 0.083"of a 2" pipe is gauge 14.

The tolerances are higher with tubes compared to pipes and tubes are often
more expensive to produce than pipes.

The size of pipes, fittings, flanges and valves are often given in inches as
NPS - Nominal Pipe Size, or in metric units as DN - 'Diametre Nominal'

Pipe is made of a wide variety of materials - like galvanized steel, black

steel, copper, cast iron, concrete, and various plastics such as ABS, PVC, CPVC,
polyethylene, polybutylene and more.

Pipes are identified by "nominal" or "trade" names that are loosely related to the
actual dimensions. For instance, a 2-inch galvanized steel pipe has an inside
diameter of about 2 1/8 inches and an outside diameter of about 2 5/8 inches.

In plumbing pipe size is referred to as nominal pipe size - NPS, or "Nominal Pipe
Size". The metric equivalent is called DN or "diametre nominel". The metric
designations conform to International Standards Organization (ISO) usage and
apply to all plumbing, natural gas, heating oil, and miscellaneous piping used in
buildings. The use of NPS does not conform to American Standard pipe
designations where the term NPS means "National Pipe Thread Straight".
Diameter Nominal Pipe
Nominal Size
DN NPS
(mm) (inches)

6 1/8

8 1/4

10 3/8

15 1/2

20 3/4

25 1

32 1 1/4

40 1 1/2

50 2

65 2 1/2

80 3

100 4

150 6

200 8

250 10

300 12
Diameter Nominal Pipe
Nominal Size
DN NPS
(mm) (inches)

350 14

400 16

450 18

500 20

550 22

600 24

650 26

700 28

750 30

800 32

900 36

1000 40

1050 42

1100 44

1200 48

1300 52
 Diameter Nominal Pipe
Nominal Size
DN NPS
(mm) (inches)

1400 56

1500 60

1600 64

1700 68

1800 72

1900 76

2000 80

2200 88

An introduction to pipes and the schedule terminology

For all pipe sizes the outside diameter (O.D.) remains relatively constant.
The variations in wall thickness affects only the inside diameter (I.D.).

A schedule number indicates the approximate value of Sch. = 1000 P/S

where

P = service pressure (psi)

S = allowable stress (psi) for the material of construction at the conditions of use.
For example, the schedule number of ordinary steel pipe having an allowable
stress of 10,000 psi for use at a working pressure of 350 psig would be:

Schedule Number = (1,000)(350/10,000) = 35 (approx. 40)

The higher the schedule number is, the thicker the pipe is. Since the outside
diameter of each pipe size is standardized, a particular nominal pipe size will
have different inside pipe diameter depending on the schedule specified.

Why Pipe thickness is mentioned by schedule what does it mean?

Schedule is NOT directly a measure of thickness; it is a measure of the pressure

a pipe can withstand without deflection or failure. When you are talking about
pipes constructed of the same materials (i.e. PVC) a thicker pipe would be able
to withstand higher pressures. As a result, many people have taken "schedule" to
be synonymous with thickness.

"For the purpose of standardizing pipe dimensions, the American National

Standards Institute (ANSI) sponsored by the American Society for Testing
Materials (ASTM) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME),
published ANSI B36.10. To broaden the range of wall thicknesses, schedule
numbers from schedule 10 (S.10) thru schedule 160 (S.160) were adopted for
steel pipe. These schedule numbers indicate approximate values for 1000 times
pressure-stress ratios."

Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe

To distinguish different weights of pipe, it is common to use the Schedule terminology

from ANSI/ASME B36.10 Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe:

 Light Wall
 Schedule 10 (Sch/10, S/10)
 Schedule 20 (Sch/20, S/20)
 Schedule 30 (Sch/30, S/30)
 Schedule 40 (Sch/40, S/40)
 Standard Weight (ST, Std, STD)
 Schedule 60 (Sch/60, S/60)
 Extra Strong (Extra Heavy, EH, XH, XS)
 Schedule 80 (Sch/80, S/80)
  Schedule 100 (Sch/100, S/100)
 Schedule 120 (Sch/120, S/120)
 Schedule 140 (Sch/140, S/140)
 Schedule 160 (Sch/160, S/160)
 Double Extra Strong (Double extra heavy, XXH, XXS)

Note that many of the schedules are identical in certain sizes.

Stainless Steel Pipe

For stainless steel pipes thru 12-inch, schedule numbers from Schedule 5S to schedule
80S are used as published in ANSI/ASME 36.19M Stainless Steel Pipe.

 Schedule 5S (Sch/5S, S/5S)

 Schedule 10S (Sch/10S, S/10S)
 Schedule 40S (Sch/40S, S/40S)
 Schedule 80S (Sch/80S, S/80S)

What is the difference between pipe class & pipe schedule ?

I am being told that pipe class refers to the maximum internal pressure a pipe
can safely sustain while pipe schedule refers to the thickness of pipe. But how
are they independent , the thickness of pipe will determine how much internal
pressure it can sustain. Isn't it ?

A 4" Carbon steel pipe of Schedule 40 should have a unique class or it can have
different class ?There are various misunderstandings and misconceptions
regarding the classification of piping – and most of these originate primarily
because some engineers simply don't employ their common sense. Some would
like to pretend that there is an almighty, all-powerful agency somewhere that
dictates what a pipe is, will be, and shall be by established and enforced "laws",
codes, or "standards". No such animal exists.

You are being told the wrong information if you are told "pipe class refers to the
maximum internal pressure a pipe can safely sustain". The important point to
bear in mind here is that the pipe itself may not (& in most cases, doesn't) fix the
maximum safe pressure allowable on the ENTIRE piping system involved. In
most cases, the flanges are the weakest point - and this should be the guiding
design factor with regards to allowable pressure in that specific piping
classification.

A pipe class is a document (normally prepared by an operating or engineering

company) for use within its confines and which contains the definition of pipe and
all related components that are to be used under a specific pressure,
temperature condition – including sometimes the service they are in. A typical
definition contains the material specification, type, rating, and dimensional data. It
serves as a CLASSIFICATION of piping systems and their application within the
process design at hand. A certain pipe schedule is often established for certain
services. This is dictated by the classification, based on the need and the
application.

A pipe schedule to be used and serves as the basic specification for the pipe
thickness and dimensions. You should know that the hoop stress equation is
what determines the pipe thickness, so you shouldn't be asking whether the pipe
thickness determines the allowable working pressure. You SHOULD KNOW that
it does – and under what conditions.

Industrial pipe thicknesses follow a set formula, expressed as the "schedule

number" as established by the American Standards Association (ASA) now re-
organized as ANSI - the American National Standards Institute. Eleven schedule
numbers are available for use: 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, & 160.
The most popular schedule, by far, is 40. Schedules 5, 60, 100, 120, & 140 have
rarely, if ever, been employed by myself in over 48 years as a practicing
engineer.

What is Piping Engineering?

 Every process plant needs a piping system to be designed with care

 The performance of plant depends on efficient transport of process fluid through

 the pipes according to material and energy balance for a process and this requires
 a systematic analysis and engineering design methods.

 Over the years many such standards and practices for piping system design have
evolved and by itself is a major engineering science.

 Every engineering and construction company will then need trained manpower to
design a piping system.

Scope of Work & Responsibilities of Piping Engineer

 The piping department of an engineering and construction company generally

begins with the piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID).
  Process department prepares process flow sheet, which begins with the chemical
reaction and after carrying out material and energy balance and equipment
selection, which is further utilized to prepare a first version of P&ID.
 This means that one can now begin actual plant design. Going through steps of
plot plan and equipment layout, the next step is to start designing piping system
for material transport.
 In our course, we will be adopting a building block concept, where we will begin
with pipes selected by line sizing and hydraulics of pumps and compressors used
to transport material. These pipes are “connected” using pumps and compressors,
add to it the valves, safety devices, measuring instruments and control
components and first rough sketch of piping structure would be over.
 However a scientific and systematic approach is developed over the years and
design codes and practices evolved are used to go through a step-by-step
procedure to come up with a piping system structure.
 Learning this systematic science is the aim of this course. No such structure will
be approved by engineers unless its stress analysis is done including stress at the
connecting components such as nozzles, flanges, pipe supports and so on.
 We will be using pipe stress software to find if designed structure can sustain
static, dynamic and combined stresses
 General flowcharts for piping design procedures in parts at least are provided
during the actual exercises.
 Thus, process and piping are becoming a major force in engineering, procurement
and construction (epc) companies as part of Engineering IT culture being
developed and justify a growing need for qualified engineers to take up this
profession.

Piping Engineers are responsible for designing and building the piping systems that carry
our water, gas, oil and waste. They are involved in every aspect of the creation of these
piping systems. Piping Engineers first draw the blueprints for the system, and then they
assist in selecting the materials that will be used to build the pipes and accompanying
components.

The role of Piping Engineer is a supervisory role, so many employers prefer candidates
with one to three years of experience. Their work environment is mostly an office setting
but, depending on one’s industry, the job can involve surveying field locations. According
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for Civil Engineers, which includes Piping
Engineers, is set to rise eight percent through 2024.

Piping Engineer Duties and Responsibilities

There are several duties that fall under the responsibility of Piping Engineers. The
specific duties vary slightly depending upon industry. With that being said, the following
duties are the ones that popped up most frequently in our analysis of Piping Engineer job
descriptions.

Survey Installation Sites

Piping Engineers are responsible for going to the installation site of a piping system and
surveying the land for any irregularities. They then analyze these observations as a part of
the process for creating system blueprints.

Draw Blueprints for Piping Systems

Piping Engineers are the creators of a system’s blueprints. This requires extensive
knowledge of all the parts of the system , and how each part relates to the functionality of
the whole. Piping Engineers typically use Computer Assisted Design ( CAD ) software
for this process.

Develop Preliminary Project Scope

Piping Engineers are responsible for creating the initial project scope for all of the tasks
that need to be completed in order to install a piping system. They must take into account
cost , resources and the project deadline.

Participate in Cost Management Meetings

Most of what Piping Engineers do depends on the budget of a given project. They
participate with decision makers in cost management meetings to ensure their designs
reflect the parameters of the project’s budget.

Assist in Sourcing Construction Materials for Piping Systems

Piping Engineers know exactly what types of materials are necessary to create a piping
system that withstands the elements. They’re responsible for sourcing these materials,
and then ensuring these materials are used in the installation process.

Piping Engineer Skills

Piping Engineers rely mostly on technical skills to complete their duties, but there are
still a few soft skills they need to do their jobs well. Piping Engineers rarely work alone,
so they have to be able to thrive in a collaborative environment. They also need to have
keen observational skills in order to successfully survey installation sites. We analyzed
several Piping Engineer job descriptions to put together this list of core skills Piping
Engineers need to get hired.
Observational Skills: Piping Engineers call upon their observational skills when
surveying installation sites. They must be able to detect any irregularities that may affect
the installation process.