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Design Criteria

1. Design Pressure
The design pressure of each component in a piping system shall be the severe con
dition of the following:
a. 1.1 x maximum operating pressure as given in line list or service summary.
b. Design pressure as given in the line list or the service summary by the Proce
ss Licensor.
c. Design pressure of equipment to which it is connected.
d. Set pressure of a pressure relieving device which protects the system.
Shut-off discharge pressure of a centrifugal pump, not protected by a pressure r
elieving device. If the shut-off discharge pressure is unknown, it may be determ
ined by the largest of the following:
i. 1.2 times the differential pressure at nominal flow plus the maximum pump suc
tion pressure.
ii. 1.1 times the pumps discharge pressure at normal flow. Full vacuum for a syste
m operating below atmospheric pressure.
2. Minimum Wall Thickness
a. The required pipe wall thickness shall be determined in accordance with the A
SME B 31.3 using the design pressure and temperature mentioned above. The calcul
ated wall thickness shall include mechanical allowance, including manufacturing
minus tolerance and weld joint efficiency factor plus the corrosion allowance.
Unless otherwise specified, the minimum corrosion allowance shall be:
Carbon Steel Alloy Steel: 1.5 mm
Ferritic Steel: 1.5.mm
Austenitic Stainless Steel for general purpose: 0 mm
The pipe wall thickness determined according to the above procedure shall be che
cked for ambient and mechanical influences and other loadings described in the A
SME B 31.3 in addition to the process pressure temperature requirements.
The following minimum pipe wall thickness shall be used for carbon and low alloy
steels of process and utility piping including the items mentioned above.
NB
Welded Joint
Threaded Joint
112 and smaller
Sch 40
Sch 80
2" to 6"
Sch 40
8" to 12"
Sch 40
14" and over
Sch 40
3. Design Temperature

Design temperature as given in the line list for each pipeline. Design temperatu
re as given for each service in the service summary by Process Discipline or Pro
cess Licensor.
When maximum operating temperature (T) is given in line list or service summary,
the design temperature (T) shall be as follows :
T = T 0+ (+20) 0 C, When T0 is between 0 to 200 0 C
T = T 0+ (+10 to + 20 ) 0 C , when T0 is over 200 0 C
T = T 0+ (-5) 0C, when T 0 is 00 C and under
Where = T = Design Temperature
T 0 = Maximum Operating Temperature
The design temperature of a piping system shall be the design temperature of con
nected equipment.
For un-insulated piping, the design temperature may be determined in accordance
with ASME B 31.3.
The reducing co-efficient for piping components not specific in the ASME B 31.3
shall be 95% for fluid temperatures over 370 C .
4. Fittings
Long radius (R= 1.5 D) but welding elbows shall be used wherever possible. Unles
s otherwise specified, flanged elbows shall not be used.
Pipe bends may be used in place of elbows, which shall not be used. Pipe bends m
ay be used in place of elbows, but the minimum-bending radius shall be 5 times t
he nominal pipe size.
Miter bends may be used within the limitations specified in the ASME B 31.3.

Generally for utility services (except steam) miter bends shall be used for pipe
lines 8" NB and above.
Branch connections shall be preferably made by fittings such as tees, half coupl
ings or weldolets. If the ranch connections are made by welding the branch pipe
directly to the run pipe, the required reinforcement shall be designed in accord
ance with the ASME B 31.3.
Fittings of 2 NB and larger shall be the butt weld type and fittings of 1 12 NB an
d smaller, socket weld or threaded type.
As far as possible, use of threaded fittings shall be avoided, except in the cas
e of galvanised piping for instrument air and drinking water services.
5. Flanges
The number of flanges in piping systems shall be kept to a minimum and should be
installed only to facilitate maintenance and inspection and where construction
or process conditions dictate. For instance:
Where pipelines are connected to flanged equipment and valves.
Where frequent dismantling of piping is required.
Where clearance for dismantling equipment such as compressors and reactor heads
is required.
Where steel piping is connected to non-metallic or non-ferrous piping.
6. Flange Types
6.1 Slip-on Flanges
Slip-on flanges may be used where the following requirements are met :
i. Carbon steel piping
ii. Pipes handling non-toxic fluids
iii. Pressure - temperature conditions are within the ANSI 300 LB rating.
iv. Design temperature exceeds minus 20 0C
Slip-on flanges of austenitic stainless steel may be used within the limitations
of item ii. through iv. above, if justified from the cost point of view.
6.2 Welding Neck Flanges
Welding neck flanges shall be used in all instances where slip-on flanges, socke
t weld flanges and screwed flanges are not permitted.
6.3 Socket Weld Flanges
For 112 NB or smaller, socket weld flanges may be used within the limitations spec
ified in paragraph 4.3.4 but S.W flanges shall not be used for piping under IBR
purview.
6.4 Flanges Facing
Flat face flanges shall be used for connecting flanges to flat face cast iron or
bronze piping components and equipment. In this case, gaskets shall cover the w
hole flange face.
Raised face flanges shall in general be used:
i. For flanges of 600 LB or lower rating in process services.
ii. For flanges of 1500 LB or lower rating in utility services.
iii. Regardless of the above limitations a) and b) for design temperatures not e
xceeding 4500C.
Ring joint type flanges shall be used for flanges of 1500 LB rating or higher, o
r for design temperatures exceeding 450 0C. The flanges can also be used for low
er ratings, for service conditions which requires higher degree of tightness. Sm
all and large tongue and groove faced flanges shall be used for services requiri
ng higher degree of tightness and for all lethal services.
7. Bolting
Stainless steel galvanised cadmium plated nuts and bolt studs should be specifie
d in cases where:
1. The spillage of pipeline fluids on the bolting shall corrode them.
2. The plant atmosphere may contain gases which may corrode the bolting.
The basic documents indicated above may not specify this clearly. However this n
eeds to be verified during the preparation of piping specifications and finalise
d in consultation with clients and project manager.
8. Gaskets
a. Specific approval from the Project Manager, Client Process Licencor, Process
Discipline (as the case may be) shall be obtained if material specifications are
different from those specified in the basic documents.
b. Full-face gaskets shall be specified as far as possible, where both RF and Fl
at Face Flanges are used in the same piping class (e.g. cast iron valves in carb
on steel piping with raised face (RF) flanges).
9. Valves
The types of valves specified shall be as per either P&I Diagrams or as per basi
c piping specifications from process licencor or Jacobs H& G Process Discipline.
Types of valves may be revised as per the clients requirements. However, this shal
l be done only after the review of suitability of the same for the intended serv
ice and proper documentation of the change required.
Ball valves may be used in place of gate or plug valves with the following limit
ations.
i. Operating conditions are within the permissible pressure-temperature range of
seat materials.
ii. The Fire safe type is used for flammable services.
Large diameter check valves shall be provided with anti-knock device if swing ch
eck valves are specified.
Check list for valve requisitions may be referred to if required, to specify spe
cial requirements for valves in the project piping specifications.
10. Branch Connection Chart
The standard branch connection chart shall be used to specify use of tees, etc.
for a specific piping class.
When the details following, order or preference shall be kept in mind to facilit
ate procurement and reduce cost of materials (arranged in reducing order of pref
erence i.e. (a) is most preferred).
a. Pipe to pipe branch.
b. Use of half couplings
c. Use of weldolets, sockolets. etc.
d. Seamless tees.
However requirements of basic documents shall not be diluted in this process.

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