June 2000

Process Industry Practices

Piping

PIP PNC00004
Piping Flexibility Analysis Criteria
for ASME B31.3 Metallic Piping
 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.

This Practice is subject to revision at any time by the responsible Function Team
and will be reviewed every 5 years. This Practice will be revised, reaffirmed, or
withdrawn. Information on whether this Practice has been revised may be found at
http://www.pipdocs.org.

© 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 and subscribers may copy this Practice
for their internal use.

Not printed with State funds

 June 2000

Process Industry Practices

Piping

PIP PNC00004
Piping Flexibility Analysis Criteria
for ASME B31.3 Metallic Piping

Table of Contents

1. Introduction .................................. 2 6. External Load Limits on

1.1 Purpose ............................................. 2
1.2 Scope................................................. 2
2. References ................................... 2
2.1 Process Industry Practices ................ 2
2.2 Industry Codes and Standards .......... 2
3. General ......................................... 3
Equipment .................................... 5
6.1 General .............................................. 5
6.2 Rotating Machinery............................ 5
6.3 Reciprocating Compressors .............. 5
6.4 Air Cooled Heat Exchangers ............. 5
6.5 Pressure Vessels and Heat
Exchangers........................................ 5
6.6 Tank Nozzle Loads ............................ 5

4. Flexibility ...................................... 3 7. Pipe Flexibility Requirements..... 6

5. Design Basis ................................ 3 8. Piping Flexibility Analysis

5.1 Thermal Effects ................................. 3 Record Keeping ........................... 6
5.2 Weight Effects ................................... 3
5.3 Friction Effects ................................... 3
5.4 Wind Effects ...................................... 4
5.5 Seismic Effects .................................. 4
5.6 Pressure Relief Systems ................... 4
5.7 Water Hammer/Slug Flow ................. 4
5.8 Flanges .............................................. 4
5.9 Maximum Pipe Spans
and Deflections .................................. 4
5.10 Special Requirements........................ 4

Process Industry Practices Page 1 of 7

PIP PNC00004
Piping Flexibility Analysis Criteria for ASME B31.3 Metallic Piping June 2000

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Practice is to outline the minimum basic requirements for
analyzing aboveground metallic piping systems for flexibility.

1.2 Scope
This Practice provides basic piping flexibility analysis, design conditions, and
documentation requirements for the flexibility analysis. All piping systems shall be
evaluated and, where appropriate, analyzed for applicable conditions in accordance
with ASME B31.3 (henceforth referred to as the Code) and this Practice.

2. References
When adopted in this Practice, the latest edition of the following references 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 Process Industry Practices (PIP)

– PIP PNFS0001 - Miscellaneous Pipe Support Details
– PIP RESE002 - Allowable Piping Loads on Rotating Machinery Nozzles

2.2 Industry Codes and Standards

• American Petroleum Institute (API)

– API 618 - Reciprocating Compressors for Petroleum, Chemical, and Gas
Industry Services
– API 661 - Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers for General Refinery Services
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
– ASCE 7 - Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
– ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
– Section VIII - Pressure Vessels
– ASME B31.1 - Power Piping
– ASME B31.3 - Process Piping
• Welding Research Council (WRC)
– WRC 107 - Local Stresses in Spherical and Cylindrical Shells Due to External
Loadings
– WRC 297 - Local Stresses in Cylindrical Shells Due to External Loadings on
Nozzles - Supplement to WRC 107

Page 2 of 7 Process Industry Practices

 PIP PNC00004
June 2000 Piping Flexibility Analysis Criteria for ASME B31.3 Metallic Piping

3. General
3.1 The designer shall consider the most severe anticipated coincident pressure and
temperature condition(s).
3.2 The flexibility analysis shall consider the most severe specified temperature
condition anticipated during start-up, normal operation, steam out/decoking,
depressuring, shutdown, defined upset, cold branch, and regeneration. Analysis of
this situation may require the combination of more than one load case to determine
the total displacement stress range.
Note: Cold branch shall include cases dealing with parallel lines where at least
one line (not always the same one) may be cold at any time. An example is three
parallel pumps where one pump (not always the same one) is normally shut down.

4. Flexibility
4.1 Any computerized pipe flexibility calculations shall be performed using owner-
approved software.
4.2 Piping systems shall be analyzed for expansion, contraction, differential settlement,
relief valve reactions, and effects due to weight, wind, seismic, and other mechanical
loading per the Code.
4.3 Expansion joints shall not be used unless approved by owner.

5. Design Basis

5.1 Thermal Effects

The analysis shall be for the maximum temperature differential. Climatic effects
shall be considered in determining maximum differential temperature. The metal
temperature from the effect of solar radiation in the summer and the winter dry bulb
design temperature should be used. Process conditions listed in Section 3.2 shall also
be considered.

5.2 Weight Effects

The weight of piping, piping components, refractory lining, piping insulation, fluid
transported, and fluid used for testing shall be taken into account in the analysis.
Snow and ice loads shall be considered when required by project specifications.

5.3 Friction Effects

The effect of frictional resistance to thermal movement of the pipe shall be
considered in the design of piping systems. Frictionless unrestrained movement of
the piping system shall be assumed only when the entire system is supported by
means of rod or spring hangers. The effect of friction shall not be added to the
analysis to reduce either piping loads or stresses.

Process Industry Practices Page 3 of 7