Section - 3C: Checking

Drawingsl
Piping Designers - Check yourselves

For those independent designers that work on their own, or that preliminary
work that goes out for bid, there is no substitution for perfect work.

Incomplete work and errors, all cost extra.

Here are some useful tips to reduce what a checker would find to almost
nothing.

As a first step, check all of the information in the title block for conformance
with the P&ID and the plot plan.

Double check the line number, area number and piping material spec.

Step two, yellow off the flowsheet as the isometric is traced on the flowsheet
from start to finish.

All inline components should appear on the iso.

Check flow direction.

Check all continuations on the ISO (against vessel drawings, including nozzle
number, nozzle orientation, coordinates and flange type, gasket and rating.

Using a 3-D system and computer spec ?

Check the Bill of Materials.

Getting carbon steel materials in stainless steel lines is easy, especially if the
final spec was not available when modeling started.

Are all of the components in the line from the spec the line was modeled in?
Check for fabrication category (shop - field) against the requirements for
your projects.

Many designers field run every thing below 40mm, some field run everything
below 50mm.

Valves can be a pain, especially generic ones.

Small bore valve dimensions change.

Every manufacturer and valve type uses different overall dimensions.

Here it is important to specify the make and model of every valve.

The use of generic face to face dimensions will produce spool drawings with
cut lengths that will be incorrect.

The overall length of control valves, specialty items, instrumentation and

anything else that is inline needs to be checked against the certified vendor
data published for the project.

Always consider manufacturing restrictions when selecting field weld

locations.

Prefabricated spools will be shipped by tractor-trailer.

Make spools fit on trailers and where appropriate into the average stress
relieving oven.

Always allow for adjustment with appropriately selected field welds.

Colour is an extremely useful tool.

Yellowing off checked items on the P&ID, Line list, ISO and GA takes away
the need to recheck already checked areas.

With practices like these, your checker may be left with little to find.

About the Author

Anton Dooley is a Piper with over 25 years
experience covering process plant engineering,
design & training. He is the founder of
pipingdesigners.com