PIPING ISOMETRIC

Unlike orthographics, piping isometrics allow the pipe to be drawn in a

manner by which the length, width and depth are shown in a single
view. Isometrics are usually drawn from information found on a plan
and elevation views. The symbols that represent fittings, Valves and
flanges are modified to adapt to the isometric grid. Usually, piping
isometrics are drawn on preprinted paper, with lines of equilateral
triangles form of 60°.
The Iso, as isometric are commonly referred, is oriented on the grid
relative to the north arrow found on plan drawings. Because ISO'S
ARE NOT DRAWN TO SCALE, dimensions are required to specify
exact lengths of piping runs.

Pipe lengths are determined through calculations using coordinates

and elevations. Vertical lengths of pipe are calculated using elevations,
while horizontal lengths are caculated using north-south and east-west
coordinates.
Piping isometrics are generally produced from orthographic drawings
and are important pieces of information to engineers. In very complex
or large piping systems, piping isometrics are essential to the design
and manufacturing phases of a project.
Piping isometrics are often used by designers prior to a stress analysis
and are also used by draftsmen to produce shop fabrication spool
drawings. Isometrics are the most important drawings for installation
contractors during the field portion of the project.

HOW TO READ A PIPING ISOMETRIC?

A pipe into a isometric view, is always drawn by a single line. This
single line is the centerline of the pipe, and from that line, the
dimensions measured. So, not from the outside of a pipe or fitting.
The image below shows a orthographic view of a butt welded pipe with
three sizes (A, B, C).
 The A size is measured from the front to the center line of the
elbow / pipe.
 The B size is measured from centerline to centerline.
 The C size is like the A size, measured from the front to the center
line of the elbow / pipe.
ORTHOGRAPHIC VIEW
(DOUBLE LINE PRESENTATION)

ISOMETRIC VIEW

The isometric view shows the same pipe as in the orthographic view.
As you can see, this drawing is very simple and quick to implement.
The red lines show the pipe, the black dots are the butt welds and A, B
& C are the dimensions of front to center line and center line to center
line.
The simplicity with which a pipe isometric can be drawn is one reason
to made iso's.
A second reason to made isometrics; if a pipe should be drawn in
several planes (north to south, then down and then to the west, etc.),
orthographic views really not an option. In a orthographic view it is not
a problem if the pipe runs in one plane, but when a pipe in two or
three planes to be drawn, a orthographic view can be unclear.
Another reason why isos are preferred, is the number of drawings that
for orthographic views should be made.
For example: for a complex pipeline system, 15 isometrics must be
drawn. I've never tried, but I think for orthographic views maybe 50
drawings are needed to show the same as the Iso's.

ISOMETRIC, PLAN AND ELEVATION PRESENTATIONS OF A

PIPING SYSTEM
The image below show the presentation used in drafting. The isometric
view clearly show the piping arrangement, but the plan view fails to
show the bypass loop and valve, and the supplementary elevation view
is needed.
ISOMETRIC VIEWS IN MORE THAN ONE PLANE
Below are some examples of isometric drawings. The auxiliary lines in
the shape of a cube, ensure better visualization of the pipeline routing.

Figure 1 shows a pipeline which runs through three planes. The pipe
line begins and ends with a flange.
Routing starting point X
 pipe runs to the east
 pipe runs up
 pipe runs to the north
 pipe runs to the west
 pipe runs down
Figure 2 is almost identical to the drawing above. A different
perspective is shown, and the pipe that comes from above is longer.
Because this pipe in isometric view, runs behind the other pipe, this
must be indicated by a break in the line.
Routing starting point X
 pipe runs to the south
 pipe runs up
 pipe runs to the west
 pipe runs to the north
 pipe runs down
Figure 3 shows a pipe that runs through three planes and in two
planes it make a bow.
Routing starting point X
 pipe runs to the south
 pipe runs up
 pipe runs up and to the west
 pipe runs up
 pipe runs to the west
 pipe runs to the north-west
 pipe runs to the north
Figure 4 shows a pipe that runs through three planes, from one plane
to a opposite plane.
Routing starting point X
 pipe runs to the south
 pipe runs up
 pipe runs up and to the north-west
 pipe runs to the north

HATCHES ON A ISOMETRIC DRAWING

Hatches on isometric drawings being applied, to indicate that a pipe
runs at a certain angle and in which direction the pipe runs.
Sometimes, small changes in the hatch, the routing of a pipe is no
longer the east, but for example suddenly to the north.
Figure 5 shows a pipe, where the hatch indicates that the middle leg
runs to the east.
Routing starting point X
 pipe runs up
 pipe runs up and to the east
 pipe runs up
Figure 6 shows a pipe, where the hatch indicates that the middle leg
runs to the north.
Routing starting point X
 pipe runs up
 pipe runs up and to the north
 pipe runs up

The two drawings above show, that changing from only the hatch, a
pipeline receives a different direction. Hatches are particularly
important in isometric views.

Figure 7 shows a pipe, where the hatches indicates that the middle leg
runs up and to the north-west.
Routing starting point X
 pipe runs up
 pipe runs up and to the north-west
 pipe runs to the north
Piping Coordination Systems - Piping Arrangement
VIEWS IN PIPING DRAWINGS
There are two types of views in hand-drawn piping drawings:
 Orthographic - Plans and Elevations
 Pictorial - Isometric Views
Orthographic drawings are views (front, side, top etc.) of an piping
system, and in Piping they are called "Piping Arrangements".
An orthographic view shows only one side, and therefore multiple
drawings (views) are necessary to show a complete
Piping Arrangement.
In complex systems, where orthographic views do not illustrate the
details of the design, pictorial view in isometric presentation is made
for clarity.

PRIORITIES ON A PIPING ARRANGEMENT

Process equipment and piping have priority on the Piping
Arrangement. The major primary beams and secondary beams are
also shown, even as Utility stations so that the most efficient route for
utilities can be determined.
Order of importance of pipe lines in a Piping Arrangement:
 Alloy steel and other special materials
 Large bore piping
 High temperature/high pressure piping
 Lined piping
 Carbon Steel Process Piping
 Utility piping
Further (if possible) all equipment, instrument connections, with the
tag numbers will be shown on a Piping Arrangement. Important details
are often in a larger scale in the same drawing shown.
Even as a Plot Plan, a whole process plant usually can not be given on
a readable drawing. Therefore the Piping Arrangement show parts of a
process plant.

TYPES OF PIPING ARRANGEMENT DRAWINGS

Pipelines on a Piping Arrangement are shown by single lines and
double lines.
In single line representation only the center line of the pipeline is
drawn using a solid line. In double line representation the actual size
to scale is drawn with center line marked in chain-dotted lines.
Single lines representation
 Flanges are shown as thick lines drawn to the scaled outsite
diameter of the flange.
 For flanged joints a small gap between dimension lines will be
shown to indicate a gasket.
 Valves are shown with identification number and a handwheel is
drawn with stem fully extended. If a valve is lever operated, then
the movement of handle position is given.
 Dimensions for flanged valves are given to the flange faces, while
non flanged valves are dimensioned to the center lines of their
stems.

EXAMPLE OF A SINGLE LINE PIPING ARRANGEMENT

The drawing shows 2 pumps, 4 valves (all Handwheel operated and flanged), a pipe
line and a column.
 The line number CD - PL - 101 - 12 - C300 - T2 - I2 tells
something about the pipe line.

CD Indicator for plant or system, where the pipeline is located.

PL Indicator for a service designation.

101 Indicator for the serial number of the pipe line.

12 Indicator NPS, in this case the main pipeline is NPS 12.

C300 Indicator for Pipe Line Class or "Pipe Spec".

C tells that the material is Carbon Steel, and 300 indicates the Pressure
Class.

T2 Indicator for E-tracing type.

I2 Indicator for Insulation type.

Above description of the line number is only an example. For line

numbers are no standard definitions, and therefore a customer
specification can be different from what is here defined.
The indication 12-314 (Typ) on the valve told that the valve is 12
inches and 314 indicates the type of valve. The same applies also to
the valve near the pump, where DR indicates a Drain Valve.
Typ stands for Typical and means that there is another ore more
valves in that drawing with the same specification. The advantage of
this indicator is, that items with the same specification only once need
to be defined.
Furthermore, the red arrow indicates the flow direction, which perhaps
is unnecessary, because the pipe line is connected to the Suction side
of the pump.
 Dis. = Discharge, pressure side of a pump
 Suc. = Suction, suction side of a pump
An important item is designation TF (Top Flat) which is shown to the
eccentric reducer at the pump. That means that the flat side of the
reducer is on the top of de pipe line. If it was vice versa BF (Bottom
Flat), also the elevation to the suction side of the pump must be given.
Example for the pump suction side:
A eccentric reducer 12 to 8 inch has a center-line difference from 52.4
millimeters.
(12" = O.D. 323.9 mm / 8" = O.D. 219.1 mm / Length = 203 mm /
Center-line difference = 52.4 mm).
If the reducer bottom flat, an elevation round off upwards EL. 100548
must be shown.
Note: The connection to the column is Class 600. This change in
Pressure Class is indicated
by a so-called "Spec break" (change of Piping Class Specification). In
this case it means, that the flange that connect to nozzle C1 also must
be have a Pressure Class of 600, and that the material probably not
changed.
Another important item is the elevation (given in red) of nozzle C1
from the column. The elevation EL. 104966 is shown, because the pipe
line ends with an eccentric reducer Bottom Flat (BF). In this case it
means, that the vertical centerline from nozzle C1 is 15.88 mm above
the center line of the pipeline.
A eccentric reducer 14 x 12 (355.6 mm x 323.9 mm) has a length of
330 mm and a center-line difference from 15.88 mm.

SYMBOLS ON A PIPING ARRAGEMENT DRAWING

On the drawing can be seen that the pipe line(s) from the pumps run
up to the column. The pipeline starts with elevation EL. 100600 at the
pump suction site and ends at elevation EL. 104950 at nozzle "C1"
from the column. But without the elevations, the upward routing is
also visible.
For single line representation there are a lot of symbols, which
illustrate a directional change.
The three partly open blue circles in the drawing, indicate three Elbows
which are bending down.
The two blue half-moons around the pipelines/valves indicate that the
valves are at the bottom of the pipeline are located. The two valves
are needed to drain the pipeline. By applying eccentric reducers (Top
Flat) in the lowest part of the pipeline, the two valves make it possible
to fully empty the system.
In the main Menu "Docs" the most used drawing symbols can be
found.
3-DIMENSIONAL VIEW
More and more engineering companies show Plot Plans, equipment
and piping arrangements in a 3D view. Better 3D software has made
this possible, and generally has this way of drawing many advantages.
There are many programs that can be made 3D views, but they are all
very expensive. Large engineering companies often have developed
their own software. Some of these programs make it possible "to
walking through a whole plant" in order to find a particular item. It is
very impressive, what is possible with that type of software.

Piping Coordination Systems - Reference

Points
FOREWORD - LOCATION IS RELATIVE
An object's location is always given relative to another reference
object.
For example, the location of a Heat Exchanger may be described as
five blocks from the General Service Building. To be more specific, the
Heat Exchanger is four blocks east and three blocks south of the
General Service Building. With this illustration, a direction and a
distance from the General Service Building has been established.
Several things are assumed to be known, the place to begin
(General Service Building), and understanding of east and south
(reference directions), and the length of a block
(unit of displacement). Without consensus on these things,
communication of the location of a Process Plant becomes unclear.
Before beginning with making drawings for a new process plant or
building, there must be determine where the new building in the area
will take his place. A coordination system, which refers to an officially
recognized point therefore is necessary.
In the Netherlands, for example, are thousands of official reference
points, distributed across the country ...search on the Internet on
geographic coordinate conversion, triangulation stations, benchmarks,
geography or topography. You'll find a lot of information about how
reference points are measured and identified.

HORIZONTAL REFERENCE
Defining a starting point of the site related to the North / South
direction, is one of the first steps in setting up a coordination system.
In principle, with a simple reliable compass the direction of the
magnetic north can to be determined. In the image below the true
north is at 18°. As a draftsman would work with the true north
coordinates, he will immediately find out that each line from west to
east and from north to south at an angle of 18° must be drawn.
To avoid this, a Plant North will be determined. In the example below,
the true north, 18° is reversed, draftsmen and construction
contractors will be grateful for it.
General there will be tried, to approach the true north-south
coordinates as close as possible.
A rule is, that the angle between true north and Plant North can not
exceed 45°. At 50°, for example, the Plant North would be on the right
side, so on the Eastern side of the image.

1 = Official reference point

2 = South West angle of new plant
X = East West distance from new plant to reference point
Y = North South distance from new plant to reference point

VERTICAL REFERENCE
Before starting with any building, the site is leveled (graded), what
means that the ground is made as flat as practically possible. After
leveling we talking about "finished grade", where the highest graded
point is termed "high point of finished grade".
This highest point of finished grade refers to an official reference point
on which all vertical measurements are related. In the Netherlands, for
example, many vertical measurement are in relation to the
"Normaal Amsterdams Peil" (NAP). If the field compared to the NAP is
1 meter higher, usually the reference point will not become a zero
start of 1000 mm, but in this case a zero start at zero(0).
On a isometric view of a pipe line elevations are indicated by
EL.109665 or EL.99450 etc..
What is meant by this vertical dimensions ?
 The first EL.109665 you can read as: centerline of pipe is 9665
mm above zero point
 The second EL.99450 you can read as: centerline of pipe is 550
mm below zero point
Well, the vertical zero point in this case is 100 meters (100000 mm),
and this has the advantage that no negative (minus) values on
drawings need to be applied.
REMARK(S) OF THE AUTHOR...

CENTER-LINE AND ELEVATION SYMBOL

I have learned, to apply a centerline, a Elevation symbol and a Center-
Line symbol to a isometric.
Namely, the Center-Line symbol at the end of the centerline,
and ON that line the Elevation symbol, followed by the elevation-
numbers.

The sign on the left shows the centerline symbol.

Tip for AutoCad users: use the CDT font, lower case Q.

The sign on the left shows the Elevation symbol.

That sign, you will see on almost every isometric.

A combination of both signs, you see rarely nowadays on an isometric.

Usually only the Elevation symbol is applied. Why? There are many
reasons to make no old-fashioned isometrics.