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
class(ification).

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. The schedule number is defined as the approximate value of the expression:

Schedule Number = (1,000)(P/S)

Where,

P = the internal working pressure, psig

S = the 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)

I can understand your confusion and ignorance from a student's point of view. Students are never
exposed to this methodology and are initiated into it when they go into the real world in their
first job(s).