PIPING ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PIPING ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

PIPING DESIGN TIPS PIPING DESIGN TIPS

by
ED MURPHY
TIP 01-STS-01 TIP 01-STS-01
THE PIPING DESIGN TIP IS BASED ON FLUOR DANIEL AND INDUSTRY PRACTICE.
WHEN THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN A PROJECT INSTRUCTION AND A PIPING DESIGN TIP,
THE PROJECT INSTRUCTION WILL GOVERN.
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY YOUR SUPERVISOR WHEN QUESTIONS
ARISE THAT ARE NOT RESOLVED BY THE PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS DESIGN TIP, SEE OR CALL ED MURPHY, LOCAL
216.
THE USE AND MISUSE OF U-BOLTS THE USE AND MISUSE OF U-BOLTS
I have noticed what I consider a potentially serious problem regarding the use of U-bolts
and I with to prevent this problem, beginning with this E-mail.
The Pipe Support !uide selection sheets, the individual fabrication detail sheets and
the "#-$# Support !uide sheets are used to select the appropriate pipe support guide
components, however THEY ARE NOT PERFECT IN THEIR PRESENTATION! They contribute
to the problem above by showing U-bolts either solid or dashed on details of other supports.
%ecause of thi& representation, many designers will assume a U-bolt is ALWAYS re'uired and
place U-bolts every time a hori(ontal pipe crosses a support. If a Piping )esigner specifies a U-
bolt that is not re'uired, the potential e&ists for the thermal e&pansion of the pipe to cause binding
at the U-bolt * CREATING AN ANCHOR POINT. The anchor point could result in damage to
e'uipment, the pipe itself, or to the support to which it is attached.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE UNLESS THERE IS A REASON TO GUIDE THAT
PIPE!!!!
There are + types of U-bolts in use by F"#$% D&'()",
1. *US
This is used for SUPPORTING vertical pipe, e&amination of te fabrication detail wil
indicate a lug of material that is welded to the pipe to act as a bearing point that will support the
pipe so it won-t slide within the U-bolt. This type will not be used for hori(ontal pipe.
2. *UG + *UGSP
This is used for GUIDING hori(ontal and vertical pipe. The physical difference between
this type and the *US is there is no lug and the nuts are positioned differently - allowing the pipe
to slide within the U-bolt.
/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_3/243090879.doc
09/04/14

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noted by: eil
prepared by: wilfredo cr!
,. *U
This is used where neither supporting vertical pipe as previously stated is done nor
guiding of pipe is re'uired. This type is physically identical to the *UG + *UGSP, but the nuts are
positioned as they are on the *US - again, there is no lug involved.
%efore specifying the si(e of the *U, the Piping )esigner must .now whether or not the
Pro/ect specifies if the insulation to be cut away at the U-bolt, or the insulation remains intact with
the U-bolt around it.
The *U is used with the *ABS1, *PU1, *PU,, *GSB, *A2, and can be used with the
*ABS2 and *FS,S.
/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_3/243090879.doc
09/04/14

- 2
noted by: eil
prepared by: wilfredo cr!