Piping guidelines Part I No.

: PG W722/02/006
Piping design, Attachment IV Index: b
Piping Floating Procedure Page: 1 of 5

Attachment to Piping Guidelines

Piping Floating Procedure

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................................2

2 DEFINITIONS...........................................................................................................................................................2
2.1 Floating of Pipes.................................................................................................................................................2
2.2 Stress Free Connection.......................................................................................................................................2
2.3 De-blocking of Spring Hangers..........................................................................................................................2
3 PROCEDURE............................................................................................................................................................2

4 CHECKS BEFORE FLOATING CAN BE DONE................................................................................................3

5 STEPS FOR FLOATING THE PIPING SYSTEM................................................................................................3

6 REQUIREMENTS....................................................................................................................................................3
6.1 Lateral Misalignment..........................................................................................................................................3
6.2 Axial Misalignment (root opening)....................................................................................................................3
6.3 Unbalanced Forces..............................................................................................................................................3
7 EXAMPLE ISOMETRIC SHOWING THE SIMULATION WEIGHT TO BE ATTACHED..........................4

8 Example format for Acceptable Misalignment and Unbalanced forces......................................................................5

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 Piping guidelines Part I No.: PG W722/02/006
Piping design, Attachment IV Index: b
Piping Floating Procedure Page: 2 of 5

1 Introduction
This document provides a general methodology on floating of the pipeline end before being
connected to any equipment to ensure stress free connection to the equipment nozzle. For
the list of nozzles that need to be floated refer to the stress guidelines.

2 Definitions

2.1 Floating of Pipes

Leaving the pipe weight and simulated insulation weight hanged from de-blocked springs
before connection to any equipment.

2.2 Stress Free Connection

Flanged or welded joints those are checked for proper alignment within the floating
condition (permitted connection loads) before connection to equipment.

2.3 De-blocking of Spring Hangers

Removing the locking arrangement from a variable/constant spring, so that the pipe is
suspended by means of spring coils.

3 Procedure
Before making the final connection to the equipment nozzle (for critical equipments like
Turbine, Boiler feed Pump etc. which do have rotating components and are sensitive to
the externally applied forces) it is desired to have a stress free connection in order to
achieve manufacturers requested clearances. This is achieved by de-blocking the springs
and then checking the alignment achieved at nozzles.

During floating all supports up to the first two rigid weight supports adjacent to each other
shall be de-blocked and adjusted until they carry the piping, insulation & medium weight
and a neutral weight position at the free end of the piping is achieved. Additional weight is
required to be hanged on pipeline by means of external sources (like sandbags on pipe)
to simulate the weight of insulation and medium. How much weight is to be applied is
found by the calculation and noted on the isometrics. De-Blocking is done from rigid
supports towards the equipment.

If horizontal misalignments at the nozzle are found beyond the acceptable limits, the pipe
is pulled using spring balance. This way the unbalanced force at the nozzle is measured.
Also the free end is forced back into welding position. If the measured force is accepted
by the equipment supplier, pipe could be connected to nozzle. If the loads are not

Siemens AG . Power Generation The reproduction, transmission or use of this document or its
contents is not permitted without express written authority. Offenders
will be liable for damages. All rights, including rights created by
patent grant or registration of a utility model or design, are reserved.

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 Piping guidelines Part I No.: PG W722/02/006
Piping design, Attachment IV Index: b
Piping Floating Procedure Page: 3 of 5

acceptable, springs hangers up to the first rigid support should be adjusted again to
reduce horizontal misalignment.

4 Checks before Floating can be done

Tag no. of all the spring blocks matching with isometrics.

All guides and axial stops (between the component nozzles up to the first two rigid weight
supports adjacent to each other) are installed and functional.

Load set points of springs is matching with manufacturers drawing.

5 Steps for Floating the Piping system

For missing weights (insulation, medium etc.) spare weight should be attached at the spring
hangers.

De-blocking of spring hangers from the first two rigid weight supports adjacent to each
other to the component nozzle.

Adjusting of spring hangers up to the first rigid weight support to achieve a neutral weight
position.

By spring balance, forcing the free end back to welding position and making a note of effort
required.

6 Requirements
To achieve the stress free condition requirements stipulated in ASME B31.1, chapter 127.3,
relevant WPS, STIM 04.001 and those provided by equipment manufacturer should be met. The
same can be summarised as:-

6.1 Lateral Misalignment

The maximum lateral misalignment should not exceed the specified values in ASME B31.1
Chapter 127.4C or equipment supplier provided values.

6.2 Axial Misalignment (root opening)

The maximum axial misalignment should be within the WPS specified range.

6.3 Unbalanced Forces

It is generally permitted that the maximum unbalanced component forces and moments at
the turbine connection should not exceed 20% of the permitted hot load values. The actual

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contents is not permitted without express written authority. Offenders
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 Piping guidelines Part I No.: PG W722/02/006
Piping design, Attachment IV Index: b
Piping Floating Procedure Page: 4 of 5

unbalanced force in the cold condition has to be approved by the component supplier
before making the final connection to equipment.

7 Example Isometric showing the simulation weight to be attached

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contents is not permitted without express written authority. Offenders
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 Piping guidelines Part I No.: PG W722/02/006
Piping design, Attachment IV Index: b
Piping Floating Procedure Page: 5 of 5

8 Example format for Acceptable Misalignment and Unbalanced forces

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contents is not permitted without express written authority. Offenders
will be liable for damages. All rights, including rights created by
patent grant or registration of a utility model or design, are reserved.

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