TECHNICAL REVISION

August 2003

Process Industry Practices

Structural

PIP STF05520
Details for Pipe Railing for
Walking and Working Surfaces

PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these
technical requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and
engineering costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While
this Practice is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users,
individual applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take
precedence over this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and
particular matters or application of the Practice to particular project or engineering
situations should not be made solely on information contained in these materials. The
use of trade names from time to time should not be viewed as an expression of
preference but rather recognized as normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the
same specifications are equally correct and may be substituted for those named. All
Practices or guidelines are intended to be consistent with applicable laws and
regulations including OSHA requirements. To the extent these Practices or guidelines
should conflict with OSHA or other applicable laws or regulations, such laws or
regulations must be followed. Consult an appropriate professional before applying or
acting on any material contained in or suggested by the Practice.

This Practice is subject to revision at any time by the responsible Function Team and
will be reviewed every 5 years. This Practice will be revised, reaffirmed, or withdrawn.
Information on whether this Practice has been revised may be found at www.pip.org.

Process Industry Practices (PIP), Construction Industry Institute, The

University of Texas at Austin, 3925 West Braker Lane (R4500), Austin,
Texas 78759. PIP member companies and subscribers may copy this Practice
for their internal use. Changes, overlays, addenda, or modifications of any
kind are not permitted within any PIP Practice without the express written
authorization of PIP.

PIP will not consider requests for interpretations (inquiries) for this Practice.
PRINTING HISTORY
December 1998

Issued

August 2003

Technical Revision

Not printed with State funds

TECHNICAL REVISION
August 2003

Process Industry Practices

Structural

PIP STF05520
Details for Pipe Railing for
Walking and Working Surfaces
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .................................. 2
1.1 Purpose ............................................. 2
1.2 Scope................................................. 2

2. References ................................... 2
2.1 Process Industry Practices ................ 2
2.2 Industry Codes and Standards .......... 2

3. Definitions .................................... 2
4. Requirements ............................... 3
List of Details
Plan - Typical Post Location ...................... 5
Elevation - Typical Railing.......................... 5
Elevation A-A ............................................. 6
Section B-B ................................................ 6
Section C-C................................................ 6
Elevation D-D............................................. 7
Elevation E-E ............................................. 7
Wall-Mounted Handrail .............................. 8
Handrail Attachment to Wall Details .......... 8
Post Connection to Structural Steel ........... 9
Railing Details ............................................ 9
Elevation - Removable Railing................. 10
Post Connections to Concrete ................. 11

Process Industry Practices

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PIP STF05520
Details for Pipe Railing for Walking and Working Surfaces

1.

TECHNICAL REVISION
August 2003

Introduction
1.1

Purpose
This Practice provides requirements for designers, fabricators, and installers of pipe
railing.

1.2

Scope
This Practice provides fabrication and installation details for standard pipe railing for
walking and working surfaces and for stair railing or handrail for egress. Although
the details in this Practice are intended to meet U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) requirements for process facilities, they may not meet the
requirements of local or national building codes.

2.

References
When adopted in this Practice or in the contract documents, the latest editions of the
following codes, standards, specifications, and references in effect on the date of contract
award shall be used, except as otherwise noted. Short titles will be used herein when
appropriate.
2.1

Process Industry Practices (PIP)

PIP STS05120 - Fabrication of Structural and Miscellaneous Steel
Specification
PIP STS05130 - Erection of Structural and Miscellaneous Steel Specification

2.2

Industry Codes and Standards

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
ASTM A36 - Standard Specification for Structural Steel
ASTM A53 - Standard Specification for Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped,
Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless
ASTM A307 - Standard Specification for Carbon Steel Externally and
Internally Threaded Standard Fasteners
ASTM A500 - Standard Specification for Cold-Formed Welded and Seamless
Carbon Steel Structural Tubing in Rounds and Shapes

3.

Definitions
The following definitions from OSHA 1910, Subpart D, shall apply to this Practice:
handrail: A single bar or pipe supported on brackets from a wall or partition to provide a
continuous handhold for persons using a stair
stair railing: A vertical barrier erected along exposed sides of a stairway to prevent falls of
persons

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Process Industry Practices

TECHNICAL REVISION
August 2003

PIP STF05520
Details for Pipe Railing for Walking and Working Surfaces

standard railing: A vertical barrier erected along exposed edges of a floor opening, wall
opening, ramp, platform, or runway to prevent falls of persons

4.

Requirements
4.1

Refer to project design documents for the location, orientation, and arrangement of
railing for regular operational use, special fabrication details, and any changes to the
requirements of this Practice.

4.2

Railing that meets the requirements of this Practice is designed to withstand a

concentrated load of 200 pounds (890 N) applied in any direction at any point along
the top rail, in accordance with OSHA requirements.

4.3

Railing shall be carbon steel, round structural tubing or pipe conforming to

ASTM A500 Grade B or ASTM A53 Grade B, standard weight, 1.9 inches
(48 mm) O.D. (1.5 inches [38 mm] nominal diameter).

4.4

All structural shapes and plates shall be steel, in accordance with ASTM A36 unless
otherwise noted.

4.5

All bolts for railing connections shall be 5/8-inch (16-mm) diameter and shall be in
accordance with ASTM A307 unless otherwise noted.

4.6

Railing shall be welded construction except as shown in design drawings and/or the
attached details. All joints and welds in top rail shall be smooth finished. Railing
systems shall be surfaced in a manner to prevent injury from punctures or lacerations
and clothing snags.

4.7

Railing assemblies shall be coated after fabrication in accordance with the design
drawings and specifications governing the project. Galvanizing shall be done after
fabrication and in accordance with PIP STS05120. Field damage to coating shall be
repaired with materials equivalent to original coating in accordance with
PIP STS05130.

4.8

The minimum clearance between handrail or the top rail of stair railing/standard
railing and any obstruction shall be 3 inches (75 mm).

Process Industry Practices

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PIP STF05520
Details for Pipe Railing for Walking and Working Surfaces

TECHNICAL REVISION
August 2003

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Process Industry Practices