Preparation of Piping Isometrics: A short presentation

for the beginners

Preparation of Piping Isometrics: A short presentation for the beginners

Piping isometrics are three dimensional representation of the line.

The main purpose of an isometric is to provide all information necessary for the
fabrication and erection along with the bill of material required to do so.
Isometric is also used to work out the exact MTO requirement.
Generally isometrics are prepared / extracted by design group.
A draft person (designer/engineer) who knows to read the piping GA. and conversant
with a drafting tool can draft isometric.

Input required for piping Isometrics:

Piping Plan
Piping Specification
Line List (Process)
Latest PEFS (Process) (Issued signed copy)

General Information:

An isometric drawing covers a complete line as per the line list and PEFS. It shows all
information necessary for the fabrication and erection.
Isometrics are not drawn to scale but should be proportional for easy understanding.
Dimension is given relative to centreline of piping.

Following information must be included in isometric drawings:

Plant North: The direction should be selected so as to facilitate easy checking of

Isometric with GA.
Drawing number & revision.
Reference number of PEFS (P&ID), GA drawings, line numbers, direction of flow and
insulation tracing.
Design pressure, design temperature, test pressure, testing medium, radiography
requirement, Heat treatment requirement, painting requirement, internal coating
requirement.
Co-ordinates of equipment against equipment layout.
Equipment number & appearance on isometric drawing.
Line specification changes.
Scope breaks.
Change in direction and angles of line should be clearly shown.
Representation is correctly made in line with the standard symbols.
Location and identification of all instruments.
Requirements of upstream/downstream straight lengths. Insulation requirements as
per PEFS (P&ID).
Details and section identification match.
Match line provision and accuracy.
Accuracy of BOM in Isometrics.
 Weld points & field welds.
Insulation class., Insulation thickness & Flow direction are indicated.
Give the details of flange on the equipment if the specification is different from the
connecting piping.
Size and type of every valve/direction of operation.
Size and tag of control valve.
Field weld- Location.
High point vents and low point drains.
Special support like support from flange or welded supports details to be shown.
If line is stress critical, stress analysis results are incorporated.
All the symbols are used as per Legend.
Slope shown as per PEFS.
Spectacle blind, spacer and blind open/close position as per PEFS.
High point vents and low point drains have been provided for lines that will be hydro
tested. (e.g. Inst. Air, Flare, Nitrogen lines may not be hydro tested, but pneumatically
tested).
Orifice tapping orientation is as per instrument standard for gas and liquid lines.
Flow direction for items such as check valves, globe valves, strainers etc. is clearly
marked.
Isometric issued for Re-IFC to be marked with cloud and revision triangle.
Insulation gasket demarcation to be shown.
General notes.
Bill of Material.
Tie-in numbers.

Checking of Isometric Drawings

Checking shall be done only on a hard print as per the colour code procedure by an
experienced engineer/designer. Normally checklists are followed to ensure quality of the
isometrics.
Piping Coordination Systems - Piping Isometrics

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.

Large image of a Hand-Drawn Isometric

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.
0 Comments

Criteria of Piping Material Application

A spool is a short piece of pipe with flanges on both ends. The word spool is
derived from the fact that his configuration actually looks similar to the common
wood spool upon which sewing thread is wound.

A spool drawing, however, is more complicated than the simple illustration above,
since it involves many such spools on one sheet of paper. The spool drawing is
an isometric drawing rather than an orthographic drawing. It is three-dimensional
in that it shows both horizontal and vertical planes. The term spool is no longer
being used as the name for these drawings. The proper term is piping isometric.
Slang forms have shortened it to isometric or isos.

The purpose in making the piping isometric of a piping configuration is threefold:

1. It is used by the Fabricator in fabricating the line.

2. It is used by the Piping Material Group in purchasing the material for the line.

3. It is used by the field crew in erecting the line.

The iso shows routing and dimension lines of the piping only. It does not attempt
to show the details of equipment and supporting structures that are found on the
piping plan. The iso is usually drawn from a model or preliminary drawings. To
demonstrate the use of the iso, a step-by-step sequence of events will be shown
below.

Step 1

A line from the piping plan is selected to be isod. A typical such line is shown to
the right. Note that only the horizontal plane can be seen in the orthographic
drawing. The vertical portion of the line cannot be seen in full length. The iso will
bring this portion of the line in clear view. Note the direction of the North Arrow.

Step 2

The first thing, which must be decided about the iso, is the direction the north
arrow will be placed. Flour standard is pointing up and to the right. However,
occasionally two acceptable alternatives are up and to the left or up and to the
right no other choices are commonly acceptable.
Step 3

After orientation of the north arrow has been decided, the final spool drawing is
drawn. The selection of the best configuration involves the following aspects:

1. How the configuration will most readily adapt to the shape of the iso paper?

2. How the configuration will result in the least amount of interference between
dimension lines and extension lines?

3. How the configuration will present the pipe most clearly?

After drawing the configuration, the iso must be completely dimensioned.

Extension lines are thin dark lines approximately 1/2 to 5/8 in length, or more if
needed. These are drawn perpendicular to the section of the line being
dimensioned.

Dimension lines are thin dark lines drawn between the extension lines and
parallel to the section of line being dimensioned.

The dimension line should be drawn approximately 1/2 or more if needed from
the line being dimensioned, and it should terminate with small arrowheads at the
extension lines.
In the previous example, either of the two alternatives was equally acceptable
both gave a clear view of the pipe with no crossing of dimension lines. The
reason for selecting the bottom sketch was to give a north arrow orientation of
up and to the right. This the preferred Flour Daniel standard orientation
whenever possible.

As an example of an iso where either of the two alternatives is not equally

preferred, refer to the plan drawing below:

The two alternate sketches for this configuration might look as follows:

The configuration on the left has the pipe crossing itself. This is always
undesirable and should be avoided whenever possible. By simply orienting the
north arrow to the other alternate location, this situation is eliminated. This
configuration then is preferred to the Flour standard. Another method to consider
if the north arrow cannot be changed is to detach the portions of pipe that cross
over. Well cover this later on.

CALL-OUTS

Equipment Flanges
All equipment nozzles on isometric drawings are drawn double line. The call-out
for these nozzles varies depending on whether the nozzle projects horizontally or
vertically.

The following iso drawing indicates these two different types of nozzle call-outs:

For a horizontally projecting nozzle such as at V 1, the following call out

information is needed:

*1. Equipment Number (V 1)

2. Centerline Elevation (E 110 0)

*3. Nozzle designation B1 (Obtained from Vessel Drawing)

4. Nozzle size and rating (6 150#) (Call out only if nozzle is out of spec.)

*These are always shown.

A vertically projecting nozzle such as at P 7 requires the following call out

information:

1. Equipment Number (P 7)
2. Face of flange elevation (el. 102 0)

3. Nozzle designations or function (suction)

4. Nozzle size and rating (4 150# R.F.)

Out of spec equipment flanges are those which do not agree in rating with those
on the connecting line. For the example below : assume the flange at P 7 are a
300# flange. Assume that the line connecting to this pump nozzle is an A spec
line which specifies 150# flanges. The pump flange is then said to be out of
spec. In this case the connecting flange must be called out as shown below.

Reducer

On the previous example, the mechanical flow diagram indicates a 6 line and a
4 pump nozzle. It is apparent that a reducer is necessary between the valve and
the pump nozzle. This reducer must be shown on the isometric and called out as
indicated in the example. The larger pipe size is always given first.