Pipe Rack Sizer
First-cut rack width and level count from the pipe population, with a 20% growth allowance.
Width sums pipe ODs plus spacing with 20% growth allowance; add a level above ~80 ft width. Bays at 20 ft, levels at 6 ft, 10 ft below-rack clearance. Verify structural design.
Width sums ODs + spacing + 20% growth; a second level is added past ~80 ft. Bays at 20 ft, levels at 6 ft, 10 ft below-rack clearance. Confirm with structural design.
Valve Access
Check whether a hand-wheel is reachable from the standing surface or needs an operator aid.
Within the 6 ft 9 in (2050 mm) hand-wheel limit, no operator aid needed.
Hand-wheels above 6 ft 9 in (2050 mm) from the standing surface need a chain-wheel, gear/motor operator, or a fixed access platform. Frequently operated valves should be at 3–5 ft.
Platform & Ladder Access
Check fixed-ladder fall-protection requirements and basic platform clearances.
Fixed ladders over 24 ft of rise require a personal fall-arrest or ladder-safety system (OSHA 1910.28, the modern rule, not the old >20 ft cage requirement).
Modern rule: fixed ladders with more than 24 ft of rise require a personal fall-arrest or ladder-safety system, the old "cage over 20 ft" allowance is being phased out (full compliance by Nov 2036). Keep 7 ft headroom and 3 ft walkway clearance.
Plot-Plan Spacing
Typical battery-limit setbacks and fire-protection spacing for an initial layout. Always verify against the site standard.
Setbacks shown are common refinery/process practice (road CL 50 ft, control house 50 ft, hydrant spacing 300 ft, hydrant ≥50 ft from source). Always confirm against the owner's plot-plan and fire-protection standard.
These are common refinery/process spacings for a first-pass plot plan. Insurer (e.g. FM Global / GAPS) and owner standards govern the final design, confirm before issuing.
Instrument Straight Run
Required straight run for accurate measurement, in pipe diameters, converted to feet for your line size.
Maintain the listed upstream/downstream straight run (in pipe diameters) for accurate measurement. Insufficient run is the most common field metering error.
Orifice upstream run depends on beta ratio and the upstream fitting, use 10–20D as a planning band and confirm against ISO 5167 / the meter datasheet. Downstream runs are shorter.
Equipment Elevation
Pump baseplate datum and the liquid level a supply vessel needs above the pump centerline to satisfy NPSH.
Pump baseplate at 100'-6" (open) / 101'-0" (enclosed); set vessel liquid level NPSHr + margin above the pump centerline. Confirm against the project datum.
Set the supply vessel's minimum liquid level at least NPSHr + margin above the pump centerline so NPSHa stays positive at low level. Baseplate elevations are typical datums, confirm the project standard.