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.