PIPE SUPPORT

DESIGN
BY Ir. OMAR ANUAR P.Eng, M.I.E.M
Caliph Group Technology
 WHAT IS PIPE SUPPORT?
• A pipe support is a designed element that transfer the
load from the pipe to the supporting structures.
• A pipe support is a device designed to carry the
weight of a pipe, any in-line equipment and the
material in the pipe over a defined span.
• Design element that transfer the loads from pipe to
the supporting structure.
• The device acting from underneath the pipe, in
contrast to the hanger that is working from above the
pipe.
 PURPOSE OF PIPE SUPPORT
• To support weight of pipe during operation and testing.
• To take the thermal pr expansion loads.
• To take the occasional loads.
• To take hydraulic thrust in piping.
• To absorb vibration of piping system.
• To support the system during transient period of plant and
standby.
• To have noise control.
• To support the system during maintenance conditions.
• To support the system during shutdown conditions.
• To support the system for erection conditions.
• To reduce vibration amplitudes.
LOADS ON PIPING SYSTEM
INTERNAL/
EXTERNAL LOADS
SUSTAINED
LOADS
DEAD WEIGHT

WIND LOAD
PRIMARY

SEISMIC LOAD

OCCASIONAL
WATER HAMMER
LOADS

LOADS
STEAM HAMMER

SAFETY VALVE
DISCHARGE

THERMAL
EXPANSION OF
PIPE
DISPLACEMENT
SECONDARY
LOAD
THERMAL
MOVEMENT OF
EQUIPMENT
 SELECTION OF PIPE SUPPORT
• Process design condition.
• Pipe material of construction.
• Piping loads such as pipe weight, fluid density, valves
weight, inline instruments etc.
• Insulation material, thickness, density and
specification.
• Piping G.A drawing.
• Thermal forces, moments and displacement of piping.
• Occasional loads.
LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS FOR SUPPORTS
• Group pipes so as to minimize the number of structures
needed solely to pipe supports.
• Route lines close to the possible point of supports.
• Supports are located as near as possible to concentrated
loads such as valves, flanges, heavy actuators.
• Always maintain the distance between supports as
recommended span.
• Ensure sufficient space to be provided to facilitate
support assembly installation, inspection and
maintenance.
COMMOM PIPE SUPPORT TYPE

RIGID
PIPE SUPPORT
SUPPORT SPRING
SUPPORT
 PIPE SUPPORT CLASSIFICATION
Pipe support can be classified based on:
• General Details
• Construction Details
• Functions
 GENERAL DETAILS
• Primary Supports – directly connected to the
pipe.
• Secondary Supports – directly connected to
the foundation/structure beam.
 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
• Rigid Supports – directly rest on foundation or
attached to structure i.e shoe type (welded), shoe type
(with clamp), trunnion type, flange support and
support bracket.
• Elastic Supports – to support hot piping that is moving
up or down from support point i.e spring support.
• Adjustable Support – has few nuts and bolts
arrangements for adjusting the support. Support can
be adjusted for the erection tolerances in the piping
 GENERAL SUPPORT TERMINOLOGY AND
BASIC FUNCTION
• Restraint - prevents, resists, or limits the free thermal
movement of piping.
• Brace - a device primarily intended to resist displacement of
piping due to forces other than thermal expansion and
gravity.
• Anchor - a rigid restraint providing substantially full fixation.
• Stop - permits rotation but prevents translatory movements
of piping.
• Guide - prevents the rotation about one or more axis.
• Hold down - holds the pipe in position disallowing vertical
upwards movement.
 GENERAL SUPPORT TERMINOLOGY AND
BASIC FUNCTION
• Hanger - piping is suspended from a structure which
functions by carrying piping load in tension.
• Resilient Support - a support which includes one or more
largely elastic members to carry pipe sustain + thermal
loads at the same time allowing pipe thermal movement in
the desired direction.
• Sliding Support - a device which is provided below piping
to take gravity loads, offering no resistance other than
frictional to horizontal motion.
• Rigid Support - a support providing stiffness in at least one
direction.
 DYNAMIC RESTRAINTS
• It is designed to absorb sudden increase in load
from the pipe and transfer into the structure
and to dampen any opposing oscillation
between the pipe and the structure. It is not
intended to carry the weight of pipe work and
should not impede the function of the
supports. It is required to be very stiff, to have
high load capacity and to minimize free
movement between pipe and structure.
 TYPE OF DYNAMIC RESTRAINTS
• Sway Braces
• Snubbers
• Rigid Struts
• Clamps
• Welding Clevis
SWAY BRACES
It can be defined as spring loaded units
mounted on pipe work.

It is used to limit the swaying or

vibration induced by external forces
(vibration force) by applying an
opposing force on the pipe.

Mainly used to reduce pipe vibration

amplitude and at the same time does
not increase the expansion stress in
operating case.

It prevents the pipe from vibrating at

its resonance frequency.

They are double acting variable spring

units which can handle tensile and
compressive loads.
SWAY BRACE
SNUBBERS (SHOCK
ABSORBER)
Snubbers can be classified as hydraulic
snubber and mechanical snubber.

Snubbers are normally used for

resisting shock loads by reducing the
damaging effects of earthquake and
water hammer.

Snubbers are active in dynamic loads

but not static loads.
RIGID STRUTS
Rigid struts are used in turbine and
compressor connected lines near the
nozzle connections to take the
advantage of very less friction.
Otherwise struts can be used as a
substitute for guide supports where
structure is not available for using
standard guides.
 SPRING SUPPORT
VARIABLE SPRING SUPPORT CONSTANT SPRING SUPPORT
• It is used when vertical thermal • It is used when vertical thermal
movement is below 75 mm movement exceed 75 mm.
• It is used to support the weight • The loads remain constant
of pipe work or equipment when the pipe moves from its
along with weight of fluids cold position to the hot
while allowing certain position. Thus irrespective of
quantum of movement with travel the load remains
respect to the structure constant over the complete
supporting it. range of movement.
• Suspension Type and Floor • Suspension Type and Floor
Mount Type Mount Type
SPRING SUPPORT
 RIGID SUPPORT
ANCHOR RESTING AND HANGER
 RIGID SUPPORT
LINE STOP GUIDE
 RIGID SUPPORT
TRUNNION HOLD DOWN
RIGID SUPPORT
PIPE SUPPORT DESIGN
 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
• Pipe Support Standard
• Stress Isometric
• Restraint Summary Extended Report
U-BOLT
PIPE SHOE ANCHOR
PIPE SHOE SLOPING
GOAL POST
T-POST
CANTILEVER BRACKET
STRESS ISOMETRIC
PIPE SUPPORT SYMBOL
PIPE SUPPORT SELECTION
BASED ON PIPE STRESS
ANALYSIS INPUT