Piping Design and Layout

Checklist For Piping Isometric Drawing

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Piping isometric drawing is a very essential document, as it is used for construction at the site or the workshop. The piping isometric drawing should be thoroughly checked. The drawing should not be issued for construction without checking and approval. Any error in the drawing can lead to the cost and delay to the project. Only IFC (Issued for Construction) isometric drawings are used by the fabricator to execute error-free work. Every organization uses its own checklist for isometrics drawing, the checklist can vary from company to company. This article includes a typical checklist for piping isometric drawing.

Documents Required for Checking Piping Isometric Drawing

Documents Uses
P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram)To cross-check line number, line size, insulation, special requirement notes (like no pocket, press head), etc.
Line ListTo check Design Pressure & Temperature, stress critical lines, Hydro test pressure, inspection class and type, etc.
GAD (General Arrangement Drawing)To check line route, dimension, elevation, valve orientation and co-ordinates
PMS (Piping Material Specification)To check materials detail
Equipment Drawing To check line connections
Nozzle OrientationTo check elevation and orientation of connected nozzle
Piping Support DrawingTo check support’s allocation
Special Items DetailTo check special items type and their dimensions
Instrument Hook-upTo check the connection/end requirements for mounting the instruments.

Checklist: Piping Isometric Drawing

The isometric drawing sheet consists of four major parts viz title block, drawing area, BOQ (Bill of Quantity ) section, and Special requirement notes section. Here, you will learn to check the piping isometric drawing section-wise for ease of learning. It helps to deliver error-free work.

 Checklist for Piping Isometric Drawing
Piping Isometric Drawing Sheet

Title Block

Make sure that, the below mentioned points are specified in tittle block

  • Line Number
  • Isometric Drawing Number     
  • Sheet Number
  • P & ID Number
  • Piping Layout/GAD Drawing Number          
  • Project Name, Project Code and Area Code          
  • Insulation and Heat Tracing Type (If the line is insulated only) 
  • Line Testing Type.
  • Inspection Class
  • Hydro-test / Pneumatic test pressure
  • Design Pressure and Design Temperature (It’s not mandatory)

Drawing Area

Points to be checked at drawing area are as follows-

  • Iso North
  • Equipment name and location
  • Co-ordinates for all equipment          
  • Nozzle orientation
  • Nozzle size and tag
  • Angle allocation and direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise)     
  • Nozzle centreline elevation 
  • Line elevations (it can be centerline or BOP (Bottom of Pipe) elevation)     
  • Line offset angle and direction      
  • Slope (if it’s required as per project)
  • Line number with complete spec detail
  • Spec break (If required)     
  • Dimensions of all components and spools
  • Fluid flow direction      
  • Support locations
  • Continuation isometric drawing number (if the complete line do not fit in the single sheet)
  • Instrument location and tagging.
  • Valve orientation         
  • Control Valve location and arrangement
  • Grid location  
  • Special Items Tagging     
  • Orifice Meter straight run requirement      
  • High point vents and low point drains
  • Drains and vents for hydro testing
  • Structural penetration (if the line is crossing any structure)                  
  • Pressure and Temperature gauges
  • Field weld and Workshop weld Identification     
  • Reducer size
  • Branch size
  • Minimum gap requirement between the welds      
  • Spool sequence number        
  • Orifice meter taps orientation (it depends upon the pipe direction and fluid type 

BOM [Bill of Materials] Section

BOM section is a very important section, as it affects the cost of the project. Check the below points wisely-

  • Component Description
  • Component Quantity          
  • Commodity Code      
  • Valve type and quantity
  • Piping component size and rating
  • Codes and Standards (Pipe Schedule Number)     
  • Non-piping component BOM should not include on isometric drawing
  • Do not include the “on hold” materials
  • Special items, instruments, and pressure assembly should be tagged
  • Spool length and size
  • Types of pipe support and their quantity     

Special Requirement Notes

This section totally depends upon the project nature and their specialty. If anything required to communicate. The process/design engineer mention the note text in this section. I’m mentioning some of the examples below-

  • Check if any slope requirement mentioned in P&ID
  • No pocket ( We should ignore pocketing in the suction line, if the fluid flowing is corrosive in nature or in the food processing industry)
  • Minimum or Maximum distance, straight length requirements, pressure head requirement, etc. (as per P&ID).
  • Breakup flange requirement for spool removal for ease of maintenance

This checklist is not limited to these points only, it can vary project to project or line to line. These are the basics and mandatory points to be checked.

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About Rehan Ahmad Khan

I'm a graduate in mechanical engineering, and a piping professional. I'm exploring this industry and having a great experience. In the process felt to share my knowledge with the other Piping Engineers and as a result, I am here with you.
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29 thoughts on “Checklist For Piping Isometric Drawing

  1. Pipe support not included on the BOM?
    Although, that pipe or vent pipe we need pipe support to hold the pipe line.

  2. An attention-grabbing discussion is worth comment. I believe which you need to write a lot more on this matter, it won’t be a taboo subject nonetheless typically persons are not sufficient to speak on such topics. Towards the next. Cheers

  3. Consider to add:
    1. CHECK THAT THE PIPE ROUTING AND ALL SUPPORT DESIGN IN THE ISOMETRIC DRAWING MATCHES THE LATEST PIPE STRESS ISOMETRIC MARKED-UP FROM STRESS TEAM.
    2. CHECK THAT ALL NOTES IN STRESS REPORT WAS INPUT CORRECTLY IN ISOMETRIC DRAWING.
    3. CHECK THAT BOLT LENGTH IS SUITABLE FOR INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL
    4. CHECK THAT ALL SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR DISSIMILAR MATERIAL CONNECTION WERE CONSIDERED:
    + WELD OVERLAID (MATERIAL + DESCRIPTION)
    + INSULATING KITS

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  6. In documents you can add ‘Instrument hook-up’ as well.
    It will use to know Connection/End require for mounting the instruments.

  7. Thank you sir. Wonderful piece
    1.Iso lines must be located proximity to an equipment of known location.
    2. Consider to cut isos flange end to flange end unless the line is too long
    3. Elevation and distance of pipe deck penetration if any

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