Please use the criteria below to sort out the line list into level 1, 2 & 3 if any.

DEFINITION OF CRITICALITY
The basic responsibility of the Stress Engineer is to ensure that piping is routed and supported so that
no damage occurs to either the pipe or associated equipment due to the effects of thermal
expansion or contraction, or loads resulting from weight, pressure & wind.
The Piping Stress Lead Engineer shall determine the criticality of all plant piping in order to define
the analysis method and the calculation report type to be issued for a piping system. Criticality levels
are 1, 2 or 3, Level 3 being the most critical.

The stress analysis methods for each criticality level are as follows:
Level 1 : Visual Analysis
Approximate, visual inspection method will be restricted to lines that are similar to other calculated
lines, or lines clearly possessing adequate flexibility. If not, these lines will be reclassified as level 2
or 3.
No actual values of forces and moments acting on supports are requested for level 1 analysis.

Level 2 : Simplified Analysis

Simplified analysis, charts, cantilever method shall be performed if the analysis is used for the range
of configuration for which the accuracy is known. In case of doubt, a line could be reclassified as
level 3, and a computer check should be done. The result of a Level 2 analysis may be shown only
on the calculation isometric, or in a simplified report including isometric and CAESAR output restraint
summary.
Level 3 : Detailed Analysis
Comprehensive method by computer program will meet the requirements of the piping code. A
complete calculation report will be issued. In case of evident flexibility, a line level 3 can be reclassified
as level 2.
The Calculation program used shall be Caesar 5.3, developed by Intergraph.

CRITICAL LINE LIST

The stress critical line list shall list and classify all piping line numbers which shall be analyzed by the
stress group during detailed engineering, it will contain and detail all lines classified level 2 or level
3, according to criteria defined in paragraph 3.4.
Process design conditions and line characteristics provided on the latest process line list should
be detailed on the stress group critical line list. As well as process information and design conditions,
the calculation report number assigned to each line should be noted on the
critical line list.

CONTAIN OF CALCULATION REPORTS

Simplified Calculation Report:
Piping lines which are subject to simplified methods (level 2) shall be registered on a document
which shall as a minimum include the following information:

• Introduction / Scope / Reference documentation / Conclusion / Recommendations

• Piping Stress isometrics with support configuration
• Design Conditions
• Loads summary if available
• CAESAR II input, (if any)

Detailed calculation report:

The detailed calculation report shall concern level 3 calculation notes. This document shall include
as a minimum:
Cover sheet
Introduction, summary
Basic data and design conditions,
 Stress isometric and supports configuration,
CAESAR II input,
Load cases
Imposed displacements
Maximum calculated stresses,
Forces, moments and displacements at supports,
Loads on equipment nozzles
Flange checking (if any),
Combination loads on supports,
Conclusion and recommendations.
Loads on equipment nozzles
Flange checking (if any),
Combination loads on supports,
Conclusion and recommendations.
Correspondences.
Confirmation from vendor, process, etc… (i.e. mail; letter) Stress Criteria
Marked (highlighting the scope of calculation) PID
Reference of others engineering documents used for the calculation

Stress level 3 shall be considered if one of the following is applicable:

Lines having substantial concentrated loads such as valves, fittings, unsupported
vertical risers and branches
3" and larger closed pressure relief system piping, where design temperature exceeds
93°C (200°F) or is less than –73°C (-100°F).
Lines having local reduction in strength due to installation of special fittings.
 Piping 3" and larger connected to:
• Rotating equipment such as pumps, blowers, and compressors.
• Air-fin cooler piping
• Piping to reciprocating pumps and compressors
• Plate and frame heat exchanger piping
• Gas turbine piping
• Fired heater
Blowdown and flare header or vent piping
Piping with pressure surge, slug and two phase flow
Normally dry firewater piping and normally charged firewater ring main piping
Piping subject to short term variations such as steamout or purge piping.
Pig receiver and launcher lines up to and including the off-shore riser support

Relief valve or rupture disc piping reaction forces

Lines affected by deck deflection, platform settlement, wellhead movement or any
other significant displacement.
Lines subject to vacuum conditions
Lines which may create large forces or moments on structures or skid base.
Unbalanced piping configuration, such as a long run of pipe with a short
branch connected to anchor
Piping subject to high cyclic temperature conditions.
All piping with t > OD / 6 or P / SE > 0.385
(for piping 1 ½” and smaller t can be considered as pipe retired thickness)
4" & larger with t > 10%
All pipe with D/t>100
FRP and GRP 6” and larger.
Lines with special design requirements.
In addition, the effect on piping of other conditions such as temperature gradients that
could cause thermal bowing or where piping is connected to equipment with significant
thermal growth may cause a piping engineer to analyze a line.
Note:
OD = pipe Outside Diameter, t = pipe thickness,P = Design Pressure and SE =
allowable stress
as defined in ASME B31.3 code for pipe thickness calculation.