COMPLETE REVISION

October 2015

Process Control

PIP PCCIP001
Instrument Piping and Tubing Systems Criteria
 PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has been
prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major industrial users,
contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical requirements into a
single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering costs to both the purchaser
and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice is expected to incorporate the
majority of requirements of most users, individual applications may involve requirements that
will be appended to and take precedence over this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness
for purpose and particular matters or application of the Practice to particular project or
engineering situations should not be made solely on information contained in these materials.
The use of trade names from time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference
but rather recognized as normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications
are equally correct and may be substituted for those named. All Practices or guidelines are
intended to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA requirements.
To the extent these Practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or other applicable laws
or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed. Consult an appropriate professional
before applying or acting on any material contained in or suggested by the Practice.

This Practice is subject to revision at any time.

© Process Industry Practices (PIP), Construction Industry Institute, The University of Texas at
Austin, 3925 West Braker Lane (R4500), Austin, Texas 78759. PIP Member Companies and
Subscribers may copy this Practice for their internal use. Changes or modifications of any kind are
not permitted within any PIP Practice without the express written authorization of PIP. Authorized
Users may attach addenda or overlays to clearly indicate modifications or exceptions to specific
sections of PIP Practices. Authorized Users may provide their clients, suppliers and contractors
with copies of the Practice solely for Authorized Users’ purposes. These purposes include but are
not limited to the procurement process (e.g., as attachments to requests for quotation/ purchase
orders or requests for proposals/contracts) and preparation and issue of design engineering
deliverables for use on a specific project by Authorized User’s client. PIP’s copyright notices must
be clearly indicated and unequivocally incorporated in documents where an Authorized User
desires to provide any third party with copies of the Practice.

PUBLISHING HISTORY
July 1998 Issued
October 2002 Reaffirmation
March 2010 Complete Revision
October 2015 Complete Revision

Not printed with State funds

 COMPLETE REVISION
October 2015

Process Control

PIP PCCIP001
Instrument Piping and Tubing Systems Criteria
Table of Contents
1. Introduction...................................... 2
1.1 Purpose ................................................... 2
1.2 Scope ...................................................... 2

2. References ....................................... 2
2.1 Process Industry Practices ..................... 2
2.2 Industry Codes and Standards ............... 2

3. Requirements................................... 2
3.1 General ................................................... 2
3.2 Instrument Air Piping and Tubing ........... 4
3.3 Process Instrument Piping and Tubing ... 5

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PIP PCCIP001 COMPLETE REVISION
Instrument Piping and Tubing Systems Criteria October 2015

1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose
This Practice provides general requirements for the design and installation of instrument
air and process piping and tubing.
1.2 Scope
This Practice describes the general requirements for the design and installation of
instrument air and process piping and tubing. Analyzers and analyzer sample systems are
not covered by this Practice.

2. References
Applicable parts of the following Practices, industry codes and standards, and references shall be
considered an integral part of this Practice. The edition in effect on the date of contract award
shall be used, except as otherwise noted. Short titles are used herein where appropriate.

2.1 Process Industry Practices (PIP)

– PIP PCCIA001 – Instrument Air Systems Design Criteria
– PIP PCSIP001 – Instrument Tubing Material Specification
– PIP PCCGN002 – General Instrument Installation Criteria
2.2 Industry Codes and Standards
 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
– ASME B1.20.1 – Pipe Threads, General Purpose, Inch

3. Requirements
3.1 General
3.1.1 Routing
3.1.1.1 Process or service media shall not be connected into or routed through
control rooms or electrical buildings except for instrument air.
3.1.1.2 If instrument air is backed up by any medium other than instrument air, it
shall not be allowed without owner approval (e.g. nitrogen).
3.1.1.3 Tubes and tube bundles that handle process fluids shall not be installed in
channel or cable trays that contain electrical cabling.
3.1.1.4 Tubing shall not be routed along or supported from handrails or ladders.
3.1.1.5 Tubing shall be installed in a manner that permits calibration of
instruments and removal of adjacent instruments, equipment, and tubing.
3.1.1.6 Tubing and piping shall not interfere with the maintenance of process
equipment.

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PIP PCCIP001 COMPLETE REVISION
Instrument Piping and Tubing Systems Criteria October 2015

3.1.2 Supports
3.1.2.1 All tubing shall be supported to avoid vibration, sags, and vapor/liquid
traps.
3.1.2.2 Tubing supports shall be spaced at 1.2 meters (4 feet) maximum.
3.1.2.3 For locations where mechanical damage is likely, tubing shall be
installed in structural channel, angle, or in trays.
3.1.2.4 Tubing shall be supported on walls, structural steel or instrument stands.
3.1.2.5 If tube bundles or preinsulated/traced tubing are used, installation shall
be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations for bend
radius, support methods, spacing, and thermal expansion allowances.
3.1.2.6 Tubes, tube bundles, and their support channels and trays shall not be
supported from process or utility piping.
3.1.2.7 Tubing channels and trays shall not be supported by bolting to
transmitter brackets or control valves.
3.1.2.8 Unless otherwise specified by owner, stainless steel straps or clamps
shall be used to attach bare metal tubing to structural angle, channel, and
cable trays.
3.1.2.9 Tube bundles shall be secured with straps and clamps. Plastic straps or
clamps shall be ultraviolet resistant and of a suitable material for the
ambient conditions.
3.1.2.10 Tubing installed in raceways shall be firmly attached to the support at
intervals not greater than 3 meters (10 feet).
3.1.2.11 All instrument piping and tubing to equipment or process piping shall
be properly supported to avoid strain on equipment, piping connections,
and instruments.
3.1.2.12 Design of supports shall consider thermal expansion and vibration of
the process piping or equipment to which an instrument is connected.
3.1.2.13 Materials of construction for instrument piping supports shall be
appropriate for the ambient conditions and shall be consistent with the
materials used for other piping supports in the facility.
3.1.3 Tubing Installation
3.1.3.1 All tubing shall be installed in a neat manner and shall be routed parallel
and/or perpendicular to structures. Diagonal routing shall not be
permitted. Signs of crimping or flattening shall not be permitted.
3.1.3.2 Tubing shall not be stamped or scored such that its integrity is adversely
impacted.
3.1.3.3 Tube-bending tools shall be used to form tube bends. Hand bending of
tubes without the use of tube-bending tools shall not be permitted.
3.1.3.4 The minimum bend radius shall be in accordance with directions and
recommendations of tube-bender manufacturer.

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PIP PCCIP001 COMPLETE REVISION
Instrument Piping and Tubing Systems Criteria October 2015

3.1.3.5 Unused spares in tubing bundles shall be capped to keep out dust, dirt,
moisture, and other foreign matter and labeled as spare.
3.1.3.6 Tube ends shall be cut square and deburred after cutting.
3.1.3.7 Tubing shall be assembled with the specified compression fittings in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The proper tools,
recommended by the manufacturer, shall be used to assure adequate
engagement and tightness.
3.1.3.8 Tube fittings (e.g., unions and tees) installed in individual or parallel tube
runs shall be staggered and raised to permit tube removal or reinstallation
without distorting or damaging the individual tube or adjacent tubes.
3.1.3.9 Tubing shall be installed with a minimum length of straight run adjacent
to bends to permit correct installation of fittings.
3.1.4 Threaded Pipe Connections
3.1.4.1 All threaded pipe connections shall be tapered and in accordance with
ASME B1.20.1.
3.1.4.2 Sealant/lubricant for threaded instrument piping connections shall be in
accordance with the requirements of the process service.
3.1.4.3 Polyfluorethylene (PTFE) tape shall not be permitted as a thread
lubricant on pipe threads for pneumatic signal or instrument air pipelines
that are downstream of the filter regulator.
3.2 Instrument Air Piping and Tubing
3.2.1 General
3.2.1.1 Instrument air systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with
PIP PCCIA001.
3.2.1.2 The tubing components shall be in accordance with the specifications for
instrument air tubing in PIP PCSIP001.
3.2.2 Routing
3.2.2.1 Building penetrations for instrument pneumatic piping and tubing shall
be in accordance with the building requirements.
Comment: Some buildings require pressure-tight and/or flame-retardant
penetrations in which case the appropriate seals shall be
used.
3.2.2.2 Instrument air tubes, tube bundles, and tube trays shall be routed to avoid
excess heat, damaging hot spots, or equipment handling flammable
materials.
3.2.3 Materials of Construction
3.2.3.1 Instrument air tubing and fittings material shall be chosen in accordance
with the requirements for the application (e.g., external corrosion
resistance, vibration resistance, and fire protection). See PIP PCSIP001.

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Instrument Piping and Tubing Systems Criteria October 2015

3.2.3.2 Single-instrument air supply tubing shall be a minimum of 3/8-inch

outside diameter (OD).
3.2.3.3 Pneumatic signal tubing shall be a minimum of 1/4-inch OD.
3.2.3.4 Plastic tubing shall not be used without owner’s approval.
3.3 Process Instrument Piping and Tubing
3.3.1 Piping
3.3.1.1 The design of the piping connections for instrumentation from the
process pipe or vessel through the primary block valve (root valve) shall
be in accordance with the piping specification for the process service.
3.3.1.2 The design of the piping from the primary block valve to the instrument
shall be in accordance with the piping specifications.
3.3.1.3 The process-connected instrument piping, fittings, and valves shall be in
accordance with applicable piping specifications for the process service.
3.3.2 Tubing
From the primary block valve to the instrument, all process-connected instrument
tubing shall be in accordance with applicable tubing specifications for the
process service and the following minimum requirements:
a. Instrument process tubing, as a minimum, shall be seamless Type 316
stainless steel, 1/2-inch OD by 0.049-inch wall tubing.
b. Instrument process tubing fittings, as a minimum, shall be Type 316 stainless
steel.
c. Tubing and associated components shall be in accordance with the applicable
specifications in PIP PCSIP001.
3.3.3 Traced and Insulated Tube Bundles
3.3.3.1 General
1. If heat tracing is required, prefabricated traced and insulated tube
bundles shall be provided.
2. If short leads or configuration prevent reasonable use of these
prefabricated traced and insulated tube bundles, individual tubes with
field-installed tracing and insulation shall be provided.
3.3.3.2 Installation
1. If installing multiple traced tubing bundles, separation and spacing of
the bundles shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
2. Support clamps shall have a wide bearing surface with a fixed
drawdown point. Clamps or tie-wrap fasteners that exert point
pressure shall not be permitted.

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