×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

(OP)
I've been tasked with developing a rough cost estimate for replacing the piping system in a spring water processing facility. The existing system is comprised of sch. 40 PVC and various nylon and PE fittings. The replacement system must be entirely stainless steel.

Are there any good, simple design / spec resources that I could use effectively without purchasing and/or delving into a $300-$400 complete design guide and ASME specs.?  

RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

(OP)
Thank BigInch,

That's quite a bank of engineering manuals!  I took a quick look at the Process Piping Manual and it is helpful to the point at which it references the ASME B31.3 Code. Unfortunately there's not enough there to determine roughly what grade / schedule pipe I will need for the project.

If I have to buy the standard I will, but since I don't expect to be engineering this system I was trying to avoid it.

I might draw on that Army Corps website in the future though...

-bekirk

RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

If you're not doing the engineering, just reference your B31.3 criteria in the Engineering Contract Specification when you go select your engineering contractor.

If you know a range of line diameters and pressures you will be using, it shouldn't be too hard to find enough info about B31.3 to develop a list of associated wall thicknesses.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

bekirk
I presume that the spring water is being bottled for sale. It wouold appear that the original installation using PVC has developed a microbial problem, giving high counts in the bottles. Thoes microbes just love PVC, had a similar problem in a pharma R&D facility.
So the move to Stainless steel is driven by the need to clean and disinfect the pipe system. A 304 grade SS would be suitable for this either tube or schedule pipe depending upon system pressures. As you are dealing with spring water, the analysis will need to be closely looked at. If there are high levels of chlorides present then 316SS or higher grades may be needed.
Cheers

Mark Hutton


RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

bekirk,

You might also be interested in this B31.3 Piping Guide from Los Alamos National Laboratory (you tax dollars at work).

http//engstandards.lanl.gov/engrman/6mech/pdfs/D20-AppA-ASME_B31.3-r1a.pdf

RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

bekirk,

Here is another free guide for stainless steel piping and tubing in the biotechnology industries.  This is a lot of information on stainless piping in a small package.

www.asepco.com/docs/PDF_files/Stainless_tubing.pdf

Regards, John.

RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

(OP)
Thanks Folks,

Those sources helped, but it still seems that I might need to get the ASME standard to do what I want.  Perhaps its the engineer in me that wants more detail than I probably need.

Barton

RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

Hello again Barton,

Another thought - maybe you should also take your question to Eng-Tips forum 1125 - the stainless steel for engineers Forum.

There is also a Eng-tips forum 723 - Steel and Stainless engineering Forum.

Part of the cost will be fabrication and NDE of the system and those guys might be able to give you additional insight.

Just a thought.

Regards, John.

RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

Barton,
Just had another read of your OP. Try the New Zealand Stainless Steel fabricators site. A number of years ago they developed a "Blue Book" on SS fabrication and specification.

Cheers

Mark Hutton


RE: Stainless Steel Process Piping Estimating Guide

There is always the classic txt by Page & Nation Estimator's Piping Manhour Manual. Establish the hourly and gang rate for your area and you can come up with an estimate.

Also ask propoestive sub contractor's for their schedules of rates for the necessary trades and equipment.

Geoffrey D Stone FIMechE C.Eng;FIEAust CP Eng
www.waterhammer.bigblog.com.au

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources