Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
(OP)
Hi everyone, I know I don't post a lot, but I sure do appreciate all the good information here, and hoping someone can help with this. I know not to bolt a support bracket under the first nut on a flange. If this is necessary, one should order a longer stud, and put the bracket or support plate after the first nut, then torque up a second nut to hold the support. But I can't find a requirement or even a guideline for this anywhere. Does anyone know where this might be written down. Code or Standard requirement would be great, but even if it's just a recommended practice, I'll take it. Just looking for some kind of reference that might have a good explanation I can share with others at my location.
Thanks!
Thanks!





RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
http://www.standon.net/s89instl.html
http://anchoragegroup.com.au/height-adjustable-pip...
http://www.gshangers.com/pipesupportdetails.php?su...
MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
Are they planning on breaking the flange to remove the support?
RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
NBrink, thanks for the excellent observation from the operational point of view, that will help when I need to make the argument for new construction projects.
From a design standpoint, since the bracket most likely will not be through-hardened, and thermal expansion/contraction may put bending stresses on the bracket (and a prybar effect at the nut), uneven loosening of the joint could be the result, leading to leaks, correct?
RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
1. If you are installing new pipe supports, it is not possible to locate the support pier and foundation until the flange locations are precisely located.
2. Flange supports are rigid and do not allow for pipe thermal expansion.
3. Maintenance issues are inherent since the pipe must be shut down to work on the flange mounted support piers. You have to unbolt the support to break the flange.
4. Flange mounted pipe supports increase the pipe stress at the flanges.
5. No one has evaluated the structural combination of the pipe flange, bolts, mounting clip, and pipe support because the combination is a bad idea.
6. Requires an additional set of flange when you want to add the flange support.
DIPRA has recommendations on pipe supports. It is for ductile iron pipe, but the same issues are present.
http://www.psig.sg/Don/B31.3%20Process%20Piping%20...
RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
Piping Design Central
RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
They're really not an ideal support since you've got to add additional temporary supports to break the flange, but you can do a lot worse. Not sure I buy the thought of a pry-bar effect on the flange. Even a small (3/4" say) B7 stud will easily be carrying what? 15-20 kips when the flange is made up. A little piece of sheet metal in there under a couple of nuts isn't spreading the flange.
RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
Thanks everyone for your comments. Sounds like there is no known Standard, Code, or Recommended Practice covering this installation detail. If I do end up finding something, I'll post it....
RE: Flange Mounted Pipe Support Requirement?
Piping Design Central