Access platforms standards 1

[radixeng]

Good day Folks,

Im a young civil engineer based at an LNG facility down in the Caribbean.

1. Are there any written industry standards or practices that state that pipe supports should not be tied to existing platforms??(mind you these platforms do experience vibrations).


2. Are there any written industry standards for access platforms/mobile platforms?I have checked PIP, OSHA.

For example: Minimum platform dimensions for one person to stand comfortably on, member sizes, stairs etc.


These platforms are simply to hold the weight of one person to access valves around critical equipment.


Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[TLHS]

If you're working at any major gas company, they should have company standards that address the sizing of platforms. I've seen ones that contradict industry standards now and then, but they're normally okay and where you should start. They will also exceed other standards in some places. There is presumably also some local OHS code or building code that you'll need to find. Generally, the minimum is normally somewhere between 3 and 5 feet or so, depending on the purpose of the platform.

As far as supports not being tied to platforms, it's a judgment call. In most cases it's not economical to separate an access platform from a pipe support entirely, and there's not really a reason to. If there are significant vibrations you might isolate the rest of the steel. I've also had situations where I've ensured that a pipe support will break away from the structure in case of some sort of overstress. Neither of these things are particularly standard.

If the steel is properly designed to take all the associated loads, there's nothing wrong with supporting platforms and pipes from the same steel.

However, I'd be wary of designing any industrial steel to just hold 'one person'. You can put all the signs and warnings up that you want, you'll still end up with three guys, a welding rig and random equipment storage up there. The company will likely have a standard for area loading for platforms. Most places seem to standardize at around 100lb/ft^2 with some minor accessways being allowed to have 50lb/ft^2.

 

[TLHS]

I just re-read and saw that you were talking about a pipe support attaching to an existing platform. There's still not anything *inherently* wrong, but anything more than a few inch diameter is going to need a careful investigation unless the platform was designed with future supports in mind.