AKVS24,
I think you misspoke.
Don't you mean "maximum" distance between pipe supports?
Minimum distance would mean the pipe supports would be touching each other.
Now if you do in fact mean maximum distance between supports then you should give us more information.
Such as:
- What is the maximum allowable deflection (Sag) of the pipe)
- Pipe line size? (a large diameter pipe will span a longer distance than s small diameter pipe)
- Pipe wall schedule? (a thicker wall pipe will span a longer distance than a thin wall pipe)
- Pipe material? (A Carbon Steel pipe will span a longer distance than a copper or aluminum pipe)
- Commodity specific gravity? (A pipe carrying hydrogen will span a longer distance than one carrying a sand slurry)
- Maximum operating temperature? ( A pipe at atmospheric temperature will span a longer distance than one at 800 degrees F)
- Insulated or not? (Insulation add weight to the span and causes more sag)
ASHRAE handbooks have info and tables for piping as used in heating and cooling.
Mark's Handbook has a table for water filled pipe from 1 > 24 inch. Their assumption is heavy valves etc are independently supported.
If this is a real installation piping borne vibration from pump pressure pulses may become the inspiration for a post on the vibration forum despite inclusion of flex joints
I agree with the statements made above. Another source of piping "span lengths" for support installation are the ASME B31.1 and B31.3 piping codes.
Additionally, it is important to note that using the span length method is most usefull for smaller diameter piping systems (say less than 10 inch NPS).
When larger piping is routed and supported, it is usually wiser to perform a detailed stress analysis of the piping system in order to economize on the number of supports and develop loads for the structural attachments.
FYI - I normally find the pipe support spacing is based on "other" design requirements, for me it normal boils down to either the smallest pipe to run on these supports, OR even the electrical routing. Electrical trays can span 15' to 20' but electrical conduit can only span 10' ...number of times I've had to cough up more pipe supports to deal with electrical conduit running in the same pipeway, AND I normal learn of this at the last minute!
Once upon a time, I detailed some pipe with a long span. It was strong enough, but vibrated in the wind.
In some cases, you may have expectations of support spacing with no basis behind them. It just "looks too far" for someone because they're used to seeing closer spacing.
