COMPLETE REVISION

March 2005
Process Industry Practices
Structural
PIP STF05535
Vessel Circular Platform Details
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 by the responsible Function Team and
will be reviewed every 5 years. This Practice will be revised, reaffirmed, or withdrawn.
Information on whether this Practice has been revised may be found at www.pip.org.
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, overlays, addenda, or modifications of any
kind are not permitted within any PIP Practice without the express written
authorization of PIP.
PIP will not consider requests for interpretations (inquiries) for this Practice.
PRINTING HISTORY
October 1999 Issued
March 2005 Complete Revision
Not printed with State funds
COMPLETE REVISION
March 2005
Process Industry Practices Page 1 of 13
Process Industry Practices
Structural
PIP STF05535
Vessel Circular Platform Details
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. Definitions .................................... 3
4. Requirements............................... 3
4.1 General .............................................. 3
4.2 Materials ............................................ 3
Drawings
Figure 1 Typical Plan for Ladders and
Platforms Attached to Vessel ............ 5
Figure 2 Typical Grating Layout for
Circular Platforms .............................. 6
Figure 3 Typical Splice Detail for Circular
Platforms............................................ 7
Figure 4 Typical Bracket Details for
Circular Platform................................ 8
Figure 5 Typical Vessel Clip Details for
Circular Platforms .............................. 8
Figure 6 Typical Angle Railing Post
Connection Details for Circular
Platforms............................................ 9
Figure 7 Typical Pipe Railing Post
Connection Details for Circular
Platforms.......................................... 10
Figure 8 Ladder Exit Detail for Circular
Platforms ......................................... 11
Figure 9 Typical Pipe Railing End Post
Connection Details for Circular
Platforms ......................................... 12
Figure 10 Typical Angle Railing End Post
Connection Details for Circular
Platforms ......................................... 13
PIP STF05535 COMPLETE REVISION
Vessel Circular Platform Details March 2005
Page 2 of 13 Process Industry Practices
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose
This Practice provides fabricators with standard details for circular platforms for
vertical vessels.
1.2 Scope
This Practice describes the requirements and the design details for fabrication of
circular vessel platforms including ladders and railing.
Comment: PIP STE05535, a guide for use by engineers who are providing the
circular platforms in accordance with this Practice and for use by
engineers who are designing the vessels to support these vessel
platforms, is available on the PIP web site or from the PIP office.
PIP STE05535 provides information to engineers about the design
basis of the platforms, circumstances that should be considered
before using this Practice, and a table showing the platform design
loads for the vessel clips. Table 1 in PIP STE05535 should be used
to check whether the vessel requires reinforcement to receive the
platform loads.
2. References
Applicable parts of the following Practices and industry codes and standards 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 will be used herein where
appropriate.
2.1 Process Industry Practices (PIP)
PIP STE05535 - Vessel Circular Platform Detail Guidelines
PIP STF05501 - Fixed Metal Ladders and Cages Details
PIP STF05520 - Pipe Railing for Walking and Working Surfaces Details
PIP STF05521 - Angle Railing for Walking and Working Surfaces Details
PIP STS05120 - Fabrication of Structural and Miscellaneous Steel
Specification
2.2 Industry Codes and Standards
American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
ASTM A36 - Carbon Structural Steel
ASTM A307 - Carbon Bolts and Studs, 60 000 psi Tensile Strength
ASTM A325 - Structural Bolts, Steel, Heat Treated, 120/105 ksi Minimum
Tensile Strength
COMPLETE REVISION PIP STF05535
March 2005 Vessel Circular Platform Details
Process Industry Practices Page 3 of 13
ASTM A569 - Steel, Carbon (0.15 Maximum Percent), Hot-Rolled Sheet and
Strip Commercial Quality
3. Definitions
purchaser: The party who awards the contract to the supplier. The purchaser may be the
owner or the owners authorized agent.
contract documents: Any and all documents, including design drawings, that the purchaser
has transmitted or otherwise communicated, either by incorporation or by reference, and
made part of the legal contract agreement or purchase order agreement between the
purchaser and the supplier
owner: The party who owns the facility wherein the platforms will be used
supplier: The party responsible for fabricating the platforms
4. Requirements
4.1 General
4.1.1 All equipment, materials, labor, and supervision shall be furnished, and all
operations necessary for the fabrication of vessel platforms shall be
performed as indicated by the contract documents.
4.1.2 Fabrication shall be in accordance with PIP STS05120.
4.1.3 All safety requirements shall be followed as specified in the contract
documents.
4.1.4 The platforms, up to the maximum size permitted for shipping, shall be
preassembled in the shop.
4.2 Materials
4.2.1 All structural material shall be ASTM A36 steel unless otherwise specified.
4.2.2 Welded steel bar grating shall be used on all platforms with 1-1/4-inch x
3/16-inch (31-mm x 5-mm) plain bearing bars on 1-3/16-inch (31-mm)
spacing and cross bars on 4-inch (100-mm) spacing. The material shall be in
accordance with ASTM A569.
4.2.3 All bolting material shall be 3/4-inch- (19-mm-) diameter ASTM A325
bearing type with threads included in the shear plane, unless otherwise
specified.
4.2.4 Bolt holes shall be 1/16 inch (2 mm) greater than bolt diameter except as
specified.
4.2.5 Railing type shall be as specified in the contract documents.
4.2.6 Unless otherwise specified, all steel platform components and fasteners shall
be galvanized in accordance with PIP STS05120.
PIP STF05535 COMPLETE REVISION
Vessel Circular Platform Details March 2005
Page 4 of 13 Process Industry Practices
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