Storage of Pipe

[Bluecat46]

Gents

Odd question

Are there any guidelines / Standards for storing stainless steel pipe, steel pipe?

Thanks

 

[racookpe1978]

How long?

What sizes?

What environment?

What is your (future?) and current application for the pipe? (Food service? Nuclear? Chemical? Sewage plant? Oil piping?)

What diameters and what ranges of diameters? 48 inch or 1/4 inch?

How are you moving, receiving,loading, using, manufacturing, working with the pipe? What equipment do you have to move the pipe in and out of the rack? How long will you be using the system: for a few days in a muddy field for a emergency repair job with nothing but port-potties and a pickup truck, or as part of a manufacturing and sales and assembly (permanent) indoor production facility handling hundreds of pieces an hour from a railcar or shipping container?

 

[Bluecat46]

It was just a general question about pipe storage.

But generally 6 metre length currently stored outside on a pipe rack in varying weather conditions and the pipe is used in the chemical industry diameter varies from ½ up to 12” and I believe its moved around on a forklift truck.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

For me - storing ANY building materials whether it be 2x4s or SS pipe - KEEP IT DRY!! Temp between about 32F and 100F

Just a rule of thumb!! There are always exceptions.

 

[BigInch]

Pipeliners are more particular. Company standards go like this,

Not in contact with earth. Bottom pipe is generally stored on dry and covered sand berms or padded wooden sleepers, sometimes old used tires.

Pipes must be adequately supported, no excessive deflection must be observed.

Can't stack them too high. Depends on diameter, wall thickness and weight of each joint.

Stacked pipes must have spacers between layers and adjacent pipe, no contact with another pipe is allowed.

Use end caps. Protects the end bevels and keeps out the armadillos and other critters as well as dust, dirt, salt spray and rain.

Not stored in North-South direction. Possible magnitization of ends.

Not stored parallel to HV power lines. Induced voltage can be shocking.

Forklifts, slings must be padded as necessary, esp. no hooks on the ends.

No contact with any sharp or abrasive objects can be possible. No chains, wire rope, etc.

Anybody else have anything to add.

From "BigInch's Extremely simple theory of everything."

 

[racookpe1978]

Label EVERYTHING! Colors are good, but more often used for bar stock and solids for different diameters.

Keep no two different metals on the same shelf of the same pipe rack.

If you have to track accountability or heritage, NEVER mix accountable pipe and plain pipe in the same area. Keep the paperwork with each section for traceability IAW your process spec's until welded into the assembly.

Keep the same sizes on the same rack.

Keep different schedules of the same size on a different shelf of the rack - if possible.

NEVER put a piece "cut to length" for shipping or fabrication back in the rack. (You'll "lose it" and have to cut another.) After cutting, ALWAYS put the "drop" back in the rack before leaving the area or leaving the job site - but ONLY after re-plugging the ends (see above from Big Inch!!!!) and checking that the pipe internally is clean.

 

[Bluecat46]

Thanks

very intresting information

 

[Duwe6]

The 'generic' pipe and fitting storage spec is ANSI Category "D" storage [plus end-caps], even for nuclear spool-pieces:
Outdoor lay-down yard [keep weeds off materials]
Up on cribbing, [no contact with ground or rain puddles]
and the end-caps, to protect the beveled ends, and keep varmints from nesting in the pipe. The problem with end-caps is that they trap the morning dew, so plan on seeing condensation when you uncap the pipe.

What BigInch listed are "Very Best Practices", so it will have spelled out in the contract/spec. And plan on paying extra for it.

 

[austsa]

Where possible/appropriate, store pipe such that marking is visible.

 

[MortenA]

Also consider seperation of black steel and stainless steel at all time. That is dont store SS where black steel has once been stored.

Best regards

Morten

 

[waterpipe]

pipes with coatings especially rubber based pipes such as HDPE might need UV protection for a long term storage (around 1 year). Use UV-protective sheets to cover the top pipes.

 

[Bluecat46]

Thanks Gents for the great information.

Is there a standard/Guide with all this information? or is it subject to the industry that the pipe is going to be used?

Thanks

 

[waterpipe]

You could always refer to the manufacturer's recommendations. Normally, most of standards related to pipe manufacturing give some general guidelines for pipe handling (such as AWWA) or refer to manufacturer's recommendations (such as API 5L).
IMO, in most cases more detailed requirements could be find within Project Specification.
I am not aware of any standard only related to pipe handling and storage.

 

[vpl]

There is an ANSI nuclear standard as Duwe6 mentioned. However, it's pretty much "keep the pipes off the ground, keep the ends covered, add desicant."

Patricia Lougheed

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