Pipe Supports: An Ultimate Guide | Al Safrik Steel Works

Pipe supports are essential components in piping systems. They are designed to anchor, guide, or suspend pipes, ensuring their stability and functionality. They handle the weight of the pipes, control movement from external forces like temperature changes, and reduce stress on the overall structure. Al Safrik Steel Saudi Arabia provides multiple fabricated steel products for commercial use, including pipe spools, storage racks, etc. Companies can order customized products as we are one of the best steel fabricators in the Middle East.

Goto Zhiang to know more.

Materials for Pipe Supports

The choice of materials for pipe supports depends on factors like the load requirements, environmental conditions, temperature range, and type of fluid in the pipes, including:

1.     Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is strong, durable, and cost-effective. It performs well under high load-bearing conditions and can be treated with coatings to increase corrosion resistance. It is commonly used in industrial settings, such as oil and gas pipelines, water treatment plants, and structural supports where the environment is not highly corrosive. Carbon steel offers excellent strength for its cost and is relatively easy to fabricate and install.

2.     Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, especially in wet or chemically harsh environments. It’s durable, easy to clean, and maintains its structural integrity at high temperatures. Such pipe supports are used in industries like food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals, where corrosion resistance is crucial and cleanliness is important. Ideal for corrosive or wet environments, stainless steel maintains strength and integrity over time, even with temperature fluctuations.

3.     Alloy Steels

Alloy steels combine carbon steel with other elements (such as chromium, molybdenum, or nickel) to enhance corrosion resistance, toughness, and high-temperature strength. They are found in high-temperature and high-pressure applications, such as in power plants, refineries, and heavy-duty industrial systems. They provide increased resistance to corrosion and higher durability in extreme temperatures, suitable for demanding environments.

4.     Ductile Iron

Ductile iron offers strength and flexibility, with a high resistance to impact and vibration. It has moderate corrosion resistance and can handle a significant load. They are commonly used in municipal water and wastewater applications and other heavy-duty structural applications. Affordable and effective for heavy-duty applications with some flexibility to absorb impact.

5.     Plastic and Composites

Plastics and composite materials are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and often non-conductive, making them suitable for specialized applications. Composite supports usually contain fibreglass, PVC, or other polymers. These materials are used in corrosive environments like chemical processing or in coastal and marine settings, where metals would quickly degrade. Because they are lightweight, noncorrosive, and non-conductive, composites are ideal for handling chemical exposure without degradation.

6.     Galvanized Steel

Galvanized steel is carbon steel coated with zinc to resist corrosion. It’s widely used for its affordability and moderate corrosion protection. It has wide use in general construction, plumbing, and outdoor environments where exposure to moisture is moderate, but full stainless steel would be too costly. It is cost-effective for mild corrosion resistance, making it suitable for outdoor or mildly corrosive applications.

7.     Rubber and Elastomers (as Lining Materials)

Rubber and elastomers are used as lining materials for pipe supports to reduce vibration, dampen noise, and prevent metal-to-metal contact, which can lead to wear. They are also used as liners or inserts within metal supports in settings like HVAC, automotive, and equipment mounting. Rubber-lined supports reduce wear on pipes, absorb vibrations, and extend the life of both pipes and supports.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Carbon Steel Pipe Support.

Further reading:
Baler & Compactor Buyers Guides | Blog | Recyclingbalers.com

8.     Copper Alloys (Bronze, Brass)

Copper and its alloys (like bronze and brass) offer natural antimicrobial properties and good corrosion resistance, especially in water systems. They also provide moderate strength and durability. Copper is often used in plumbing (pipe supports), potable water systems, and some HVAC systems because it is noncorrosive in water environments, resistant to bacteria, and long-lasting with minimal maintenance.

Moreover, these materials provide versatile options to meet the specific needs of various piping systems across industries, ensuring durability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Al Safrik Steel Saudi Arabia will assist you in enhancing your business’s production by offering affordable steel fabricated products, so consult today.

Types of Pipe Support

There are various types of pipe supports, each suited to specific applications, so here’s an overview of the primary types of pipe supports:

Saddle Supports:

Saddle supports are used to cradle pipes, typically for horizontal piping. They support the pipe along a length of its body, dispersing the load across the saddle’s surface area. Such supports are common in pipelines that run along the ground or rest on beams, especially in oil and gas, water treatment, and large-scale HVAC systems. Saddle supports help distribute the load and reduce stress concentrations, which is ideal for heavy-duty pipes and longer pipe runs.

Hangers:

Hangers suspend pipes from above and are adjustable to control height and level. They often include adjustable rod hangers, U-bolts, or straps and are used primarily for vertical piping and hangers. Hangers are also widely used in HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems to keep pipes in place overhead. They prevent sagging in vertical and inclined pipes, and their adjustability allows for precise positioning in complex pipe layouts.

Clamps and Brackets:

Clamps firmly hold the pipe in place, while brackets provide additional load-bearing support. They can be attached to walls, ceilings, or beams. Clamps and brackets are commonly used in industrial settings and residential plumbing, where pipes need to be affixed along structural surfaces. They are versatile and provide firm anchoring, making them excellent for preventing unwanted pipe movement, especially in high-vibration areas.

Spring Supports:

These supports are designed with springs to absorb movement due to expansion and contraction in the pipes. They allow pipes to “move” while keeping them in alignment. Such pipe supports are ideal for high-temperature applications, like in power plants and refineries, where thermal expansion is a concern. By allowing movement, spring supports reduce stress in the piping system, preventing damage from temperature fluctuations.

Roller Supports:

The roller pipe supports enable horizontal movement of the pipes, which is ideal for accommodating thermal expansion. They consist of a roller mechanism that moves as the pipe expands or contracts. Roller supports are used in long, straight pipelines, especially in petrochemical plants and large process facilities where expansion is a factor. They significantly reduce friction, making them suitable for heavy or large-diameter pipelines that undergo significant movement.

Anchors:

Anchors restrict movement by firmly holding the pipe in place. They prevent any axial or lateral motion and are often used in conjunction with other support types. They are used in applications requiring fixed points, such as piping systems exposed to external forces or high vibration levels, like chemical plants. Anchors prevent stress from pipe movement and are essential for maintaining the stability of the overall piping structure.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Custom Fabrication Pipe Clamps.

Hi

I wonder what it takes to built a good piping support specification like the one I've attached to my post. I mean...where does one start from? Which Code's,Standards, Norms, should one use if we talk about piping systems in refinery. I've seen a dozen of piping support specifications, some are very decent others according to my humble opinion are not because they are lacking essential information like allowable support loading.

My opinion is that you have to have a good theoretical and practical understanding of the subject in hand. If you just look at the various pipe support design which are available in this standards you must conclude that a rather impressive knowledge is behind it. At least I think it is.

In my company we don't have such specifications, instead we use pipe supports like clamp bases already manufactured from Manufacturer like LISEGA or BERNECKER or...We use their software and the support loads we've calculated form the stress analysis to select suitable pipe clamp.
Recently we had a case in which there were complaints from the contractor that we used supports for carbon steel piping (A 106 Gr.B) made of very expensive material like 13CrMo4-5, which by the way we got from the software selection, and not the less expensive one like 235JR or 355JR. So we had to "manually" check if the 355JR material is also an adequate material for this situation at hand.

To avoid this kind of situations in the future we are thinking of developing our own piping support specification.

Any ideas?

We've had the same issue. We needed our own support specs as well.

The industry we serve makes it (somewhat) challenging as we dont do major oil&gas or refinery sites, but our customers are still are those major compamies. So we need some sort of compliance to major O&G specs. Our spec needed to be simple, effective, and a one size fits all. A few more extra bucks doesnt mather to us; the biggest linesize we typically see in our plants are 3" to 4", however weve done as large as 8"-10" on a rare instant. Thats why we ended up with a few support types, actually only 2 or 3 types, which fit all supporting needs.

Our spec is verified by simple hand calculations, and were currently updating our pipe support spec and will be conducting simple FEA calcualtions to verify their strength, both at ambient and at design temperature. The spec calls out either 316 supports or carbon steel (HDG or coated). We never have done CSEF piping systems like 13CrMo4-5 or P11 or P91, so we have no need for such materials in support.
Our spec lists max allowable loads for each support type, both axial and lateral. Our supports are either rigid or sliding. Anything different (trunnions, etc.) are specials and will be designed on a case by case basis. Hangers, both variable and spring, follow from pipe stress analysis; we always by these from LISEGA, we dont go for a buck cheaper with all the less robust designs out there from other vendors.

If you work to B31.3, follow MSS SP rules (#58 being the most important, but also #69, #77, #89 and #90). If you work to EN , review chapter 13 and the applicable appendix N which defines the requirements pertaining to supports. There's a link to the PED in EN wrt supports.

So I guess it all boils down to the typical application you work to. For us, linesizes are small, and 95% we do is stainless, the rest usually being nickel alloys like C276, 800H, etc. We hardly ever do carbon steel.

Can you explain what you scope of work is in piping systems?

PS; your first post does not contain an attachment.