-- ASME B31.1 Power Piping
-- ASME B31.3 Process Piping
-- ASME B31.4 Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquids and Slurries
-- ASME B31.5 Refrigeration Piping
-- ASME B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
-- ASME B31.9 Building Services Piping
-- ASME B31J Stress Intensification (SIF or i-Factors), Flexibility Factors (k-Factors), and Their Determination for Metallic Piping Components
-- Miscellaneous Non-Code Descriptions / Examples
Examples below show only small portions of the main files. The Piping Office calculators are compatible with Microsoft Excel 2010 and later.
You will not need much prior Excel experience. These tools are user-friendly and may improve your understanding of the ASME Piping Codes.
In files which use them:
--Material data are retrieved from separate data files.
--Some dimensional data are retrieved from separate data files.
--All common ASME standard NPS and DN sizes and thicknesses are included.
--Flange ratings are chosen per B16.5 for design pressure
input. The flange ratings can be overridden.
Pipe Required Thicknesses according to ASME B31 Piping Codes B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, B31.5, B31.8, and B31.9 See gif.
Pipe Allowable Pressures per ASME Piping Codes B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, B31.5, B31.8, and B31.9 See gif.
Threaded pipe is included. So is tubing. Pipe dimensions are chosen for either US Customary or Metric units.
The user must review and possibly edit input for joint efficiency, thickness allowance, and mill tolerance. Piping Code notes and longitudinal weld joint efficiencies can be viewed.
If you make the mill tolerance zero (0), and the thickness allowances zero (0), the calculations will be for pipe of actual measured thickness or pipe that is ordered as minimum wall.
You can determine the allowable pressure of corroded pipe.
Reinforcement of Welded Branch Connections per ASME B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, B31.5, B31.8, and B31.9 Designs are for unreinforced, ring, pad, saddle, or full encirclement. See gif. , See gif. See gif.
This is a huge time saver.
Two different layouts are used in PipingOffice. The most useful is the one with calculations for one branch at a time. It allows calculations for a second branch placed next to the first and overlapping reinforcment zones can be included in the calculation of required reinforcement.
The other method allows calculations for 190 possible
combinations of header to branch size. Dimensional data
are retrieved by macros from a shared data file.
This calculator determines if reinforcement is required or
not, and if header or branch thickness is adequate. Also,
if a calculation is valid for the diameter-to-thickness
ratio or size ratio.
Results in are displayed in a box similar to a branch table
in a piping line class specification (most large companies
use branch tables in their specs).
There are many choices of branch types that a designer can use per the Piping Code. (See PDF file of Full Encirclement graphics per ASME B31.4.)
Reinforcement of Extruded Outlet Branch Connections per ASME B31.1, B31.3, B331.4, B31.5, and B31.8 Piping Codes See gif. See gif. See gif. See gif.
These spreadsheets give the ability to design two branches on the same header and reinforcing zones could overlap.
Reinforcement of Extruded Outlet Tapping Split Tee per ASME B31.1, B31.3, B331.4, and B31.8 Piping Codes See gif. , See gif.
Mitered Elbow Design per ASME B31.1 and B31.3 Piping Codes See gif.
Results include allowable pressures for both multiple miter and single miter elbows. Comments, ASME B31.3 notes, and joint efficiencies are referenced and weld joint values are placed by macros.
Pipe Bend Design per ASME B31.1 and B31.3 Piping Codes See gif
Results include allowable pressures and required thicknesses. Comments, ASME B31 notes, and joint efficiencies are referenced, and weld joint values are placed by macros.
Steam Safety Valve Installations per ASME B31.1 (Calculates discharge reactions, pressure and velocities in discharge and vent piping, SIFs, predicted stresses in branch, anchor reactions). See gif
ASME B31.1, Power Piping, Appendix II presents the designer with guidelines and alternative design methods applying to rules for safety valve installations.
The "Safety Valve" worksheet should be used primarily to determine reactions due to discharge of steam safety valves. The results can be entered in pipe stress analysis programs. Refer to ASME B31.1 Appendix II for complete application of the rules, including open discharge systems, closed discharge systems, installations with single and double outlet valves, multiple valve installations, etc.
The calculations presented in this spreadsheet are for an open discharge system with one safety valve.
Safety Valve Installations per ASME B31.1, Appendix II Para. II-7 Sample Problem
Support Span, Shoe Bearing, and Weight Data See gif. , See gif. See gif.
It calculates pipe and tubing support spacing (or span), support shoe bearing and weights. Results include weights of pipe, tube, fluid, insulation, plastic liner, refractory, ice on exterior, cross-sectional areas, and more.
Simple support spacing, continuous support span, cantilever, and shoe bearing calculation results are shown with graphics that help explain their meanings. Concentrated loads can be entered at mid-span to consider valve or other added weight.
Insulation density is converted to lbs/in^3 for convenience of Caesar II input. This file includes tables that allow selections via dropdown boxes for materials, material densities, dimensions, insulation, and plastic or refractory liners.
The user should change the data tables to indicate the brand or brands being used.
ASME B31.3 Chapter IX, Allowable Hi-Pressure Pipe or Tubes See gif
This is typically for pressures above the ratings for ASME B16.5 Class 2500 flanges.
Thickness reduction allowances can be entered for inside or outside, or both. Threaded pipe and tubing are included. Dimensions and pressures are chosen from tables with either Imperial or Metric units.
Data tables are included for materials in Section K of the Code. Printing of the whole area of allowable pressures will fill about 2 pages.
If you make the mill tolerance zero and thickness allowances zero, the calculations will be for pipe or tube of actual measured thickness or that is ordered as minimum wall. You can also calculate the allowable pressure of corroded pipe or tube.
Theoretical External Collapse Pressure:
This file calculates external pressures which could produce plastic buckling and elastic collapse.
This is not per ASME Code except for external pressure not exceeding 15 psig.
When elastic collapse occurs due to external pressure, the pipe reshapes into lobes. The minimum number of lobes is 2. In a collapse with 2 lobes, the pipe cross-section will resemble an hourglass or figure-8.
Stress Intensification and Flexibility Factors:
Elbow conforming to ASME B16.9
Component selection form
Size and thickness selection dropdown
Calculations are for factors for pipe fittings. The results are used in pipe stress analysis.
Line Blanks (Line Blinds), Spacers, Spectacle Blinds (Figure-8's), and Restricting Orifices Design per ASME B31.3: See gif. See gif. See gif.
Allowable Pressures and Spec Sheets. This file calculates design thicknesses, dimensions, and weights of line blanks, spacers, spectacle blanks (figure-8's), and restriction orifices per ASME B31.3 -2022, para. 304.5, Eq. (15). Data from ASME B16.48, ASME B16.5 -2020, and ASME B16.47-1999 are also applied. Raised face and ring joint designs are included.
Linear Interpolations in a Table Without Using Macros: See gif.
This shows an example of creating a dropdown box control for material selection and a slider control box for temperature change. Formulas contain the Vlookup function for retrieval of stress values of selected material. Linear interpolation is then done to determine a stress value at any temperature over a range of data. Macros are not used.
