PFI Standard ES-2

(Revised April 2019)

METHOD OF DIMENSIONING
PIPING ASSEMBLIES

Prepared by
Pipe Fabrication Institute Engineering Committee

All PFI Standards are advisory only.

There is no agreement to adhere to any
PFI Standard and their use by anyone is
entirely voluntary.

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 PFI Standard ES-2
(Revised April 2019)

METHOD OF DIMENSIONING
PIPING ASSEMBLIES

METRIC CONVERSIONS

The conversion of quantities between systems of units involves a determination of the number of significant
digits to be retained. All conversions depend upon the intended precision of the original quantity and are rounded to
the appropriate accuracy.
Pipe sizes together with applicable wall thicknesses are not shown with metric equivalents.
The SI (metric) values where included with the customary U.S. values in this Standard are the rounded
equivalents of the U.S. values and are for reference only.
Metric units were derived utilizing the following conversion factor:

Conversion Factor
inches to 25.4
millimeter

1. Scope provide the fabricator with additional information

such as:
1.1 This standard covers the recommended practices
for dimensioning piping assemblies in a manner (a) radius of bend
that would enable the fabricator to furnish a
product meeting the geometry intended by the (b) type of elbow
design engineer. (c) gasket or other allowances

2. Dimensioning (d) pipe size and wall thickness

2.1 Piping is normally of a circular cross section. (e) type of branch connection, such as tee or nozzle
Thus the geometry of a piping system can be fully (f) location of flanged or field welded joints
defined by the location of the centerline axis of
the pipe. Terminal points and points of change in (g) location of attachments
direction of the pipe axis are known as working (h) permissible tolerances (See PFI Std. ES-3)
points. Since two points determine a straight line,
it is recommended that the pipe axes be located (i) material specifications and grade.
by means of working points. Two alternate
methods of locating working points are suggested 3. Fabrication Variables
in 2.2 and 2.3. 3.1 In making the piping assemblies, the fabricator
takes into account the following factors; root
2.2 Fig. 1A illustrates location of the working points opening, shrinkage and fitting tolerances.
along the axis of the pipe by providing
information on the length and direction of each 3.2 In order to assure full penetration to the root of a
consecutive segment of the axis. weld, the ends to be joined are set up with a
small gap between them called root opening.
2.3 Fig. 1B illustrates dimensioning by means of This root opening may vary from 0 to 1/4" (6.0
location of the working points from fixed mm) depending on the welding technique.
reference planes, such as from ground elevation, Shrinkage of the weld metal occurs in cooling.
column lines, etc. This shrinkage varies with welding process,
technique, piping material and pipe wall
2.4 While not necessary for the determination of the thickness. On steel the weld shrinkage usually
pipeline geometry, it is essential that the engineer amounts to l/16" (1.5 mm) to 1/8" (3.0 mm).
 PFI Standard ES-2
(Revised April 2019)

Consequently, the fabricator must make 3.5 Due to the above factors, only the fabricator is able to
allowances for shrinkage (See Paragraph 3.5). correctly determine root opening. The PFI
recommends that these root openings not be shown
3.4 All standard welding fittings and flanges are
on the engineers’ design drawings for fabricators’
subject to tolerances on terminal dimensions (end
assemblies.
to end, face to face, or center to end, etc.). The
tolerance on overall length of flanges as given in 3.6 In certain situations, (reference welds marked “W” in
ANSI B16.5, is  .06" (0.8 mm) for sizes up to Fig. 1A & 1B), when the design does not allow for
and including 10" and  .12" (3.0 mm) for larger intervening pipe segments, it may be necessary for
sizes. ANSI B16.9 gives tolerances for butt the fabricator to vary root opening. The engineer
welding fittings. shall specify any fitting to fitting dimensions that
must be held when no intervening pipe is present and
For 90 & 45 elbows & tees these are: would, therefore, imply that components are trimmed
to hold overall dimensions (reference “L”). When
Size Tol. (in.) Tol. (mm) “W” is not specified by the Engineer, the dimensions
1/2" - 8"  .06  0.8 that result from using standard fittings without
trimming shall be acceptable. Alternatively, and with
10" - 24"  .09  2.5 permission from the purchaser’s engineer, adjustment
may be made in adjoining assemblies.
26" - 30"  .12 3
32" - 48"  .19 5

T R
L' G E G
R

R
L

L, L' .PIPING DIMENSION

L

E......EQUIPMENT DIMENSION
T......TIE IN DIMENSION R
L W
R.....REFERENCE DIMENSION
L
G....GASKET DIMENSION
R

WP...WORKING POINT L'

WP

L
R

L
R

FIGURE1A
FIGURE1B