Guest Article                                                                       SEPT 2009

PIP’S Global Reach

By B. C. Ebert

Director – Process Industry Practices

Process Industry Practices (PIP) Used Globally

Process Industry Practices (PIP) (www.pip.org) is a consortium of process plant owners and engineering construction contractors. As of September 2009 PIP’s active membership has grown to 52 companies plus 46 additional subscriber and licensee companies. PIP is harmonizing member companies’ internal standards for design, procurement, construction, and maintenance into a set of industry wide practices for voluntary use. Members share the goal of reducing total installed costs of process plants by up to six percent through the implementation of common industry practices.

Organized in 1993, PIP is a separately funded non-profit initiative operating under the umbrella of the Construction Industry Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. PIP publishes and maintains recommended Practices for the process industry in the following disciplines: Civil, Structural, and Architectural (CSA); Coatings, Insulation, and Refractory (CIR); Electrical; Machinery; Piping and Instrument Diagrams (P&ID); Piping; Process Control & Analyzers; and Vessels. Specific Practices include design, selection, specification, and installation information. PIP has published over 450 Practices. A current listing of published Practices is available on the PIP website at: http://pip.org/practices/index.asp and Practices are for sale to non-members on an individual basis or by disciplines on an annual subscription or licensing basis.

Although developed by member companies that are based in the United States, PIP Practices are also used by companies around the globe. In addition to the global reach of the members, PIP subscribers include companies in Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, and The Virgin Islands. PIP Practices have been sold to companies in countries throughout Europe, Asia and the Far East, and South America.

PIP has internal work processes that recognize the benefits and drivers for “globalization” of their published Practices. Guidelines are provided to the discipline function teams to increase the global applicability of published Practices. PIP continues to enhance the applicability of its Practices by including data sheets for US Customary and Metric Units and by updating references to ICC, ISO and other globally used standards. The following benefits and drivers for globalization have been identified:

  • Owners need a consistent set of Practices for facilities regardless of location.
  • Consistent international Practices allow for more cost effective use of low cost engineering centers.
  • Contractors need standards and specifications that can be applied to international projects.
  • Operating companies cannot afford to develop and maintain multiple sets of standards and specifications for different regions.
  • Standardization can be enabled/promoted.
  • Many major projects are being constructed outside the U.S.
  • More companies are moving towards using international standards.

As global standards requirements tend to be regional in nature, any Practice based on U.S. standards alone may be difficult to utilize in other regions.  In Europe, where ISO standards are dominant, Practices may not be applicable.  China and Russia are both moving to adopt ISO/IEC standards as national standards.  The Middle East, on the other hand, may still be receptive to U.S. standards.

The following list provides guidelines to the PIP discipline function teams on when current Practices can be applied globally:

  • In a region not dominated by ISO standards or the CE European Directives
  • When the Practice applies to design and/or selection of equipment issues that are not code-based (e.g., heat exchanger thermal design, as opposed to fabrication)
  • When minor overlays or addenda can adequately convey modified requirement
  • Packaged equipment Practices
  • Wherever U.S. standards are accepted
  • Owner mandated (as permitted by local authority jurisdiction)

Information about PIP membership for companies who have US based resources can be found at: http://pip.org/membercos/joining/index.asp . Information about the PIP subscription program available to all others can be found at: http://pip.org/subscr/subscrprog/index.asp .