Implementing Pipe Supports for Plant 3D

Implementing pipe supports and support details can help add value to your model, and provide more precise material lists to project managers and purchasing departments.  The process for implementing pipe supports is as follows:

• Gather pipe support detail sheets
• Match supports to available shapes
• Identify required properties
• Build a pipe support spec

Gather Pipe Support Detail Sheets

Many companies already have detail sheets for pipe supports. If not, you should take the time to organize a detail library.  The goal is to produce a standardize set of 2-3 drawings that shows every detail with a table for dimensions that may vary. While it may force engineers to over-design supports in certain scenarios, the time saved by having material lists and a process in place tends to be a bigger savings.  Contractors can also build supports in batches according to the detail which helps with production consistency.

Match Supports to Available Shapes

You will need to review the stock pipe supports for Plant 3d which are geared towards providing general pipe support shapes like pipe shoes, clamps, hangers, and some other types of pipe supports. Often times supports like trapeze hangers, kneebraces, or even wide flanges may be used to support the pipe and Applied Software has a support package that covers many of those situations. You can view a full list of the supports available here: http://astiinc2.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Steel-Supports-List.pdf

Identify Required Properties

Once you have identified which of the shapes should match your details, you need to make sure the information you want in reports, on plans and sections, and in isometrics can be stored in the catalog.

Most of the time, the Long Description Family is used in the isometric BOM. The iso symbol type and iso symbol skey govern the shape placed on the isometric.

You will need to setup your Support Tag format to use the property you want displayed in your plans and sections.

Build a Pipe Support Spec

Last of all you need to create a pipe support spec.  The pipe support spec is read from  your spec sheets folder, and must be called PipeSupportsSpec.  Inserting items from the pipe support spec whether through tool palettes, or the spec view palette, will allow the information predefined in your catalog to be input into your model. Pipe supports placed from the ribbon button will be created as one-offs and may not use the information saved in the catalog.