PFI Standard ES-7

|Denotes Revision (Revised December 2013)

MINIMUM LENGTH AND SPACING

FOR WELDED BRANCH CONNECTIONS

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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|Denotes Revision
MINIMUM LENGTH AND SPACING FOR WELDED BRANCH
CONNECTIONS
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 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
inches to millimeter
1. Scope
1.1 This Standard covers the minimum recommended
branch connection length, branch connection
distance from open end on run, and spacing
dimensions of adjacent welded branch
connections.
2. Branch Connection s without Saddles or
Reinforcement
2.1 The branch connection spacings are based on
practical access requirements for fit-up, welding
and examination. Dimensions recommended for
branch connections without saddles or
reinforcements are as shown in Fig. l and Table l.
3. Branch Connections with Reinforcing
Saddles or Rings
3.1 Dimensions recommended for branch connections
with saddles or rings are as shown in Fig. 2 and
Table 2.
4. Branch Connections Integrally
Reinforced
4.1 Dimensions recommended for integrally
reinforced branch connections are as shown in
Fig. 3 and Table 3. These dimensions do not
apply to integrally reinforced insert butt weld
branch connections.
5. Design Considerations
5.1 Certain materials and combinations of branch
connection and header pipe size and wall
thickness together with multiple branch openings
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PFI Standard ES-7
(Revised December 2013)
Factor
25.4
welded to a header may result in distortion of the
header pipe. The elimination or reduction of such
distortion is beyond the scope of this Standard.
For some recommendations to reduce or eliminate
such distortion refer to PFI standard ES-49.
5.2 All branch connection welds should be checked
for compliance with the applicable Code
requirements.
5.3 It is preferred that multiple branch openings of in-
line branch connections be spaced so that their
reinforcement zones do not overlap. If closer
spacing is necessary, the reinforcement
requirements of the applicable construction Code
shall be met.
5.4 Some configurations of integrally reinforced
branch connections in combination with certain
header sizes may present a problem in the
radiographic examination of the attachment weld
due to inability to meet the geometric
unsharpness requirements of the construction
Code.
5.5 Where attachments such as flanges, fittings,
valves and pipe insulation are involved, minimum
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dimensions tabulated may have to be increased to
allow for required clearances.
5.6 In special cases, it may be possible to reduce the
dimensions given in the tabulation. Such design
should then be submitted to the fabricator for
individual consideration, as close spacing may
involve additional shop operations to prevent, or
correct distortion.
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 PFI Standard ES-7
|Denotes Revision (Revised December 2013)

5.7 Integrally reinforced branch connections are

considered to be the commercially available
types.

5.8 In cases of different branch connection diameters,

dimension "C", (Fig. & Tables 1 thru 3) should be
determined on the basis of the larger of the two
adjacent branch connections. For some branch
connection sizes, the recommended minimum
spacing in the tables may result in overlapping
reinforcement zones.

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 PFI Standard ES-7
|Denotes Revision (Revised December 2013)

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS FOR FIGURE 1

NOMINAL BRANCH CONNECTIONS WITHOUT
PIPE SIZE OF
BRANCH
CENTER OF BRANCH
CONNECTION TO END
O.D. OF RUN TO END OF
BRANCH CONNECTION
O.D. TO O.D. OF
BRANCH CONNECTION
SADDLES OR RING REINFORCEMENT
CONNECTION OF RUN B C
(in) A A C
in. (mm) in. (mm) in. (mm)
2-1/2 4-1/2 (114) 3 ( 76) 3 ( 76)

B
3 5 (127) 3-1/2 ( 89) 3-1/2 ( 89)
4 6 (152) 4 (102) 4 (102)
5 7 (178) 4-1/2 (114) 4-1/2 (114)
6 8 (203) 5 (127) 5 (127)
8 10 (254) 6 (152) 6 (152)
10 12 (305) 7 (178) 7 (178)
12 14 (356) 8 (203) 8 (203) FIGURE 1
14 15 (381) 8-1/2 (216) 8-1/2 (216)
16 17 (432) 9 (229) 9 (229)
18 19 (483) 10 (254) 10 (254)
20 21 (533) 11 (279) 11 (279)
24 24 (610) 12 (305) 12 (305)
TABLE 1

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS FOR FIGURE 2

NOMINAL
PIPE SIZE OF CENTER OF BRANCH O.D. OF RUN TO END OF O.D. TO O.D. OF
BRANCH CONNECTION TO END BRANCH CONNECTION BRANCH CONNECTION
CONNECTION OF RUN B C*
(in) A
BRANCH CONNECTIONS WITH
in. (mm) in. (mm) in. (mm) REINFORCING SADDLES OR RINGS
2-1/2 6 (152) 4-1/2 (114) 6 (152)
3 7 (178) 5 (127) 7 (178) A C
4 8 (203) 5-1/2 (140) 8 (203)
5 9-1/2 (241) 6 (152) 9-1/2 (241)
B

6 11 (279) 6-1/2 (165) 11 (279)

8 14 (356) 8 (203) 14 (356)
10 17 (432) 9-1/2 (241) 17 (432)
12 20 (508) 11 (279) 20 (508)
14 22 (559) 12 (305) 22 (559)
16 25 (635) 13 (330) 25 (635)
18 28 (711) 14 (356) 28 (711)
FIGURE 2
20 31 (787) 15 (381) 31 (787)
24 36 (914) 16 (406) 36 (914)
TABLE 2

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS FOR FIGURE 3

NOMINAL
PIPE SIZE OF CENTER OF BRANCH O.D. OF RUN TO END OF O.D. TO O.D. OF
BRANCH CONNECTION TO END BRANCH CONNECTION BRANCH CONNECTION
CONNECTION OF RUN B C*

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(in) A
in. (mm) in. (mm) in. (mm)
2-1/2 5-1/2 (140) MANUFACTURERS 3 ( 76) BRANCH CONNECTIONS -
3 6 (152) STANDARDS 3 ( 76) INTEGRALLY REINFORCED
4 7 (178) 3-1/2 ( 89)
A C
5 8 (203) 4 (102)
6 10 (254) 5 (127)
8 12 (305) 6 (152)
B

10 14 (356) 7 (178)
12 16 (406) 8-1/2 (216)
14 17 (432) 9 (229)
16 19 (483) 10 (254)
18 21 (533) 11 (279)
20 23 (584) 12 (305) FIGURE 3
24 26 (660) 14 (356)
TABLE 3
*Minimum dimension C should be that tabulated for the larger of two adjacent branch connections.
Dimensions: Inches (Millimeters).

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 CURRENT INDEX OF 2014-2015
PFI STANDARDS & TECHNICAL BULLETINS
Engineering and Design
ES02 R13 Method of Dimensioning Piping Assemblies
ES07 R13 Minimum Length and Spacing for Welded Nozzles
ES16 R13 Access Holes, Bosses, and Plugs for Radiographic Inspection of Pipe Welds
ES26 R13 Welded Load Bearing Attachments to Pressure Retaining Piping Materials
ES36 R13 Branch Reinforcement Work Sheets.
ES36 R13 Branch Reinforcement Work Sheets ELECTRONIC VERSION
ES40 RA10 Method of Dimensioning Grooved Piping Assemblies
ES44 R13 Drafting Practices Standard
Welding and Fabrication
ES01 R10 Internal Machining and Solid Machined Backing Rings For Circumferential Butt Welds
ES21 R10 Internal Machining and Fit-up of GTAW Root Pass Circumferential Butt Welds
ES24 R13 Pipe Bending Methods, Tolerances, Process and Material Requirements
ES35 RA03 Nonsymmetrical Bevels and Joint Configurations for Butt Welds
ES45 R13 Recommended Practice for Local Post-Weld Heat Treatment
ES47 R13 Welding of Internally Clad Piping
ES49 R13 Guidelines for Installation of Integrally Reinforced Branch Connection Fittings
Cleaning, Painting, and Shipping
ES05 R13 Cleaning of Fabricated Piping
ES29 R06 Internal Abrasive Blast Cleaning of Ferritic Piping Materials
ES31 RA04 Standard for Protection of Ends of Fabricated Piping Assemblies
ES34 R03 Temporary Painting/Coating of Fabricated Piping
ES37 RA10 Standard for Loading and Shipping of Piping Assemblies
Quality Control

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ES03 R09 Fabricating Tolerances
ES11 R03 Permanent Marking on Piping Materials
ES22 R13 Recommended Practice for Color Coding of Piping Materials.
ES32 R13 Tool Calibration
ES39 RA10 Fabricating Tolerances for Grooved Piping Systems
ES41 RA03 Standard for Material Control and Traceability of Piping Components
ES43 RA13 Standard for Protection of Austenitic Stainless Steel and Nickel Alloy Materials
Examination and Testing
ES04 R13 Hydrostatic Testing of Fabricated Piping
ES20 R13 Wall Thickness Measurement by Ultrasonic Examination
ES27 R10 "Visual Examination" The Purpose, Meaning and Limitation of the Term
ES42 R05 Standard for Positive Material Identification of Piping Components using Portable X-Ray Emission Type Equipment
ES48 R13 Random Examination

Technical Bulletins
TB1 R13 Pressure - Temperature Ratings of Seamless Pipe Used in Power Plant Piping Systems - ELECTRONIC VERSION
TB3 R13 Guidelines Clarifying Relationships and Design Engineering Responsibilities Between Purchasers Engineers and Pipe Fabricator or Pipe
Fabricator or Pipe Fabricator Erector
TB5 R13 Information Required for the Bidding of Pipe Fabrication
TB7 R04 Guidelines for Fabrication and Installation of Stainless Steel High Purity Distribution Systems
TB8 R13 Recommended practice for the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piping
TB9 R13 Customary Fitting, Forging, Plate and Bar Materials used with Pipe
ELECTRONIC VERSION

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 1913 2013

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PFI Standards and Technical Bulletins are published to serve proven needs of the pipe
fabricating industry at the design level and in actual shop operations. Hence, such needs
are continually considered and reviewed by the Engineering Committee of the Pipe
Fabrication Institute to provide recommended procedures, which have been demonstrated
by collective experiences to fulfill requirements in a manner for Code compliance.
However, as the PFI Standards are for minimum requirements the designer or fabricator
always has the option of specifying supplementary conditions in the form of requirements
beyond the scope of the PFI publications.

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