TERMINOLOGA

A
A Inlet Nozzle
A Pipe Anchors This is a fixed anchor restricting the pipe movement at a specific support from moving in any (horizontal of vertical) direction.

A/G Above Ground The most common use for this abbreviation is on a P&ID to indicate that portion of a line that is to be or will be above ground.

Approved For Construction This is a status indicator for engineering documents such as Flow Diagrams, Specifications, Drawings, etc. This indication
AFC (note) is normally stamped on a document in red so that it is very visible. The Approved part of the note normally means that the Client has done the
Approving.
Approved For Design This is also a status indicator. But in this case the document is normally an early schematic drawing such as a P&ID. The
AFD
Approval is still by the Client.
AGA American Gas Association
AISC American Institute of Steel Construction
AISI American Iron and Steel Institute
ANSI American National Standards Institute

AO Air to Open - This is normally found on a P&ID at a control valve and indicates that the control valve is a spring to close and therefore need air to open.

AP Plant Air Used to define the commodity in a Line Number

API American Petroleum Institute
AS Air Supply Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
AS Sprinkler system
ASA American Standard Association -
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers -
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials -
ATM Atmosphere
AWS American Welding Society -
AWWA American Waterworks Association -

B
BG Base Guides This is a type of support under low piping that is designed to allow the pipe to move back and forth in a specific direction.
BL Battery limit This is the invisible boundary around specific portion of a process plant (i.e.: The Crude Unit Battery Limits)
BOP Bottom of Pipe This refers to the bottom of a pipe when lying in the horizontal position.
BS British Standard

C
C Centigrade or Celsius - Unit of measure
C-C Centre to Centre Refers to the type of dimension (i.e.: Center to Center of two pipes)
Centerline The centerline is the primary locating reference point used for the location of all objects such as Pipes Tanks, Vessels, Pumps, Structural Pipe
Cl
Supports, Structures, Roads, etc. in Process Plant engineering and design.

Control Valve The term Control Valve is commonly used for a wide range of actuator operated valves. The type of valve body is most often a Globe
CV
type but can also be a Ball, Butterfly, Pinch or other type. The actuator can be Pneumatic, Solenoid, Electric Motor or other type.

D
D Drain Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
DCS Distributed Control System Commonly used with instrumentation
DEG Degree - Unit of measure
DIA Diameter -
DRG Drawing [Not Preferred] see DWG

E
E East - As in a direction. Often used with Coordinate method of defining location or position of in item of equipment.
E-E End to End Used to clarify a dimension.
EFW Electric-Fusion-Welded Refers to one of the ways that rolled and welded pipe is made.
EL Elbow (Not Preferred)
EL Elevation -
EOP End of Pipe A term used as a part of the dimensional designation when locating the end of a piece of pipe such as a vent to atmosphere.
ES Electric Supply
ESS Emergency Shutdown System
 F
F Fahrenheit - Unit of measure relating to temperature
Fabrication Can be a noun or a verb. A Fabrication can mean a piping spool that is a Fabrication. Or it can be used to say the pipe spool is in
FAB
Fabrication.
FF Face to Face As in Face-to-Face dimension
FF Flat Face (d)
FLG Flange

FP Full Port Valve This term often used with Ball Valves means that the Port or opening in the ball is the same size as the adjoining pipe inside diameter.

FPT Female Pipe Thread

FRP [Glass] Fiber Reinforced Pipe
FS Base Supports Indicates a type of secondary support that is normally used under one side of a Control Valve Manifold.

FTG Fitting This is a universal term that applies to many trades and trade material (piping, electrical, etc.). For piping it includes elbows, TEEs and O-Lets.
Field Weld Refers to a weld (normally in piping) that is to be made in the field (Point of installation) as opposed to being made in a pipe fabrication shop.
FW This weld can be pipe-to-pipe, pipe-to-fitting or fitting-to-fitting. The pipe and fitting components on both sides of this weld are dimensionally correct and
FW no
Firetrimming
Water - is to be
Used todone without
define the approval
the commodity in aof theNumber
Line Design Office.

G
G Level Gauge or Gauge Glass -
GAL Gallon - Unit of measure
GALV Galvanized Rust resistant plating added to metal objects
GO Gear Operated Used in conjunction with a valve description.
GPH Gallon per Hour - Unit of measure
GPM Gallon per Minute - Unit of measure

H
H Hydraulic signal - Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
HP High Pressure -
HP Horse Power -
HS Hydraulic Supply Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
HTR Heater Relates to a type of equipment found on a project
HVAC Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Can indicate the Profession, the Equipment or the Work.

I
I Current (electrical) signal
IA Instrument Air Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
IA Instrument Air Supply Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
ID Inside Diameter common usage terminology

Isometric drawing - In piping this term refers to a semi-3 dimensional drawing representation of a pipe line or part of a pipe line. The Isometric should
ISO
contain ALL the graphics, dimensions, identification and technical data necessary to purchase material, fabricate, test and install the displayed piping.

L
**LL Liquid Level (** Denotes suffix (es), for high, low, high high, low low, etc.) i.e. LLLL - Low Low Liquid Level
L.PT. Low Point Often used in defining the other critical elevation point (see HP) for paving.
LA Level Alarm Defines a type of instrument
LC Level Controller - Defines a type of instrument
LS Level Switch - Defines a type of instrument
LT Level Transmitter - Defines a type of instrument

M
M Meter - Unit of measure
M Motor actuator
MPT Male Pipe Thread

N
N Nitrogen Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
N North This can be True North, Plant North, Platform North or Magnetic North.
NC Normally Closed This is used to designate the normal setting of a valve.
Non-Destructive Examination This refers to a grouping of 5 methods used to indicate the quality of a weld on vessels or piping. These are VT, RT, MT,
NDE
PT, and UT (See: http://www.ndt.net/article/0698/hayes/hayes.htm)
NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers' Association
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NG Natural Gas Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
NPSH Net positive suction head

P
P&ID Piping and Instrument Diagram The primary document produced by the Process Engineer to define in detail what is required for any process plant.

PA Plant Air Supply Used to define the commodity in a Line Number

Process Flow Diagram Indicated a preliminary schematic drawing produced by the Process Engineer to define the simplified process concept. It is the
PFD
precursor to the P&ID.
PRV Pressure Reducing Valve This is a valve functional description not a specific valve manufacturer of specific valve type.
Pressure Relief Valve This is a valve functional description not a specific valve manufacturer of specific valve type. Lots of companies make valves that
PRV
are designed to open when the pressure inside a vessel or system goes above a specific set pressure. (Also see PSV)
PSV Pressure Safety Valve (also see PRV)
 R
R Automatic-reset control mode Used in the electrical and controls systems.
R Radius -

S
S Pipe Shoes A device used under Hot Insulated pipes to raise the pipe up off the primary pipe support level thus protects the insulation.
S Solenoid actuator -
S South - As in a direction. Often used with Coordinate method of defining location or position of in item of equipment.
SAE Society of Automotive Engineers -
ACH Schedule [Of pipe] Relates to the wall thickness of pipe
SCRD Screwed Method of joining some types of pipe, fittings and valves.
SMLS Seamless A type of pipe
SO Slip-On A type of flange
SR Short Radius [Of Elbow] -
SS Stainless Steel -
ST Steam Tracing -
ST Steam Trap -
ST Support Trunnions -
STD Standard -

T
T Temperature -
TOC Top of Concrete -
TYP Typical -

U
U/G Underground A type of drawing or a buried piping system
UG Underground (See U/G)
UT Ultrasonic Inspection (See NDE)

V
V Valve -

W
W Water Used to define the commodity in a Line Number
W West As in the direction. Often used with Coordinate method of defining location or position of in item of equipment.
WC Water Column A piping configuration that allows for the attachment of multiple level and pressure instruments on a Tank or Vessel.
WGT Weight -
WN Welding Neck Indicated the type of Flange
WOG Water, Oil and Gas -

WP Working Point Used on drawings with sloping pipe lines to indicate the point where key information is given (Locating coordinates and elevations).

WP Working Pressure -
WS Water Supply Used to define the commodity in a Line Number