Process & Industrial Piping

Material selection for chemical process piping depends on the fluid being handled, its temperature and pressure, and the consequences of a material failure. Carbon steel is common for fuel oil and many industrial fluids. Stainless steel is used where corrosion resistance or cleanliness is required. Duplex stainless, Hastelloy, and other alloys are specified for aggressive chemicals. Plastic piping such as CPVC or PVDF is used for certain corrosive applications where metal would degrade. The engineer of record specifies the material based on a fluid compatibility analysis and the applicable code, typically ASME B31.3 for process piping. The contractor’s job is to install to that specification without substitution.

ASME B31.3 is the industry standard for process piping design and construction. It governs pipe material selection, joint design, welding procedures and welder qualification, examination requirements, and pressure testing. For commercial and industrial projects, compliance with B31.3 is typically specified by the engineer and verified through inspection records and pressure test documentation. Welders working on B31.3 systems must be qualified to the applicable welding procedure specification. Our crews work to B31.3 requirements on process piping jobs and maintain the documentation the standard requires.

Commercial fuel oil piping in New York City is regulated under the NYC Fire Code, Chapter 34, and requires permits from the NYC Department of Buildings and the FDNY for storage tanks above certain capacities. Piping materials, joint methods, secondary containment, and leak detection requirements are specified based on tank size and fuel type. Above-ground fuel oil piping in a mechanical room has different requirements than underground tank piping. All fuel oil work in NYC requires coordination with the Authority Having Jurisdiction and inspection before backfill or insulation. Jaccel & Heat handles permitting coordination as part of the scope.

A sanitary stainless system is designed and installed to prevent bacterial contamination of the fluid. That means tube OD sizing rather than pipe schedule sizing, orbital or sanitary butt weld joints rather than threaded or socket weld connections, interior surface finish requirements measured in Ra microinches, and cleaning and passivation documentation after installation. An industrial stainless system uses standard pipe, standard joints, and standard testing without the surface finish or documentation requirements. Installing an industrial system where a sanitary system was specified is a compliance failure that can result in product contamination and regulatory action for the facility owner.

High-purity piping systems are pressure tested with clean, dry nitrogen or compressed air rather than water to avoid introducing contamination. After pressure testing, the system is cleaned using a defined protocol, typically a combination of solvent flushing and passivation with citric or nitric acid solution. The cleaning and passivation process is documented with certificates that become part of the facility’s qualification records. For pharmaceutical facilities operating under FDA oversight, this documentation is not optional. It’s part of the validation package the facility needs to operate. Our crews understand the documentation requirements and produce records that hold up to regulatory scrutiny.