March 2012

Process Industry Practices

Machinery
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PIP REIE686A
Recommended Practice for
Machinery Installation and Installation Design
(Supplement to PIP REIE686/API RP686)

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 PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical
requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering
costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice
is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users, individual
applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take precedence
over this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and particular matters
or application of the Practice to particular project or engineering situations should not
be made solely on information contained in these materials. The use of trade names
from time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference but rather
recognized as normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications
are equally correct and may be substituted for those named. All Practices or guidelines
are intended to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA
requirements. To the extent these Practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or
other applicable laws or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed.
Consult an appropriate professional before applying or acting on any material
contained in or suggested by the Practice.

This Practice is subject to revision at any time.

© Process Industry Practices (PIP), Construction Industry Institute, The University of

Texas at Austin, 3925 West Braker Lane (R4500), Austin, Texas 78759. PIP Member
Companies and Subscribers may copy this Practice for their internal use. Changes or
modifications of any kind are not permitted within any PIP Practice without the express
written authorization of PIP. Authorized Users may attach addenda or overlays to clearly
indicate modifications or exceptions to specific sections of PIP Practices. Authorized
Users may provide their clients, suppliers and contractors with copies of the Practice
solely for Authorized Users’ purposes. These purposes include but are not limited to the
procurement process (e.g., as attachments to requests for quotation/ purchase orders or
requests for proposals/contracts) and preparation and issue of design engineering
deliverables for use on a specific project by Authorized User’s client. PIP’s copyright
notices must be clearly indicated and unequivocally incorporated in documents where an
Authorized User desires to provide any third party with copies of the Practice.

PUBLISHING HISTORY
March 2012 Issued

Not printed with State funds

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Process Industry Practices
Machinery
PIP REIE686A
Recommended Practice for
Machinery Installation and Installation Design
(Supplement to PIP REIE686/API RP686)
Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................... 2
Purpose ......................................................... 2
Scope ........................................................... 2
References ........................................... 2
Requirements ....................................... 2
Chapter 4 - Foundations ...................... 3
3 Definitions .......................................... 3
4 General Design Requirements .......... 3
6 Rectangular Block Foundation
Design ................................................ 3
11 Anchor Bolt and Reinforcing Steel
Design ................................................ 3
Annex B - Typical Foundation and Anchor
Bolt Details ......................................... 4
Chapter 5 - Mounting Plate Grouting . 7
2 Machinery Grouting Installation
Design Requirements ........................ 7
2.4 Selection of Grout .............................. 7
2.6 Mounting Plate Design ...................... 7
3 Machinery Grouting Installation
Requirements .................................... 7
3.10 Direct Grouted Reciprocating
Compressors ..................................... 7
Annex H - Typical Mounting Plate Leveling
Pads ................................................... 8
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March 2012
Chapter 6 - Piping ................................ 9
2 Machinery Piping Installation
Design ................................................ 9
2.2 Addition. Accessibility for
Operation and Maintenance .............. 9
2.4 Supports .......................................... 10
2.5 Provision for Field Welds ................. 11
2.10 Modification. Vents, Drains, and
Gauge Connections ......................... 11
2.13 Piping Systems in Pulsating
Service ............................................. 11
3 Machinery Specific Piping
Installation Design ........................... 11
3.1 Pumps.............................................. 11
3.1.1 General Requirements .................... 11
3.1.2 Pump Suction Piping ....................... 17
3.1.3 Modification. Pump Minimum Flow
Bypass/Recycle ............................... 17
3.1.6 Addition. Self-Priming Pumps .......... 18
3.2 Compressors and Blowers .............. 29
4 Machinery Piping Installation ........... 29
4.2 Field Installation of Auxiliaries ......... 29
4.11 Miscellaneous Requirements .......... 29
Chapter 7 - Shaft Alignment ............. 29
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 PIP REIE686A
Recommended Practice for Machinery Installation and Installation Design March 2012
(Supplement to PIP REIE686/API RP686)

Introduction
Purpose
This Practice supplements PIP REIE686/API RP686, Recommended Practice for Machinery
Installation and Installation Design. Together, this Practice and PIP REIE686/API RP686
provide requirements for installation recommended procedures, practices, and checklists for
the installation and precommissioning of new, existing, and reapplied machinery and to assist
with the installation design of such machinery.
Scope
This Practice describes additions, changes, and deletions that have been made to
PIP REIE686/API RP686. In addition, decisions that have been made regarding options
offered by PIP REIE686/API RP686 are also described.

References
Applicable parts of the following Practice and industry codes and standards shall be
considered an integral part of this Practice. The edition and addendum in effect on the date of
contract award shall be used, except as otherwise noted. Short titles are used herein where
appropriate.

Process Industry Practices (PIP)

– PIP RESP002 - Design of ASME B73.1 and General Purpose Pump Baseplates
– PIP REIE686/API RP686 - Recommended Practice for
Machinery Installation and Installation Design, Second Edition

Industry Codes and Standards

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Gas Machinery Research Council (GMRC)
– TR 97-2 - Foundation Guidelines
– TR 97-6 - Compressor Anchor Bolt Design

Requirements
The numbering of the headings and paragraphs in the Requirements section corresponds to
the numbering of PIP REIE686/API RP686, which this Practice revises. The type of revision
made to a specified heading or paragraph is described after the heading or paragraph
identification. Provisions of PIP REIE686/API RP686 that are not revised remain in force.

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 PIP REIE686A
Recommended Practice for Machinery Installation and Installation Design March 2012
(Supplement to PIP REIE686/API RP686)

Chapter 4 - Foundations
3 Definitions
3.9 Addition. New definition:
dynamic analysis
Calculation of the natural frequencies of the foundation and a determination of the
response of the foundation to the forces induced by the vibration of the machinery
(e.g., amplitudes of vibration, velocities, or acceleration)
4 General Design Requirements

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4.2 NOTE Canned motor pumps do not require a foundation block. These pumps do not
have a coupling that requires alignment. Horizontal canned motor pumps should be
mounted on a stilt mounted baseplate in accordance with PIP RESP002, Figure 4.
Vertical canned motor pumps should be installed on a level surface. Pipe fit up
requirements are the same as pumps with couplings.
6 Rectangular Block Foundation Design
6.6 Modification. To read as follows:
The top of the finished foundation shall be elevated above the finished elevation of
the floor slab or grade to a height that can prevent damage to machinery from a
50-year flood or 20 cm (8 inches), whichever is greater. Other local environmental
factors may dictate other top of concrete criteria such as water spouts. Insurance data
may be beneficial for determining these criteria.
11 Anchor Bolt and Reinforcing Steel Design
11.6 Addition. Supplement as follows:
For reciprocating compressors, anchor bolt embedment lengths should be a minimum
of 1.2 meters (48 inches) and of varying lengths to form a sine wave for stress
distribution. See Figure B-5.
11.6 Addition. New note:
NOTE Industry experience shows an anchor bolt embedment depth of 20 diameters
to a fully engaged nut improves resistance to cracking the foundation block. See
GMRC Technical Reports TR 97-6 and TR 97-2.
11.11 Addition. New section:
For reciprocating compressors, anchor bolt termination plates should have an outside
diameter of 3 to 4 bolt diameters, and should be 1.5 bolt diameters thick. Grout
thickness of the final pour should not be greater than 11.5 cm (4.5 inches). Leveling
pours may be thicker.

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 PIP REIE686A
Recommended Practice for Machinery Installation and Installation Design March 2012
(Supplement to PIP REIE686/API RP686)

Annex B - Typical Foundation and Anchor Bolt Details

Figure B.1 Modification. Modified to include dimension ED and change D Depth
above grade with H Height above grade. Replace with the following figure:
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Figure B.1 — Typical Rectangular Block Foundation Detail

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 PIP REIE686A
Recommended Practice for Machinery Installation and Installation Design March 2012
(Supplement to PIP REIE686/API RP686)

Figure B.2 Modification. Modified to include a case drain, and show the grout half
way up the baseplate. Replace with the following figure:
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Figure B.2 — Typical Vertically Suspended Can Pump Foundation

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 PIP REIE686A
Recommended Practice for Machinery Installation and Installation Design March 2012
(Supplement to PIP REIE686/API RP686)

Figure B.3 Modification. Modified to include dimension BD, and wrap/coat of anchor
bolt with bond breaker. Replace with the following figure:

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Figure B.3 — Typical Anchor Bolt Detail — Option 1, Grout Pour Not to Edge of Foundation

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