36 www.aiche.

org/cep October 2012 CEP

Back to Basics
E
ffective plant design, construction, and operation are
team undertakings. In this environment, ensuring
clear and concise communication among team mem-
bers, especially if they are from different disciplines, can be
an ongoing challenge.
Of the many communication tools available to engi-
neers, the piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID,
referred to as a process and instrumentation drawing by
some) plays an important role in promoting communica-
tion and understanding. A P&ID is a type of engineering
drawing that provides an overview of a process, its physical
components, and how it is controlled. P&IDs are graphi-
cal representations of a process that show piping, vessels,
valves, pumps, instrumentation, and other pieces of process
equipment.
P&IDs, block fow diagrams (BFDs), and
process fow diagrams (PFDs) are different types
of fowsheets that advance plant design, support
construction, and facilitate interactions among
all parties involved in building and operating a
plant. The terminology for these drawings varies;
depending on the segment of the chemical process
industries (CPI) in which they are used, they may be
called fow diagrams, process schematics, or process
sheets. Despite differences among industry sectors
and their various terminologies, the contents of these
three types of drawings are relatively consistent.
This article provides an overview of what BFDs,
PFDs, and P&IDs are, who uses them and for what
purposes, and how they can be drafted effectively.
The project lifecycle, from predesign and con-
struction to operation to decommissioning, involves
a large number of people with different backgrounds.
Engineers from various disciplines are among the design
professionals. The project team from the sponsor company
(i.e., the facility owner) can include personnel from opera-
tions and maintenance, regulatory affairs, quality control,
information technology (IT), and upper-level management,
as well as health, safety, and environmental specialists. Each
construction partner will also have its own specialists, esti-
mators, and project managers. The project staff can expand
even further to include representatives from operating
companies, upstream and downstream operators, suppliers,
various service providers, and equipment vendors.
With this large group of workers involved in plant
design, construction, and operation, P&IDs effectively com-
Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs),
process ow diagrams (PFDs), and block ow
diagrams (BFDs) are essential tools for documenting
processes and promoting interdisciplinary
understanding and communication.
Graham Nasby
Eramosa Engineering, Inc.
Using Process Flowsheets
as Communication Tools
p Figure 1. This BFD of a secondary treatment process shows major material and energy
ows, but omits details such as pumps, valves, and small vessels.
Aeration Tank Clarifier/Settler
Treated
Effluent
Screened
Effluent
Air
Return Activated Sludge
Waste Activated Sludge
Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
CEP October 2012 www.aiche.org/cep 37
municate a plants inner workings, and serve as a reference
tool for all parties involved. Individual disciplines can then
develop their own detailed documents, drawings, and speci-
fcations based on a common set of P&IDs.
Block ow diagrams
BFDs (sometimes called block diagrams) show unit
operations, material and energy fows, and inputs and out-
puts as a collection of rectangles, arrows, and pointed
rectangles, respectively (Figure 1). Only the major energy
and material fows are displayed, and details such as individ-
ual vessels, pumps, and valves are omitted. BFDs are often
used in preliminary design work, when the main energy and
material fows are still being determined, because they can
be created, revised, and redrawn with minimal effort.
Follow these guidelines to draw an effective BFD:
Dont use elaborate symbols. Use simple rectangular
boxes for equipment or unit operations, arrows for material
or energy fows, and connectors for inputs and outputs to
other systems.
For fow-oriented BFDs, show the process fowing
from left to right and top to bottom. For density-based
equipment such as columns or separators, show the dense
products leaving the bottom and the lighter and/or gaseous
products leaving from the top.
For site-oriented BFDs, place large pieces of equipment
in their approximate physical locations onsite and use arrows
to show the fows between them.
Label the rectangles representing major pieces of
equipment or unit operations in plain English with text
inside the rectangles.
Label the lines representing major energy and material
fows with their direction clearly shown. Label the off-sheet
connector rectangles clearly.
Keep it simple, and avoid unnecessary detail as much
as possible.
A good BFD can be quickly created and just as easily
understood.
Process ow diagrams
PFDs show more detail than block fow diagrams, but
less detail than P&IDs. PFDs display major pieces of equip-
ment, important pumps and valves, main fow paths, and
key pieces of instrumentation (Figure 2). Process details
such as fowrates, fow contents, and energy and mass bal-
ances are often included, but instrumentation details, utility
details, and smaller secondary piping are rarely shown.
A PFD may use tags on certain pieces of equipment, but
these act only as reference tools to facilitate discussion in
the design phase; the equipment tagging scheme used in the
fnished plant is based on the P&ID. Process fow diagrams
are useful communication tools because they are not as
complex as P&IDs, and it takes much less time to create
a PFD; this is especially useful when a plants design has
not been fnalized, and it would be too costly to draw and
redraw a detailed P&ID multiple times. In many sectors of
p Figure 2. A PFD displays major pieces of equipment, important pumps and valves, and key pieces of instrumentation. The simplied tagging scheme
promotes communication during the plants design phase.
Screened Effluent
Return Activated Sludge
RAS Pump #2
RAS Pump #1 WAS Pump #1
Blower #2
Blower #1
Aeration Tank #1
Clarifier #1
Treated Effluent
Waste Activated Sludge
Air Inlet #1
Air Inlet #2
WAS Pump #2
Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
38 www.aiche.org/cep October 2012 CEP
Back to Basics
the CPI, process fow diagrams are also used in regulatory
flings, safety studies, and budgeting for both new construc-
tion and retroft projects. The PFD can also be a powerful
tool for conducting feasibility studies and for making
go/no-go decisions.
Follow these guidelines to draft an effective PFD:
Represent major equipment, such as vessels, heat
exchangers, large pumps, and signifcant control valves with
simple P&ID symbols (discussed later).
Label equipment with simplifed tags based on P&ID
standards (for discussion purposes only, not to be used for
construction).
Show process piping for primary fow paths, as well as
pertinent bypass and recirculation piping, with the fow con-
tents and direction clearly indicated. Do not show ancillary
or subsystem piping.
Include the pressure and temperature ratings for piping,
vessels, and heat exchangers, as well as pump capacities,
pressure heads, pump horsepower ratings, and expected
control valve fow coeffcients.
Show the major pieces of primary instrumentation that
are used for normal steady-state process control and shut-
down in a simplifed manner.
Do not show utility operations or interconnections for
very complex processes.
If a process control narrative or functional specifcation
does not yet exist, add explanatory notes to describe how the
process functions under normal steady-state conditions.
In the iterative discipline of process design, PFDs fll an
important niche between the high-level BFDs and the detail-
oriented P&IDs.
Piping and instrumentation diagrams
P&IDs provide the highest level of detail of the
three types of fowsheets. A well-drawn P&ID (or set of
P&IDs) will show every pipe, valve, pump, vessel, and
instrument within the plant. P&IDs will also show all
process-connected equipment and packaged equipment
skids, along with key input, output, and interfacing details
(Figure 3). P&IDs do not show specifc information such
as materials of construction, physical layouts, pipe-wall
thicknesses, and wiring connections; these details reside in
other drawings and specifcation documents. Even as new
instrumentation technologies are developed, the basic con-
tents, symbols, and line types used on P&IDs has stayed
relatively constant.
P&IDs contain a wealth of information that is used by
many different individuals on the project team. In many
industries, P&IDs are also a mandatory requirement for
workplace safety, environmental, and hazard-analysis regu-
latory flings.
Follow these guidelines to prepare an effective P&ID:
Use a consistent layout that distinguishes feld-
mounted, control panel, and computerized functions.
Use a fully developed tagging scheme in which every
piece of plant equipment, instrument, control element, and
instrumentation function has a uniquely assigned tag.
Represent equipment such as vessels, heat exchangers,
valves, and pumps with standardized symbols.
Use simple line drawings for more complex equipment
like conveyors, mixers, clarifers, etc.
Represent piping, ducts, and fow channels that convey
process materials or gases and liquids with lines.
Represent instrumentation, control, and automation
equipment with small circles or boxes with tags.
Use dashed and other specialized line types to show
instrumentation connections (e.g., electrical wiring, pneu-
matic tubing carrying control signals to valves, network bus
connections, etc.).
Off-sheet connectors should be used to show process or
utility connections to external systems.
Various other pieces of key summary information about
normal process conditions, expected fows in process lines,
design pressures/temperatures, and equipment and piping
sizing, as well as process and skid boundaries, should also
be shown.
Using PFDs and P&IDs together
For large, complex processes that cannot ft onto a single
P&ID, it is often helpful to pair a block fow diagram or
process fow diagram with a set of P&IDs. The BFD or
PFD can be used as an overview for the set of P&IDs. A
well-thought-out fow diagram can act as an excellent visual
index to a group of detailed P&IDs. Some drafters will put
dotted boundary lines and P&ID drawing references on the
fow diagram to help guide the reader to the right drawing in
the P&ID drawing set.
P&ID drawing styles
The way that symbols and piping are arranged on a
P&ID can vary considerably by CPI sector. Some sec-
tors show instrumentation, motor controls, and computer
functions arranged throughout the drawing, while others
segment the drawing so that the process is shown on the
bottom with control panels and computer functions shown
as separate layers. Sometimes a combination of the two
approaches is used.
The P&ID in Figure 3 employs a layered approach: the
bottom layer describes the process equipment (FIELD),
the next layer shows local control panels and motor control
centers (LCP/MCC), and the top layer shows the computer-
ized control system (SCADA/PLC/DCS). The P&ID layout
approach depends on the norms for the particular industry
and the companys P&ID drawing standards. For example,
Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
CEP October 2012 www.aiche.org/cep 39
p

F
i
g
u
r
e

3
.

T
h
i
s

l
a
y
e
r
e
d

P
&
I
D

i
s

m
u
c
h

m
o
r
e

c
o
m
p
l
i
c
a
t
e
d

t
h
a
n

a

P
F
D
,

a
s

i
t

s
h
o
w
s

a
l
l

v
e
s
s
e
l
s
,

p
i
p
i
n
g
,

i
n
s
t
r
u
m
e
n
t
a
t
i
o
n
,

a
n
d

c
o
n
t
r
o
l

i
n
s
t
r
u
m
e
n
t
s
.

Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
40 www.aiche.org/cep October 2012 CEP
Back to Basics
the P&ID layout in Figure 3 is often used in the
municipal wastewater-treatment sector.
Good drawing practices
To facilitate effective communication among
team members, engineers must ensure that their
drawings can be easily understood by others.
Some on the project team may not be familiar
with the drawing numbering scheme, the tagging
standard employed, or the symbols and line types
that are used. At the beginning of the drawing set,
the drafter should provide:
1. a lead sheet drawing that states what facil-
ity and project the drawings are for
2. an index drawing that lists every drawing
in the set and its corresponding drawing number
3. a set of standardized legend drawings
that defnes the symbols, abbreviations, line
types, and tagging schemes that are used in the
drawing set.
To avoid potentially costly communication
misunderstandings and reduce the chance of
mistakes, every drawing must:
have a unique number that can be easily
referred to
have a revision number and a revision
date; if a drawing is a work-in-progress or pre-
liminary, clearly mark it as such and include the
in-progress printing date
use a standardized title block, so the reader
can quickly determine what each drawing is for
be the same size oddly sized drawings
often get lost or misplaced
adhere to company drawing standards
(e.g., computer-aided design [CAD] details such
as standardized title blocks, line types, and
layers, etc.).
Tagging
To ensure precise communication about
specifc parts or functions of the plant, every
signifcant piece of equipment, piping, and
instrumentation on a P&ID should carry a unique
tag. Due to their simple graphical nature, P&IDs
act as coordinating documents that show all tags
throughout a plant in an easy-to-read manner.
Tags, which consist of alphanumeric codes,
should be assigned in a logical, fow-oriented
manner so that the reader can easily follow the
tags through individual processes.
It is important that tags follow a consistent
and standardized format. For equipment and
p Figure 4. Commonly used equipment is depicted as simple line drawings with alpha-
numeric labels.
Storage Tank Vertical
Vessel
Horizontal Vessel
with Boot
Centrifugal
Pump
Cooling Tower Open Top
Vessel
with Mixer
Shell-and-Tube
Heat Exchanger
Motorized
Valve
p Figure 5. Pump type is distinguished by simple line drawings.
Centrifugal
Pump
Reciprocating
Pump
Screw
Pump
Rotary
Compressor
Rotary
Pump
Proportioning
Pump
Submersible
Pump
Centrifugal
Compressor
p Figure 6. Each type of valve and actuator is represented by a unique symbol.
Gate Diaphragm Hand-Operated
Wheel
Hand-Operated
Lever
Globe Butterfly Piston
Actuator
Diaphragm
Actuator
Ball Needle Motorized
Actuator
Solenoid
Actuator
Plug Swing
Check
Pressure
Control Valve
(Integral)
Pilot-Operated
Spring-Return
Isolation Valve
Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
CEP October 2012 www.aiche.org/cep 41
piping tagging, the Construction Industry Institutes PIP
PIC001 standard, or a similar internal company standard, is
often used. For instrumentation tagging, the most common
is the ANSI/ISA-5.1 standard, or some variant thereof.
This article employs the commonly used combination of
the PIC001 and ANSI/ISA-5.1 tagging schemes. These
two standards also defne a set of popular symbols and line
types for P&IDs.
Regardless of the tagging scheme, tags usually consist
of several fragments that are assembled together to create a
complete tag. In some schemes, tag fragments are separated
by dashes; in others, no dashes are used. One widely used
scheme is: facility code site area code equipment or
instrumentation code. In some tagging schemes, additional
fragments are added to show that instrumentation is associ-
ated with parent pieces of equipment. On individual P&ID
drawings, either the entire tag or just the last tag fragment
(with a note on the drawing stating the assumed prefxes)
may be shown.
Equipment symbols and tagging
Figure 4 shows some common equipment symbols
and tags. The equipment symbols are typically simple line
drawings, and equipment tags have letter identifers and
a number. For example, in a letters-plus-number tagging
scheme, a tank would be TK101, a heat exchanger HE56,
a pump P103, an isolation valve XV117, and so on. In
another tagging scheme, the type of service may be incorpo-
rated into the tag as well; the tag V-30560 consists of
V for valve, 30 for process gas service, and 560 for the
unique valve number.
Some ingenuity is required to develop symbols for dif-
ferent types of pumps (Figure 5) and valves (Figure 6). In
each case, a baseline collection of symbols is slightly modi-
fed to show the possible variations in that equipment class.
For more-complex equipment such as conveyors, screens,
and distillation columns, simple line drawings (Figure 7)
usually suffce.
Instrumentation symbols
Instrumentation symbols, and the tags that go with them,
can be confusing to the uninitiated, but once mastered allow
the reader to quickly and easily read any P&ID. Circles,
often called bubbles or balloons, represent individual instru-
ment functions, whereas squares and diamonds typically
represent panel-mounted and computerized functions. Some
of the most common circle, square, and diamond symbols
for instrumentation are shown in Figure 8.
Figure 9 illustrates a 4-in. pipeline with a pressure
control valve, pressure controller, and pressure transmitter,
along with an unrelated pressure gage. The pressure control
valve is indicated by a globe valve symbol (two triangles
p Figure 7. More-complex equipment is represented by simple line
drawings.
Break Vessel
with Demister Ring
Separator
Distillation Column
with Trays
Vertical Vessel
with Steam Jacket
p Figure 9. In this example of a pressure control loop, the system has
both high and low alarms.
0150 PSI 0250 PSI
Inst. Air
p Figure 8. In a typical P&ID, circles represent individual instrument
functions, and squares or diamonds represent panel-mounted and
computerized functions.
Field
Mounted
Main
Control
Panel
Auxiliary
Panel
Not
Accessible
Instrument
or Device
Shared Display
and Control
Computer Function
(PLC/DCS)
Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
42 www.aiche.org/cep October 2012 CEP
Back to Basics
with a black dot the in the middle) and is tagged with the
bubble PV102. The pressure control valve is controlled by a
pressure controller (PIC102), and a dashed instrumentation
line indicates the relationship between the two.
The pressure controller PIC102 is shown as a circle
within a square to indicate that it is a combination display
and controller; the single horizontal line in the square means
that it is panel-mounted in the control room (the absence of
such a line would indicate that it was located in the feld).
The letter I in the PIC102 tag stands for indicating i.e.,
it has a readout display. The pressure controller receives its
process variable from the pressure transmitter (PT102), as
denoted by the dashed line between them. The range of the
pressure transmitter, shown beside the PT102 tag, is 0 to
150 psi. The pressure transmitters tag does not have an I
because the device does not have a local pressure readout.
The pressure gage beside it is labelled PI104 to show that it
is a pressure indicator.
Beside the pressure controller PIC102 in Figure 9 are
two symbols one is labelled PAH and the other PAL.
These illustrate that the pressure controller has both a high-
pressure alarm (PAH) and a low-pressure alarm (PAL). The
depiction of alarms on P&IDs can vary depending on the
segment of the CPI; in some sectors, alarm details are out-
lined in a plants functional specifcation documents rather
than shown on the P&IDs.
Instrumentation tagging
Instrumentation tags have two parts: a sequence of
alphabetic codes and a loop number. When an instrument
is tagged with an instrumentation circle on a P&ID, the
alphabetic code appears on the top row and the loop number
appears on the bottom. For example, a pressure indicating
transmitter would be tagged PIT201 PIT on the top row
of the circle and 201 on the bottom row. The loop numbers
(sometimes called sequence numbers) are unique for every
process area.
The alphabetic portion of an instrumentation tag con-
sists of several parts, each containing one or more letters.
Table 1 shows some of the more commonly used letter
codes. An instrumentation tag can
include: the measured or initiat-
ing variable, an optional variable
modifer, an optional readout/passive
function, the output function, and an
optional function modifer.
Measured or initiating variable.
The measured or initiating variable
represents the type of measure-
ment the instrument performs. For
example, in the tag PIT, the P refers
to pressure. Other possible frst let-
ters include T for temperature, F for
fow, and L for level. For chemical
analyzers, A is commonly used as the
frst letter, and a fag is often added
to the instrument circle to show what
kind of analyzer it is. Therefore, an
instrumentation circle containing the
text AIT101 with a pH fag beside it
would represent a pH analyzer that
has local indication and transmits a
signal back to the distributed control
system (DCS).
Optional variable modifer.
An optional variable modifer is
used when a base measurement has
an integrating, differentiating, or
mathematical function applied to it.
For example, a second letter of D in
a tag stands for differential. Thus,
an instrument that measures the
Table 1. Instrumentation identication letters
are an important part of instrument tagging.
First Letter Succeeding Letters
Measured or
Initiating Variable Modier
Readout or
Passive Function
Output
Function Modier
A Analysis Alarm
C Controller
D Differential
E Voltage Sensing
Element
F Flowrate Ratio
(Fraction)
G Sight glass
H Hand High
I Current Indicator
K Rate of
Change
L Level Light Low
M Momentary Middle
P Pressure
Q Quantity Integrate,
Totalize
Point (Test)
Connection
R Radiation Recorder
S Speed Safety Switch
T Temperature
V Vibration Valve,
Damper
Z Position Actuator
Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
CEP October 2012 www.aiche.org/cep 43
temperature difference between two points could be tagged
TDIT745 (where 745 is the loop number). Other possible
second letters include F for ratio, K for rate of change, and
Q for totalization.
Optional readout or passive function. The most com-
mon optional passive function is indication, denoted by the
letter I. Other passive functions include E for sensing ele-
ment, G for sight glass, and R for recorder. Sometimes more
than one optional passive function is shown. For example, a
device with a tag of PIR201 would be a pressure indicating
recorder for loop 201.
Output function and modifer. These terminating let-
ter sequences can take on several formats. A terminating
sequence that starts with an A represents an alarm, and
typically has a suffx to indicate what type of alarm it is.
For example, the tag FAH224 signifes a fow alarm high,
whereas LALL305 signifes a level alarm low-low.
Terminating sequences that start with an S after the mea-
sured or initiating variable usually indicate a switch. Thus,
FSL205 is a low-fow switch, and TSH341 is a high-tem-
perature switch.
This article is not intended to be a detailed tutorial on
instrumentation tagging, but these examples should give the
reader a taste of how instrumentation tagging works.
Line types and connectors
Process and utility piping. On P&IDs, pipes are typi-
cally depicted as lines. Line thickness, and occasionally
line color, is used to indicate whether the piping is for a
primary fow path or a secondary connection (Figure 10).
Flow direction is usually indicated by arrows, and pipe size
is often shown either in piping tags or small labels. Piping
on a P&ID may also have three-character abbreviations
inserted at regular intervals on the drawing to indicate what
the pipe is carrying.
In some parts of the CPI, piping tags are placed along
the pipes to convey additional information about the piping,
such as its service, size, piping material, wall thickness, and
other physical characteristics. These tags usually consist
of various alphanumeric fragments separated by dashes.
For example, the piping tag 18-PG-60456-D2A-P1 may
be interpreted as 18 = pipe diameter (in.), PG = process
gas, 60 = gas subsystem identifer, 456 = line identifer,
D2A = the piping specifcation code, P = class P poly-
ethylene insulation, and 1 = insulation thickness (in.).
The meanings of these codes would be described in other
specifcation documents associated with the plant. Piping
tags are usually industry- and site-specifc.
Lines on P&IDs are not necessarily confned to just
pipes. Special line styles may be used to represent other con-
veying means, such as open channels, ducting, long convey-
ors, and permanently attached hoses.
Instrumentation and control signals. Other special line
types, such as those in Figure 11, are used for instrumenta-
tion and control signals. On a well-drawn P&ID, the types
of instrumentation and control signals will be clearly shown
and defned in a corresponding set of standardized legend
drawings. Modern control systems often include a com-
bination of electrical, pneumatic, and various other types
of industrial network communications, which must all be
clearly defned in order to avoid compatibility problems.
Off-sheet connectors. The last major component of
P&IDs is the off-sheet connector. Off-sheet connectors link
piping from one drawing to another. An example is shown
in Figure 12. Through the use of off-sheet connectors, large
processes can be divided into several separate P&IDs and
p Figure 10. Line thickness and alphabetic coding denote piping size
and service.
p Figure 11. Special line types denote instrumentation and control signals.
p Figure 12. Through the use of off-sheet connectors, large processes can
be divided into several separate P&IDs.
Electrical Control Signal
Pneumatic Signal
Software/Bus Signal
Capillary Tubing
Guided Wave Signal
Unguided Wave Signal
Mechanical Link
Mixing Box No. 6
Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
44 www.aiche.org/cep October 2012 CEP
Back to Basics
utility connections to the processes can be shown. Off-
sheet connectors are small, open, rectangular block arrows
that typically contain text indicating the drawing that they
link to plus a unique identifer to indicate their correspond-
ing process connection on the other drawing. The unique
identifer is usually a piping tag and process label for the
fow path involved.
Using and maintaining drawing standards
It is important for every organization to establish good
tagging, symbology, and drafting standards. Standards can
take many forms. These can include referencing external
standards documents, developing sets of typical draw-
ings (i.e., typicals), creating a set of standardized legend
drawings, or developing written specifcations. Often a
combination works best. Only by laying down clear stan-
dards across the organization, and by making the standards
available to all members of the project team, can the com-
munication benefts of P&IDs, BFDs, and PFDs be fully
realized.
Software for drawing P&IDs
Today, P&IDs and PFDs are almost exclusively drawn
with the help of CAD software. Such software can range
from a simple 2-dimensional drawing tool to a fully inte-
grated 3D plant design suite. Most 2D drawing software
has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive and fairly
easy to use. Many packages also have libraries of reusable
drawing blocks that greatly reduce drafting time. In addi-
tion, industry-standard commercially available drawing fle
formats now make exchanging 2D drawing fles a relatively
routine undertaking.
For larger process design projects or for designing entire
plants, more-sophisticated drawing tools are often worth
the investment. With these advanced tools, symbols on the
P&ID can be assigned attributes and equipment and piping
can be entered into a live database in the plant design soft-
ware package. This database can then be used to generate a
bill of materials, create instrument data sheets, assist with
3D pipe routing, and automatically create instrument loop
drawings. Sophisticated plant design tools often have macros
that automatically check for common design mistakes. The
power and fexibility of these advanced software design
tools continue to increase.
P&IDs as living documents
In order for P&IDs to be truly useful tools, it is impera-
tive that they be kept up to date. Every time a plants
equipment is modifed, whether during a planned upgrade
or as a result of maintenance or operations activities, the
corresponding P&IDs must also be reviewed and modifed
accordingly. Out-of-date P&IDs can lead to miscommuni-
cations, operational mistakes, and even accidents, as proj-
ect personnel may be misled as to how a plant functions.
To be effective communication tools and viable resources,
P&IDs must always be kept updated to refect the plants
current state.
Good drawings encourage good communication
BFDs, PFDs, and P&IDs are powerful tools that are
used throughout the lifecycle of a plant. From designers
and construction personnel to operations and maintenance
staff, these drawings are vital communication tools that
help every team member understand what a plant does
and how it does it. P&IDs are also a key component in the
larger group of engineering specifcations and drawings
that are used to design, build, operate, and maintain plants.
By keeping the project team and its many diverse mem-
bers in mind, todays process designer and instrumentation
specialist can create a valuable coordinating document for
the entire plant.
Additional Reading
Construction Industries Institute, Piping and Instrumentation Dia-
gram Documentation Criteria, Process Industry Practices (PIP)
PIC001, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (2008).
International Society of Automation, Instrumentation Symbols
and Identifcation, ANSI/ISA-5.1-2009, ISA, Research Triangle
Park, NC (2009).
McAvinew, T., and R. Mulley, Control System Documentation.
Applying Symbols and Identifcation, 2nd ed., ISA, Research
Triangle Park, NC (2004).
Meier, F., and C. Meier, A Standard P&ID, Elusive as the Scarlet
Pimpernel, presented at ISA TECH 1999, ISA, Research Tri-
angle Park, NC (Oct. 57, 1999).
GRAHAM NASBY, P.E., PMP, (Phone: (519) 763-7774; Email: graham.nasby@
eramosa.com) is a senior member of the International Society of Auto-
mation (ISA) and a licensed professional engineer who has worked in
various industries, ranging from IT and software development to phar-
maceuticals and semiconductor manufacturing. He currently designs
automated control and monitoring systems for the municipal water and
wastewater sector at Eramosa Engineering, Inc. He is also a contribut-
ing member of the ISA18 Alarm Management standards committee,
and director-elect of the ISAs Water/Wastewater Industry Division. In
2011, he was named among Control Engineering magazines Leaders
Under 40, Class of 2011 award winners, and he received the ISAs Keith
Otto Award for best article of the year in InTech magazine for his article
entitled SCADA Standardization.
Acknowledgments
The author thanks Associated Engineering for its assistance with the gures.
He also thanks Joseph S. Alford and Thomas C. McAvinew for their assistance
with reviewing and revising the draft manuscript.
CEP
Copyright 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)