An elevation drawing (also called a piping section or section view) is a scaled engineering drawing that shows the piping arrangement viewed from the side, front, or rear of a plant area. While piping plans show the horizontal layout from above, elevation drawings reveal the vertical arrangement; pipe elevations, clearances between tiers, vertical pipe runs, equipment nozzle heights, and platform levels. Together, piping plans and elevations provide the complete spatial picture of the piping system that the 3D model represents.
Types of Elevation Drawings
Type
Definition
When Used
Piping elevation (section)
A cut through the piping plan at a defined section line, showing the side view of pipes, equipment, and structures
Standard drawing type; accompanies every piping plan for areas with significant vertical complexity
Cross-section
A cut perpendicular to a pipe rack or structure, showing pipe arrangement on tiers and spacing between lines
Used for pipe racks, pipe bridges, and trench crossings to verify tier loading and spacing
Longitudinal section
A cut along the length of a pipe rack or trench
Shows pipe routing along the rack length; used to verify expansion loops and branch take-off elevations
Detail section
An enlarged section of a specific area (e.g., pump suction piping, column overhead piping)
Used where congestion requires larger-scale detail for construction clarity
Content of a Piping Elevation Drawing
Element
Description
Pipes
All pipelines shown with line designations; pipe centerline elevations noted
Equipment
Equipment outlines in elevation view with nozzle positions and tag numbers
Structures
Steel columns, beams, platforms, ladders, and handrails shown in section
Pipe supports
Support type and elevation (shoes, guides, anchors, spring hangers, trunnions)
Dimensions
Vertical dimensions: elevation of pipe centerlines, bottom of pipe, top of steel, platform levels
Clearances
Minimum clearances between pipes, between pipes and steel, and headroom under pipes
Grade level
Finished grade elevation shown as a reference datum
Section line reference
Reference to the piping plan showing where the section cut is taken
2.2 m (7.2 ft) clear below any pipe, support, or valve for walkways and access routes
Pipe-to-pipe clearance
25 mm (1 in.) minimum between insulated pipe surfaces; 50 mm (2 in.) preferred
Pipe-to-steel clearance
150 mm (6 in.) minimum between pipe surface and structural steel for clamp installation
Platform access
All valves and instruments requiring operator access must be reachable from a platform or grade; maximum handwheel height 1.8 m
Pipe rack tier spacing
Typically 300-600 mm (12-24 in.) between tier centerlines, depending on pipe sizes and insulation thickness
Vertical pipe runs
Supported at each platform level and at intervals per the pipe support span chart
Elevation drawings are extracted from the 3D model and issued alongside piping plans as part of the IFC (Issued for Construction) drawing package. They are verified during piping inspections and construction walkdowns to confirm that as-built elevations match the design.
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