Don’t Forget About Your Spring Supports

Introduction

A spring support is a critical and functional component of piping systems in a processing facility. Spring supports are specially designed and installed to not only bear the load, but also may account for any piping movement. The presence of a spring support in a piping system indicates that the piping is expected to move and that movement must be controlled within a certain limit. Although the health of piping and piping supports is critical to processing facilities, there are very few facilities where a documented inspection program exists for spring supports.

Sites lacking an inspection plan for spring supports should first identify and document all spring supports at the facility. This list should contain...