Engineering Practices

Refinery and process-plant engineering practices organized into 15 discipline sections. Each document is sourced from the IPE Engineering Practices master set and available as a downloadable PDF or Word original.

Section 1 — Index and UseNumerical index, referenced source addresses, and guidance on how the IPE Engineering Practices are organized, revised, and deviated from.
Section 2 — Documentation RequirementsFormat guidelines, CAD drawing requirements, plant manuals, and documentation tables for engineering deliverables.
Section 3 — Process Safety & Loss PreventionPlant layout, emergency isolation, firewater and foam systems, pressure relieving systems, and protective instrumentation.
Section 4 — Structures and FoundationsDesign criteria and loads, foundations for equipment and tanks, concrete and structural steel, and fencing.
Section 5 — PipingGeneral piping design, layout, stress analysis, supports, material classes, fabrication, testing, and insulation.
Section 6 — Rotating EquipmentPumps, compressors, steam turbines, gearboxes, drivers, lube oil systems, seals, and mechanical auxiliaries.
Section 7 — Pressure VesselsDesign, fabrication, materials, nozzles, internals, inspection, and nameplate requirements for unfired pressure vessels.
Section 8 — Heat Transfer EquipmentShell-and-tube, air-cooled, and special-service heat exchangers plus fired heaters and waste-heat boilers.
Section 9 — Storage TanksAtmospheric and low-pressure storage tank design, accessories, venting, foundations, and in-service inspection.
Section 10 — Material RequirementsMaterial selection, sour service, low-temperature requirements, welding, positive material identification, and specialty alloys.
Section 11 — Refractory, Insulation & FireproofingRefractory specifications for fired equipment, thermal and acoustic insulation, and structural fireproofing.
Section 12 — Instruments and ControlsField instrumentation, control valves, analyzers, DCS/SIS, alarms, and safety instrumented functions.
Section 13 — ElectricalArea classification, power distribution, motors, grounding, lighting, cable, and electrical equipment protection.
Section 14 — Equipment Protection & Package UnitsProtective coatings, cathodic protection, and engineering requirements for vendor package units.
Section 15 — InspectionIn-service inspection programs, NDE, fixed equipment, piping, tanks, and recordkeeping.

© 2026 Inflection Point Engineering, LLC. All rights reserved. The content of this page — including calculation methods, reference data, written analysis, interactive tools, and source code — is the intellectual property of Inflection Point Engineering, LLC and is protected under applicable copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, modification, or derivative use in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written consent.

Disclaimer. This material is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Calculations, reference data, and methodologies are based on published standards and accepted engineering practice but are not a substitute for engineering judgment, site-specific analysis, or review by a licensed Professional Engineer. Inflection Point Engineering, LLC makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for a particular purpose of any content presented here, and shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from its use. Users assume all risk associated with applying this content to real-world design, operations, or decisions.