D,vg Average diameter of all pipes greater than 6 in. (0.

15 m) plus the average

diameter of the four largest pipes (ft).
D Diameter of the largest pipe (ft).
H Distance from the bottom level to the top level of the pipe rack (ft).
L Pipe rack bent spacing (ft). Desi
m A factor to account for shielding, varying from 1.0 for one pipe to 3.3 for praC1
12 pipes or more. 1
n A shielding factor for cable trays varying depending on the ratio oftray
height to spacing between the adjacent trays. Ranging from 0 to 0.5.
N Number of cable trays.
qz Velocity Pressure (pst)
SM A factor to account for shielding, varying from 1.0 for one pipe to 4.5 for
12 pipes or more. 2
W Width of pipe rack (ft).
3
2.3 OPEN FRAME STRUCTURES

The design practices divide their evaluation of open frame structures into three
general areas:

• Equipment 4
• Structural framing
5/6
• Piping & misc. attachments (ladders, handrail etc.)

Generally, the wind load on the structure and equipment supported by the
structure are considered separately. No shielding effect between equipment or 7
between structure and equipment is considered. However, several practices place an
upper bound on the total wind load on the structure and therefore indirectly reflect
shielding.

Wind loads on equipment are computed either from principles of ASCE 7 or as

described in the following section on pressure vessels. Additionally, other than what
was discussed in the previous section on pipe racks the differences between how the 8
different practices handled piping and miscellaneous attachments in open frame 9
structures was minor. Therefore, this section concentrates on the differences on how
the structural framing is evaluated in the various design practices. Table 2.2 presents
the survey results.
10/11

In the case of flexible structures, the procedure given in the commentary section 12
C6.6 of ASCE 7-88 is generally, with one exception, recommended by each standard.
13

24