Structural Engineering for Pipe Racks

Structural Analysis

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FOR PIPE RACKS

Meca Enterprises provides structural engineering services for pipe racks used in industrial, process, and energy facilities. Whether your pipe rack is stick-built or modularized, at grade or elevated, we deliver code-compliant structural designs that ensure stability, serviceability, and constructability.

We support original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), skid builders, and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms with the pipe rack structural design analysis and documentation tailored to your rack geometry, piping layout, and site-specific loading conditions. Our services cover freestanding, portal, trestle, and multi-tier pipe rack systems. Calculation packages can be provided with or without a stamp by a Professional Engineer (PE) upon request.

Structural Engineering Services Include

Structural analysis of steel support frames and sub-structures per American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) or other applicable codes
Application of design loads including dead, live, wind, seismic, snow, ice, nozzle, and fan thrust effects per American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) or international standards
Member sizing and structural support evaluation for various fan configurations
Steel connection design of critical components
Anchor bolt and baseplate design for frame-to-foundation connection
Calculation of foundation reaction loads for integration into your concrete base design
Lifting lug and lifting frame/cradle design and stress evaluation including impact loads
Transportation analysis for shipping orientation
Evaluation of blade pass frequency from fan operation and resonance with cooler natural frequency
Box header finite element analysis (FEA) verification and connection to side frame

Types of Pipe Rack Configurations We Support

Modular pipe racks (skid-mounted or transportable)
Stick-built steel rack systems
Trestles, bents, and multilevel pipe bridges
Freestanding and braced portal frames
Integrated rack/skid hybrid designs

What You Receive

Structural calculation packages (PDF)
Optional PE stamp available upon request (additional fee may apply)
Framing layout review and optimization
Load summaries and clear modeling assumptions
Base reactions and anchorage guidance
Responsive engineering coordination throughout the project

Design Considerations We Address

Routing complexity and multi-tier layouts
Pipe thermal expansion and resulting frame stress
Equipment or valve loads mounted on racks
Cable trays, access platforms, and secondary steel
Uplift, drift, and allowable deflection limits
Modularization impacts on transport or lifting conditions (if applicable)
Integration with skids, modules, or adjacent structures

Related Services

Clients who request pipe rack design often also engage us for:

Need Structural Support for a Pipe Rack System?

We’ll help ensure your pipe racks are structurally sound, efficient to fabricate, and compliant with all relevant design codes.

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Explore how Meca Enterprises can elevate your engineering endeavors with cutting-edge software, expert consulting, and reliable solutions. From wind load calculations to stack design and more, our comprehensive services and products are tailored to meet your unique needs. Contact us to take the next step towards engineering excellence with Meca Enterprises!

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