Filled Pipe Support Load per Hanger
The load each pipe hanger carries: pipe, fluid, and insulation over its spacing.
Example
You enter
- Outside diameter (in) 4.5
- Wall thickness (in) 0.237
- Pipe density 490
- Fluid density 62.4
- Insulation density (lb/ft3) 6
- Hanger spacing (ft) 14
You get
- Filled weight per foot 16.32 lb/ft
- Load per hanger 228 lb
Checked against published worked examples from: Guenther Supply.
Details, formula, and sources
ScopeThe operating load each hanger carries: empty pipe + contained fluid + insulation weight per foot (from the cross-section and densities) times the hanger spacing (4 in Sch 40 water-filled at 14 ft -> 16.3 lb/ft, 228 lb/hanger). The MSS SP-58 operating support load that every hanger, rod, and attachment is then sized to. Pipe weight is computed from the entered OD, wall and steel density (no table is bundled), water at 62.4 lb/ft^3; concentrated loads (valves, flanges) are added separately.
Formula or tableempty_lbft = (pi/4)(OD^2 - ID^2)/144 x pipe_density; fluid_lbft = (pi/4)(ID^2)/144 x fluid_density; insul_lbft = (pi/4)((OD + 2 thk)^2 - OD^2)/144 x insul_density; filled = empty + fluid + insul; per_hanger = filled x spacing.
Source and editionFirst-principles cross-section x density; the MSS SP-58 operating support load the result feeds, by name. Not edition-bound.
Free accessThe support load is a pure cross-section-times-density buildup; the standard pipe weights and water density are public.
What governsEstimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
API field namesod_in, wall_in, pipe_density, fluid_density, insul_density, spacing_ft, filled_lbft, per_hanger_lb
- Pipe weight computed from the entered OD/wall and material density (steel 490, copper 558 lb/ft^3); nominal mill valuesfirst-principles / mill dimensions
- Water density contents taken at 62.4 lb/ft^3 unless a different fluid density is enteredfirst-principles
- Concentrated loads valves, flanges, and other point loads are added to the per-hanger load separatelyMSS SP-58