How to Measure Slope in Purified Water Generation and Distribution System| Slope Verification|Water System Qualification

 

Slope Measurements of Purified Water Distribution System Tool Requirement:

1.     Slope measurement shall be made with a digital level or a digital protractor. The instrument used should be capable of displaying slope in degrees, percent, and in./ft (mm/m).

2.     Slope measurements shall only be made under the following conditions:

a.      Before any insulation has been installed

b.      After hangers/pipe supports have been installed, adjusted, and fixed in-place

c.      Before the introduction of any fluids, such as liquid, Steam etc.)

3.     For piping or tubing systems, slope measurements shall be made at the following locations:

a.      Between hangers/pipe supports

b.      At each change in direction

c.      At any other location deemed necessary by the inspector, such as between welds or any apparent change in slope

4.     Slope should be measured only on runs that are approximately horizontal.

5.     Slope measurements may be made on either the top or bottom of the tubing/piping.

6.     For slope measurements made on skids or modules, ensure that the base is level in all directions. Then, make sure that all slope measurements are made relative to the base.

7.     Slope shall be verified after the fabricator has completed, or corrected, the piping installation, and set the slope.

Process Requirements:-

   1.     Product-contact lines should be sloped to minimize pooling of product in the system.

   2.     Lines that are steam-sterilized in-place should be sloped to facilitate gravity drainage of condensate. 

3.    Lines that are cleaned in-place should be sloped to facilitate gravity drainage of cleaning fluids.

                                                                        Acceptance Criteria

Unit of measurement	Ratio of slope to length	Minimum Slope (gradient)	Minimum Slope
	NMT	mm/meter	%
GSD2*	1:100	10	1.0

1.0 Calculating Slope Gradient    

      Example:

       Pipe Lenght :4054 mm Distance (X)     

       Fall of water column: 50 mm (Y) (From 1st to 2nd end towards flow)

Slope gradients are written as Y: X, where Y is the fall and X is the length of pipe. Both numbers must use the same units.

For instance, if pipe length between the points of measurement is 3970mm and fall is 40 mm, The slope would be 50:4054 or

=4054/50= 81.08, it can be designated as ‘1 in 81.08’ Gradient           = Fall/ Distance

= 50/4054  = 0.01233

 = 0.01233* 1000 = 12.33 in mm/m

 2.     Calculating Slope Ratio

 Slope Ratio     = 1 / 0.01233 = 81.10 = 1 in 81.10

 3.     Calculating Slope Percentage

From above example

              = 50 / 4054 *100 = 1.23%

 

Interpretation and conclusion on above example

 

Parameters of Measurement	Result	Acceptance Criteria	Conclusion
Gradient in mm/m	12.3	Not Less than 10	Passes
In Ratio (slope to length)	1 : 81.10	Not more than 1:100	Passes
In Percentage	1.23	Not Less than 1.0	Passes