American Petroleum Institute

Safe Hot Tapping Practices in the Petroleum & Petrochemical Industries - Fifth Edition
 N RP 2201

Annotation

Hot tapping is the technique of attaching a welded branch fitting to piping or equipment in service, and then creating an opening in that piping or equipment by drilling or cutting a portion of the piping or equipment within the attached fitting. (In certain specific situations a bolted or mechanical fitting may be used. This approach is not common practice in oil processing and petrochemical facilities and this document does not address any considerations unique to "hot tapping without welding".) Hot tapping is usually performed when it is not feasible, or is impractical, to take the equipment or piping out of service, or to purge or clean it by conventional methods. With proper review to determine that a hot tap is appropriate, and development and conformance to job-specific procedures, many hot tap connections have been safely made without interfering with the process operation.

This publication covers the safety aspects to be considered before and during hot tapping on in-service piping or equipment. It provides:

• aids to recognize, review, and address safety concerns;

• a review of potential hot tapping concerns based on industry experience;

• guidance on planning hot taps;

• application of "hazard versus risk" concepts applied to hot tapping;

• elements to consider during the hot tap process from job analysis through completion;

• suggestions on "what to do if things go wrong."

This publication is not: