7.3 Pipeline above Ground
7.3.1 Arrangement of pipeline above ground shall meet the following requirements:
1 Arrangement of pipeline，ancillary facility of pipeline，pipeline support（buttress），and support（buttress）foundation shall not affect the transportation and fire fighting safety.
2 They shall not surround the process equipment，independent buildings，structures and other facilities.
3 Pipelines，ancillary facilities of pipeline，and pipeline supports should not affect the natural lighting and ventilation of the buildings.
4 Category A/B/C liquid pipe and fuel gas pipe shall not pass through the buildings，production equipment and storage tank areas which have nothing to do with the pipe in terms of the production connection.
5 Category A/B/C liquid pipe and fuel gas pipe shall not be laid in the area of storage yard and warehouse containg inflammable and explosive materials，and shall be kept away from the highly corrosive production，storage and handling facilities.
6 The overhead electric power lines must not cross over the explosive gas environment and fire hazard area.They shall not cross over the area of warehouse containing inflammable and explosive materials.
7.3.2 Pipelines laid on the ground shall meet the following requirements:
1 They shall be arranged in the area close to boundary of the plant where the transportation is not affected and the people flow is small，and the arrangement shall avoid such a situation as to divide the plant area.
2 When the pipelines are arranged along the mountain slope or side slope with big elevation difference，they shall not affect the side slope stability and shall avoid water scouring.
3 They shall not be arranged in the area where the underground pipelines are already laid.
7.3.3 Pipelines laid along and supported by the walls of buildings and structures shall meet the following requirements:
1 The small-diameter pipes and the lighting，telecommunication，LV electrical cable conduits may be laid along and supported by the wall of the buildings/structures which poses no corrosion and flammable threats to the pipe/conduits，however apart from the area in the wall where the door and windows are located.
2 The pipes which may cause fire or have corrosive or toxic media inside shall not be laid along and supported by the wall of buildings/structures，except for the buildings/structure in which the said pipes are used.
3 When laid along the retaining wall and pitched side slope，the pipelines shall not affect the stability of the retaining wall and side slope.
7.3.4 The pipe gallery（support）should be arranged on one side of the road，and efforts shall be made to avoid diverting the pipe gallery（support）from one side to the other of the road.
7.3.5 When the cable is laid along the pipes conveying the inflammable gas，it shall be arranged at such a side as is relatively safer.If the inflammable gas is heavier than the air，the cable should be above the pipe，and otherwise，the cable should be below the pipe.When the instrument cable and electrical cable are laid next to the pipes conveying inflammable gas，the horizontal clearance between the cable and pipe shall not be less than 1.0 m；when the instrument/electrical cable is laid below the pipe，the vertical clearance at the crossing point shall not be less than 0.5m.
7.3.6 The minimum horizontal clearance between overhead pipelines and buildings/structures shall be in accordance with those specified in Table 7.3.6 and the following requirements:
1 In general，the minimum horizontal clearance between the overhead gas/natural gas pipe and the buildings shall be 5.0m，and in case of difficulty 3.0m is acceptable.
2 The minimum horizontal clearance between the overhead gas/natural gas pipe and the edge of curbstone or shoulder of the road shall be 1.5m，and in case of difficulty 0.5m is acceptable.
3 As for the minimum horizontal clearance between overhead gas/natural gas pipe and the outside most conductor line of overhead electric power lines under the max.calculated wind swinging condition，it shall be 1.5m if the voltage is lower than 1kV，3.0m if the voltage in the range of 1kV-30kV，and 4.0m if the voltage in the range of 35kV-110kV.
4 When the shop buildings are of fire ratingⅠandⅡ，the oxygen/acetylene pipe in connection with the production and service of the shop may be laid along exterior wall or on roof of the shop.
5 The minimum horizontal clearance between road lighting poles and edge of the pavement of the road may be 0.5m.
Table 7.3.6 Minimum horizontal clearance between overhead pipeline and buildings/structures（m）
Table 7.3.6（Continued）
Table 7.3.6（Continued）
Note:Unless otherwise indicated，the values in the table refer to the clearances counted from the most protruding part of exterior wall if overhead pipe and building are concerned；or from the outside most conductor line under the max.calculated wind swinging condition if the electric power/communication lines are concerned；or from the outside edge of foundation of electric power transmission poles when it comes to the clearance between the electric power/communication lines and the road，sidewalk and enclosure wall of plant area.
7.3.7 The minimum horizontal clearance between refused ore/dressed ore pipes（tanks）and buildings/structures shall not be less than those specified in Table 7.3.7.The horizontal clearance between refused ore/dressed ore pipes and centerline of narrow-gauge railway on which wagon shunting may take place shall be properly increased based upon the values listed in the table.
Table 7.3.7 Minimum horizontal clearance between refused ore/fressed ore pipes（tanks）and buildings/structures（m）
Note:The horizontal clearance shown in the table is counted from outer wall of refused ore/dressed ore pipes（tanks）.
7.3.8 The minimum vertical clearance between overhead pipelines and railways/roads shall not be less than those specified in Table 7.3.8.
Table 7.3.8 Minimum vertical clearance between overhead pipelines and tailways/toads（m）
Notes:1 The vertical clearance listed in the table is counted from the lowest part of the pipe or pipe support if overhead pipelines are concerned；or from the max.calculated sagging of conductor line if overhead communication lines are concerned.
2 This table doesn't cover electric traction railways.
7.3.9 The minimum vertical clearance from overhead electric power lines to ground or to intersected facilities shall comply with the following requirements:
1 It shall not be less than those specified in Table 7.3.9.
2 The minimum vertical clearance between overhead electric power lines and overhead gas pipes shall be 3.0m if the voltage is less than 1kV，and 3.5m if the voltage is in the range of 1kV-30kV，and 4.0m if the voltage is in the range of 35kV-110kV.
Table 7.3.9 Minimum bertical vlearance from overhead rlectric power lines to hround or to intersected facilities（m）
Table 7.3.9（Continued）
Note:The vertical clearance listed in the table is counted from the max.calculated sagging of the conductor line.
7.3.10 Insulation measures shall be taken for the fuel gas pipes that cross over the transportation lines where hot metal ladle cars or other wagons containing red-hot materials may constantly stay.