Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) teaches how to read and interpret engineering schematics, showing piping, equipment, instruments, and control systems for process industries.
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Intermediate
116 Students 
8 hours, 26 minutes 
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Master P&ID diagrams and gain the skills to confidently interpret engineering drawings used across modern industries. This course introduces piping systems, instrumentation basics, and essential instrument symbols, helping learners understand how equipment, pipelines, and control devices work together in plant design and process engineering.
Build a strong foundation in process control through practical lessons covering control theory, Basic Process Control Systems (BPCS), Advanced Process Control, and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS). Learn how industrial piping networks operate while exploring designation codes, alarms, interlocks, and real-world applications used in mechanical engineering projects.
Strengthen your expertise with hands-on practice reading P&ID diagrams and solving real-world examples. By the end of the course, you'll confidently analyze engineering drawings, identify instrument symbols, understand piping systems, and apply process engineering and process control concepts to support efficient plant design and industrial piping operations.
Learners complete an assignment designed to evaluate their understanding of the course content. The assignment is reviewed by qualified tutors who provide personalised feedback, allowing learners to demonstrate their applied knowledge and skills.
After completing the Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams P&IDs course assessment, you will be eligible to receive a CPD-accredited certificate worth £9 from One Education to demonstrate your achievement.
The certificate is also available as a printed hard copy delivered by post for £15.
Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) provides learners with the knowledge to interpret and analyse technical drawings used in industrial processes. This course develops an understanding of piping systems, instrumentation symbols, and process flow essential for engineering and maintenance roles.
Studying Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) strengthens technical skills and improves confidence in reading complex engineering documentation. The course supports career development in industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, and process engineering by enhancing practical workplace knowledge.
The Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) course has a total study time of 8 hours, 26 minutes. This comprehensive programme is designed for flexible learning, allowing learners to progress at their own pace while developing the skills to read and interpret piping and instrumentation diagrams, understand process equipment, instrumentation symbols, control systems, and industrial plant documentation.
The Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) course requirements are simple and suitable for beginners. Learners should have basic engineering or industrial process knowledge, an interest in plant operations, and a willingness to understand technical diagrams. Access to an internet-enabled device and commitment to practical learning are recommended for effective course completion.
This course teaches how to read, interpret, and understand Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), including piping systems, process equipment, instrumentation symbols, control loops, valves, and industrial process flow.
No. It is suitable for beginners, although a basic understanding of engineering or industrial processes is helpful.
The course is delivered online, allowing you to learn at your own pace.
Yes. Practical P&ID interpretation exercises, symbol identification activities, and quizzes may be included to reinforce learning.
You will receive a certificate of completion after successfully finishing the course.
This course supports careers in process engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, instrumentation and control, plant operations, maintenance engineering, and industrial engineering.
| INTRODUCTION | |||
| Introduction | 00:04:00 | ||
| ABOUT P&ID's | |||
| What’s a P&ID ? | 00:03:00 | ||
| Why is a P&ID so important ? | 00:02:00 | ||
| Who uses P&ID’s ? | 00:06:00 | ||
| How do P&ID’s look like ? | 00:08:00 | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO P&ID READING | |||
| Introduction- PID READING | 00:02:00 | ||
| Anatomy of a P&ID | 00:01:00 | ||
| The title block | 00:03:00 | ||
| The drawing scale | 00:03:00 | ||
| The grid system | 00:02:00 | ||
| The revision block | 00:03:00 | ||
| Changes | 00:02:00 | ||
| Notes and legends | 00:03:00 | ||
| BASIC P&ID SYMBOLS | |||
| Valve symbols | 00:14:00 | ||
| Valve actuator symbols | 00:09:00 | ||
| Control valve designations | 00:02:00 | ||
| Standards and conventions for valve status | 00:07:00 | ||
| Process equipment symbols | 00:12:00 | ||
| Piping symbols | 00:03:00 | ||
| Pipe fitting symbols | 00:03:00 | ||
| Isolating, venting & draining symbols for ease of maintenance | 00:05:00 | ||
| Instrumentation | 00:03:00 | ||
| Sensing devices and detectors | 00:04:00 | ||
| Location symbols | 00:04:00 | ||
| Modifiers and transmitters | 00:05:00 | ||
| Indicators and recorders | 00:03:00 | ||
| Controllers | 00:03:00 | ||
| LET'S GET SOME PRACTICE : BASIC P&ID SYMBOLS | |||
| Example #1 : Identifying process equipment and flow paths | 00:05:00 | ||
| Example #2 : Identifying valve position and failure mode | 00:03:00 | ||
| Example #3 : Identifying the symbols | 00:02:00 | ||
| P&ID DESIGNATION CODES | |||
| Piping designation code | 00:06:00 | ||
| Equipment designation code | 00:03:00 | ||
| Instrument designation code | 00:02:00 | ||
| Miscellaneous designation codes | 00:02:00 | ||
| THE IMPORTANCE OF PROCESS CONTROL | |||
| The process | 00:01:00 | ||
| Process control | 00:06:00 | ||
| CONTROL THEORY BASICS | |||
| The control loop | 00:02:00 | ||
| Process control terms | 00:10:00 | ||
| BASIC PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS (BPCS) | |||
| Control loops : Feedback control | 00:02:00 | ||
| Pressure control loops | 00:01:00 | ||
| Flow control loops | 00:01:00 | ||
| Level control loops | 00:01:00 | ||
| Temperature control loops | 00:01:00 | ||
| Multi-variable loops | 00:02:00 | ||
| Feedforward control | 00:02:00 | ||
| Feedforward + Feedback | 00:01:00 | ||
| Cascade control | 00:08:00 | ||
| Split range control | 00:03:00 | ||
| Operations on control signals | 00:02:00 | ||
| Ratio control | 00:02:00 | ||
| Batch control | 00:01:00 | ||
| Selective control | 00:01:00 | ||
| ADVANCED PROCESS CONTROL | |||
| Do we need to control at all ? | 00:01:00 | ||
| Principles of equipment-wise control | 00:10:00 | ||
| Pipe control system | 00:02:00 | ||
| Control of a single pipe | 00:02:00 | ||
| Control of pressure in a pipe | 00:03:00 | ||
| Control of flow in a pipe | 00:04:00 | ||
| Flow merging | 00:08:00 | ||
| Flow splitting | 00:05:00 | ||
| Centrifugal pump control | 00:04:00 | ||
| Control valve vs Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) for centrifugal pumps | 00:03:00 | ||
| Minimum flow control for centrifugal pumps | 00:09:00 | ||
| Positive displacement pump control | 00:02:00 | ||
| Control by a recirculation pipe for PD pumps | 00:03:00 | ||
| Variable Speed Drive (VSD) control for PD pumps | 00:01:00 | ||
| Control by stroke adjustment for PD pumps | 00:01:00 | ||
| Compressor control system | 00:02:00 | ||
| Compressor capacity control | 00:12:00 | ||
| Compressor anti-surge control | 00:03:00 | ||
| Heat transfer equipment control | 00:02:00 | ||
| Heat exchanger direct control system | 00:04:00 | ||
| Heat exchanger bypass control system | 00:04:00 | ||
| Reactor temperature control | 00:06:00 | ||
| Air cooler control | 00:02:00 | ||
| Heat exchanger for heat recovery | 00:01:00 | ||
| Heat exchanger back pressure control | 00:02:00 | ||
| Basic fired heater control | 00:08:00 | ||
| Complex fired heater control | 00:05:00 | ||
| Container and vessel control | 00:07:00 | ||
| Container blanket gas control | 00:02:00 | ||
| SAFETY INSTRUMENTED SYSTEMS (SIS), INTERLOCKS AND ALARMS | |||
| Safety strategies | 00:01:00 | ||
| Concept of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) | 00:01:00 | ||
| SIS actions and types | 00:14:00 | ||
| SIS extent | 00:02:00 | ||
| SIS requirement | 00:03:00 | ||
| Anatomy of a SIS | 00:02:00 | ||
| SIS element symbols | 00:01:00 | ||
| SIS primary elements : Sensors | 00:03:00 | ||
| SIS final elements | 00:04:00 | ||
| Switching valve actuator arrangements | 00:02:00 | ||
| Valve position validation | 00:02:00 | ||
| Merging a switching valve and a control valve | 00:03:00 | ||
| SIS logics | 00:01:00 | ||
| Showing safety instrumented functions on P&ID’s | 00:07:00 | ||
| Discrete control | 00:05:00 | ||
| Alarm system | 00:02:00 | ||
| Anatomy of alarm systems | 00:02:00 | ||
| Alarm requirements | 00:06:00 | ||
| Alarm system symbology in P&ID’s | 00:06:00 | ||
| Concept of common alarms | 00:01:00 | ||
| Fire and Gas Detection Systems (FGS) | 00:03:00 | ||
| Electric motor control | 00:07:00 | ||
| P&ID representation of commands and responses | 00:05:00 | ||
| P&ID representation of inspection and repair | 00:05:00 | ||
| P&ID example of electro-motor control | 00:04:00 | ||
| P&ID EXAMPLES : LET’S GET SOME PRACTICE | |||
| P&ID example #1 : Legend and specifications | 00:05:00 | ||
| P&ID example #2 : Hydrogen delivery station | 00:16:00 | ||
| P&ID example #3 : Acid system | 00:13:00 | ||
| P&ID example #4 : Centrifugal pump | 00:09:00 | ||
| P&ID example #5 : Utility station | 00:04:00 | ||
| P&ID example #6 : Waste water filter | 00:08:00 | ||
| P&ID example #7 : Steam separator | 00:15:00 | ||
| P&ID example #8 : Flare knock-out drum | 00:14:00 | ||
| P&ID example #9 : Centrifugal compressor | 00:05:00 | ||
| P&ID example #10 : Hydrogen production from shale gas | 00:11:00 | ||
| P&ID example #11 : Fired heater | 00:07:00 | ||
| Resources | |||
| Resources – Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams P&IDs | 00:00:00 | ||
| Assignment | |||
| Assignment – Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams P&IDs | 00:00:00 | ||
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