I. Common Requirements for Floor Area

The floor area of equipment is determined based on process layout, operating space, maintenance space, and fire safety distances.

1. Floor Area of the Equipment Itself

The floor area of equipment is generally calculated as the external dimensions of the equipment + operating space on both sides + maintenance space at the front and rear.

Common standards:

Small equipment (such as laboratory evaporators, small reactors)

At least 0.8–1.0 m of operating/maintenance space should be left around.

Medium-sized industrial equipment (10–50 m² evaporators, medium conveyors)

At least 1.0–1.2 m should be left on both sides, and more than 1.5 m of maintenance space should be left at the front end.

Large equipment (MVR, multi-effect evaporation, large processing equipment)

Main passages should be 1.2–1.5 m, and secondary passages 0.8–1.0 m.

2. Floor Area for Process Supporting Equipment

Low-temperature evaporation systems need to be equipped with storage tanks, pumps, condensers, vacuum systems, control cabinets, etc., which usually account for ≥ 1.5–2 times the floor area of the equipment itself.

3. Requirements for Passages and Fire Protection

The width of the main passage must not be less than 1.2 m.

A maintenance distance of 0.5–0.8 m must be left between the equipment and the wall.

Flammable and explosive places must meet the clear distance specified in fire protection regulations (usually 1–3 m).

4. Common Empirical Values in Actual Engineering

Small single-machine equipment: floor area is approximately equipment size × 2.

Medium-sized complete systems: floor area is approximately equipment size × 3–4.

Large MVR/multi-effect systems: floor area is approximately equipment size × 5 or more (including pump rooms, vacuum stations, CIP, and electrical control rooms).

II. Common Requirements for Installation Height

The installation height is mainly limited by equipment height, hoisting, maintenance, pipeline slope, and headroom requirements.

1. Clear Height of Equipment (without affecting the equipment structure)

Common industrial headroom requirements:

Minimum clear height from the ground to the bottom of the beam: ≥ 2.8 m.

Conventional floor height of industrial plants: 4.5–6 m.

Equipment requiring hoisting (evaporators, large heat exchangers):

The clear height at the bottom of the beam must be ≥ hoisting height + 0.5 m.

2. Equipment Installation Height (for operation and maintenance)

Pump installation height should be 0.1–0.3 m above the ground to prevent flooding and Foundation water accumulation.

Evaporators, reaction kettles, etc., need to have maintenance openings on the top:

Generally, a vertical space of 1.8–2.2 m should be left above the top.

Large equipment (such as MVR compressors)

The upper part needs to have equipment height + 0.5 m for easy maintenance.

3. Requirements for Pipeline Height

A space of ≥ 0.2 m for insulation and installation must be left between vertical pipelines and beams or columns.

Steam pipes and vacuum pipes of low-temperature evaporation systems need to have slopes to facilitate drainage and exhaust, which will affect the top space.

4. Height Requirements for Special Equipment

Gantry machining centers, vertical machining centers, etc.

The total height is usually 3–5 m, and the floor height of the plant must be confirmed in advance.

Garment equipment, cutting machines, printing machines

The total height is generally 1.8–2.5 m, and space for lighting, smoke exhaust, and rails must be left on the top.

Conveyors, conveyor lines

The total height is reserved according to 2.5–3.5 m, depending on the conveying height.

5. Common Empirical Values in Engineering

Reserved total height of equipment: actual height of equipment + 0.8–1.2 m.

Equipment requiring hoisting: clear height at the bottom of the beam ≥ maximum height of equipment + 1 m.

Equipment requiring maintenance on the top of the tower: headroom ≥ 2 m.