NORTH ARROW
What is a North Arrow?
A North Arrow is a graphical symbol placed on layout drawings to
indicate the direction of north relative to the drawing sheet. It helps
users understand the orientation of equipment, piping, buildings, and
other facilities with respect to the plant site or geographic location.
Types of North in Engineering Drawings
Purpose and Importance of North Arrow in
Piping Engineering
Standard Orientation
• Ensures that all engineering disciplines (piping, civil, electrical, etc.) work from the same
spatial reference.
Consistency Across Drawings
• Layout drawings such as plot plans, equipment layouts, and piping layouts must align with a
common directional reference.
Field Construction Accuracy
• Helps construction teams orient themselves on site and accurately position equipment and
pipelines.
Coordination in 3D Modeling
• Aligns 3D plant models with the physical site during walk-throughs, reviews, and clash
detection.
Navigation and Safety
• Supports route planning, emergency escape path layout, and operator access in large
facilities.
Where Is the North Arrow Used?
Where Is the North Arrow Used?
North arrows appear on many engineering documents, including:
• Plot Plans
• Equipment Layout Drawings
• Piping General Arrangement Drawings
• Civil Site Plans
• Underground and Utility Layouts
• 3D Model Views and Snapshots
Representation of North Arrow
Representation of North Arrow
• The arrow is typically shown as a triangle or line with an 'N' at the
tip.
• It is placed consistently in a corner or edge of the drawing.
• A label (e.g., "Plant North", "True North") may be added for clarity.
How Plant North is Defined
How Plant North is Defined
• Chosen early in the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stage.
• Often aligned with pipe racks, access roads, or main equipment
orientation.
• Becomes the primary reference for all 2D and 3D design documents.
• May differ from true north due to terrain, process flow, or structural
alignment.
Best Practices for Using North Arrow
Common Errors to Avoid
Common Errors to Avoid
• Using different north references in various disciplines without
coordination
• Omitting the north arrow entirely on layout drawings
• Rotating drawings without adjusting or relabeling the north arrow
• Misinterpreting true north for plant north, leading to wrong
equipment placement