Maintenance and Engineering

P&ID Reading and Interpretation

Piping and instrumentation diagrams are the language of process plants. This course teaches how to read and interpret P&IDs: symbols and standards, lines, valves and equipment, instrumentation and control loops, interlocks, tagging conventions and using P&IDs for operations, maintenance, isolation and safety studies.

5 days Classroom or live online English

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Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Misreading P&IDs leads to errors in maintenance and isolation. You will learn to read them accurately and confidently.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Drawing exercises with real P&IDs, symbol quizzes, isolation planning tasks and case studies.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Recognise standard P&ID symbols
Trace process lines and equipment
Interpret instrumentation and control loops
Understand interlocks and safety systems
Use tagging conventions
Apply P&IDs to isolation and maintenance planning

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Operators and technicians
Maintenance planners
Process and instrument engineers
Safety professionals
New engineers

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Symbol recognition
Drawing interpretation
Control loop understanding
Isolation planning
Documentation

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1P&ID Basics

09:00–10:08Purpose of P&IDs
10:08–11:00Standards
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Standards (continued)
11:45–12:53Drawing layout
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Equipment and Lines

09:00–10:08Equipment symbols
10:08–11:00Line numbering
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Line numbering (continued)
11:45–12:53Valves
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 3Instrumentation

09:00–10:08Instrument symbols
10:08–11:00Control loops
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Control loops (continued)
11:45–12:53Tagging
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 4Safety Systems

09:00–10:08Interlocks
10:08–11:00Relief devices
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Relief devices (continued)
11:45–12:53Shutdown systems
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 5Applications

09:00–10:08Isolation planning
10:08–11:00Maintenance use
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Maintenance use (continued)
11:45–12:53Keeping drawings current
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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