AVEVA P&ID is one of the most widely used tools for creating, managing, and standardizing Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) in process industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, power, water, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage. From a user’s perspective, AVEVA P&ID is not just a drafting platform—it is a structured engineering environment where drawings, tags, line lists, instruments, and engineering data stay connected. This helps teams reduce errors, improve collaboration, and maintain consistent documentation through the entire project lifecycle.
This article explains AVEVA P&ID from a practical “user” viewpoint: what it is, how it works, what you do inside the software daily, and how to follow best practices for accurate, efficient P&ID development.
What Is a P&ID and Why It Matters?
A P&ID (Piping & Instrumentation Diagram) is a detailed schematic that represents process equipment, piping, valves, instruments, and control logic. It is used by multiple disciplines—process, piping, instrumentation, electrical, operations, maintenance, safety, and commissioning. A well-made P&ID is essential because it becomes a central reference for:
- Process design intent and flow logic
- Equipment and piping specifications
- Instrumentation and control philosophy
- Safety systems and interlocks
- Commissioning and operational procedures
- Maintenance planning and plant modifications (MOC)
Because so many downstream tasks depend on P&IDs, any mistake—incorrect tag, missing valve, wrong line number, mismatched spec, or outdated revision—can cause real cost and risk.
What Makes AVEVA P&ID Different from Normal CAD Drafting?
Traditional CAD drafting focuses on geometry (lines, shapes, text). AVEVA P&ID adds an engineering database behind the drawing. This means every symbol you place (pump, valve, transmitter, control valve, vessel, etc.) can carry structured data such as:
- Tag number
- Service and description
- Line number and spec
- Size, rating, and material class
- Instrument type, signal, loop details
- Equipment properties (capacity, design conditions, etc.)
- Relationships (what is connected to what)
For a user, the biggest advantage is that AVEVA P&ID User online training helps ensure drawings are data-accurate, consistent, and report-ready.
Key Concepts Every AVEVA P&ID User Should Know
1) Intelligent Objects and Tags
In AVEVA P&ID, equipment and instruments are not “just symbols.” They are intelligent objects linked to tag records. When you place a pump or transmitter, you can assign a tag like P-101 or PT-203 and store properties in a database. This supports uniqueness checks, reuse, and report extraction.
2) Engineering Data Consistency
Because the drawing is connected to a database, AVEVA P&ID can validate common errors such as duplicate tags, missing data fields, or incorrect connection logic. This reduces manual checking effort.
3) Line Connectivity
Lines in P&IDs represent process connections. AVEVA P&ID can maintain connectivity information—what equipment is upstream/downstream, what valves and instruments belong to a line, and where tie-ins or off-page connectors exist.
4) Catalogs and Symbol Libraries
Users work with predefined symbols, line styles, and tag formats. Standardization is essential: the tool supports company or project standards so all drawings follow a consistent look and data structure.
5) Reports and Lists
Because the data is structured, users can generate outputs like:
- Equipment list
- Valve list
- Instrument index
- Line list
- Tag register
- I/O list (depending on configuration)
This is a major benefit compared to manually maintaining Excel sheets.
6) Revision Control and Change Tracking
Projects require controlled revisions. AVEVA P&ID supports revision management and can help track what changed from one issue to another. This is critical for audits and handover documentation.
Typical Responsibilities
Typical responsibilities of an AVEVA P&ID User certification focus on developing, maintaining, and validating accurate Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams using the intelligent capabilities of AVEVA P&ID. The user is responsible for creating P&ID drawings based on approved templates and project standards, ensuring correct representation of process equipment, piping, valves, and instrumentation. This includes assigning and managing tags for equipment, lines, and instruments, and accurately populating associated properties such as size, specification, service, and control details. An AVEVA P&ID user must maintain proper line connectivity, flow direction, and off-page references to ensure process continuity across multiple drawings. Regular validation checks are performed to identify duplicate tags, missing data, or connectivity errors, supporting overall data quality.
The role also involves generating and updating engineering deliverables such as equipment lists, line lists, valve lists, and instrument indexes from the integrated database. Users coordinate closely with process, piping, and instrumentation engineers to incorporate design changes, resolve comments, and update revisions. Managing drawing revisions, responding to markups, and preparing drawings for review and issue stages (such as IFR, IFC, or As-Built) are also key responsibilities. Overall, the AVEVA P&ID user plays a critical role in ensuring consistent, reliable, and data-driven P&ID documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
A Practical Workflow: How Users Build P&IDs in AVEVA
Step 1: Start With the Correct Drawing Template
Projects usually have templates with title blocks, layer styles, border sizes, and revision tables. Starting with the correct template ensures formatting compliance and avoids rework later.
Step 2: Place Major Equipment First
Users generally start by placing major equipment such as:
- Vessels, tanks, columns
- Pumps, compressors, blowers
- Heat exchangers, heaters, coolers
- Filters, strainers
- Skids or packaged units (as blocks or assemblies)
Once placed, each equipment item gets a tag and basic properties. Consistent tag naming is essential because many reports and cross-discipline integrations depend on it.
Step 3: Add Piping Lines and Identify Line Numbers
Next, users add process lines (and sometimes utility or drain lines) and assign:
- Line number (as per project format)
- Size
- Spec/class
- Service
- Insulation or tracing requirements (if tracked in P&ID data)
AVEVA’s intelligent line tools help ensure lines connect properly and labels stay consistent.
Step 4: Insert Valves, Fittings, and Special Items
Users then add:
- Isolation valves (gate, globe, ball, butterfly)
- Check valves
- Control valves
- Relief valves and rupture discs
- Strainers, orifice plates, spectacle blinds
- Drains, vents, sampling points
- Filters, flame arrestors, special inline items
For each item, the user assigns a tag (where required) and selects the correct symbol and data class.
Step 5: Add Instruments and Control Functions
Instrumentation is added based on loop requirements and process control philosophy:
- Pressure/temperature/flow/level transmitters
- Local indicators and gauges
- Switches and alarms
- Control loops (e.g., FT → FIC → FCV)
- Signals (electric, pneumatic, digital, fieldbus)
- Interlocks and shutdown logic (as per project conventions)
A key advantage for users is consistent loop tagging and the ability to generate instrument indexes automatically.
Step 6: Use Off-Page Connectors and Continuations
Large systems span multiple drawings. Users create off-page connectors, tie-ins, or continuation references so the overall process network remains traceable. These must be carefully managed to avoid broken references and confusion during construction or operations.
Step 7: Validate the Drawing with Rules/Checks
Good practice is to run validation checks regularly, not just at the end. Checks may include:
- Duplicate tag detection
- Missing mandatory properties
- Incorrect line labeling
- Disconnected objects or incomplete connectivity
- Non-compliant tag formats
This supports quality control and helps meet project deliverable standards.
Step 8: Generate Reports and Cross-Verify
Users generate tag lists and compare them against project requirements. Reports commonly serve two purposes:
- Deliverables to client/engineering management
- Cross-checking tool for internal quality
When AVEVA P&ID is configured properly, these reports can reduce dependence on manual Excel tracking.
Step 9: Revisioning and Issuing Drawings
When the drawing moves through review stages (IFR, IFC, As-Built), users update revision blocks, incorporate markups, and ensure changes are consistent across drawings and associated reports. Proper revision discipline prevents site teams from working with outdated data.
Common Features That Make a User More Efficient
Common features that make an AVEVA P&ID user training more efficient are centered on automation, data consistency, and intelligent drafting. The use of standardized symbol libraries and predefined catalogs allows users to quickly place equipment, valves, and instruments while ensuring compliance with project standards. Smart tagging and auto-numbering features reduce manual effort and prevent duplicate or incorrect tags across drawings. Property-based data entry enables users to update engineering information directly within objects, ensuring that drawing labels and reports remain synchronized. Intelligent line routing and connectivity tools help maintain accurate process flow and relationships between equipment, piping, and instruments. Built-in validation and rule checks allow users to identify missing data, connectivity issues, or standard violations early in the design process, reducing rework.
Report generation capabilities, such as automatic creation of line lists, equipment lists, and instrument indexes, eliminate the need for manual spreadsheets and improve data reliability. Additionally, reusable assemblies and standard drawing templates accelerate drafting while maintaining uniform layout and formatting. Together, these features streamline daily tasks, improve accuracy, and enable users to focus more on engineering quality rather than repetitive drafting activities.
Best Practices for AVEVA P&ID Users:
- Never invent new tag formats. Use the project’s naming convention for equipment, instruments, lines, and valves. Consistent tagging avoids report mismatches and prevents integration issues.
- Avoid manually editing text labels that should be driven by properties. If you change a tag in text only, the database may still contain the old tag, leading to serious errors in reports.
- Run checks after completing a section or major update. Frequent validation catches errors early and reduces last-minute panic before issuing.
- If users create custom shapes to “make it look right,” the drawing may lose intelligence and fail in reporting. Always use approved symbols and classes.
- Keep label placement and readability consistent. Clear P&IDs improve safety and reduce site confusion. Avoid clutter by using spacing rules and consistent callouts.
- P&IDs are a collaboration artifact. Quick coordination prevents rework caused by late changes in control philosophy, relief sizing, or equipment selection.
Common Challenges Users Face (and How to Handle Them)
Common challenges faced by AVEVA P&ID users often relate to data accuracy, coordination, and drawing consistency, but these can be effectively managed with disciplined practices. One frequent issue is duplicate or inconsistent tagging, which usually occurs when multiple users work in parallel; this can be handled by strictly following project tagging rules and regularly running validation checks. Incomplete or missing property data is another challenge, often leading to incorrect reports or downstream design errors; users should treat mandatory fields as essential and update data at the object level rather than editing text manually. Maintaining correct line connectivity across large or multi-sheet drawings can also be difficult; careful use of off-page connectors and routine connectivity reviews help avoid broken process links. Revision control is another concern, especially when drawings are updated frequently; adopting a clear revision workflow and regenerating reports after changes ensures alignment between drawings and data outputs. Overcrowded or cluttered P&IDs can reduce readability; this can be resolved by following layout standards and distributing information across multiple sheets. With consistent validation, standard compliance, and coordination among disciplines, these challenges can be minimized effectively.
Industries and Use Cases Where AVEVA P&ID Shines
AVEVA P&ID is especially valuable in environments where:
- Many drawings must follow strict standards
- Engineering data must be reused across disciplines
- Project handover requires structured tag registers
- Frequent revisions and audits are expected
- Lifecycle management (as-built updates and MOC) is important
Oil & gas refineries, petrochemical complexes, LNG facilities, large utility plants, and pharmaceutical sites often benefit heavily from intelligent P&ID systems.
Skills to Develop as an AVEVA P&ID User
If you want to become a strong AVEVA P&ID user, focus on:
- Understanding P&ID symbology and ISA-style conventions
- Tagging philosophy and engineering numbering systems
- Process equipment and valve selection basics
- Instrument basics (PT, TT, FT, LT, control valves, signals)
- Revision control and document management discipline
- Data accuracy habits (properties, line lists, tag uniqueness)
- Collaboration and markup handling
The best users are not only fast at drafting—they are reliable at maintaining correct engineering data.
Conclusion
From a user’s perspective, AVEVA P&ID is a powerful platform that combines P&ID drafting with structured engineering data. It helps teams create consistent diagrams, maintain clean tag registers, reduce errors through validation, and generate dependable reports. When users follow standards, maintain data discipline, and validate frequently, AVEVA P&ID becomes a major productivity and quality advantage for both projects and plant lifecycle documentation.
Whether you are a process designer building P&IDs from PFDs, a piping designer defining line specs and valve stations, or an instrumentation engineer developing loops and signals, mastering AVEVA P&ID workflows will directly improve design reliability, review success, and construction readiness. Enroll in Multisoft Systems now!