A method is described for establishing load limits for pipe connections to a turbine casing including the steps of: identifying a plurality of the pipe connections as key pipe load connections; developing transfer functions to model deformation of the casing based on loads applied to the key pipe connections; establishing individual load limits for each of the key pipe connections in the group by optimizing solutions to the transfer functions, and establishing a cumulative load limit for the group of key pipe load connections by optimizing solutions to the transfer functions.