Index: Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
===================================================================
diff -u -r9fd6d5a7d2289de6a5c6447fe8e0a9019cf75701 -r9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52
--- Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs	(.../Resources.Designer.cs)	(revision 9fd6d5a7d2289de6a5c6447fe8e0a9019cf75701)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs	(.../Resources.Designer.cs)	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -195,9 +195,9 @@
         /// <summary>
         ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Het XML-document dat de configuratie voor de berekeningen beschrijft is niet geldig..
         /// </summary>
-        public static string PipingCalculationGroupReader_Configuration_contains_no_valid_xml {
+        public static string PipingConfigurationReader_Configuration_contains_no_valid_xml {
             get {
-                return ResourceManager.GetString("PipingCalculationGroupReader_Configuration_contains_no_valid_xml", resourceCulture);
+                return ResourceManager.GetString("PipingConfigurationReader_Configuration_contains_no_valid_xml", resourceCulture);
             }
         }
         
Index: Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Properties/Resources.resx
===================================================================
diff -u -r9fd6d5a7d2289de6a5c6447fe8e0a9019cf75701 -r9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52
--- Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Properties/Resources.resx	(.../Resources.resx)	(revision 9fd6d5a7d2289de6a5c6447fe8e0a9019cf75701)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Properties/Resources.resx	(.../Resources.resx)	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
     <value>{0} 
 Deze ondergrondschematisatie wordt overgeslagen.</value>
   </data>
-  <data name="PipingCalculationGroupReader_Configuration_contains_no_valid_xml" xml:space="preserve">
+  <data name="PipingConfigurationReader_Configuration_contains_no_valid_xml" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Het XML-document dat de configuratie voor de berekeningen beschrijft is niet geldig.</value>
   </data>
 </root>
\ No newline at end of file
Index: Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/IReadPipingCalculationItem.cs
===================================================================
diff -u -r4ef4e426c0a77d547b58ec56581f292ddb3ed381 -r9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52
--- Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/IReadPipingCalculationItem.cs	(.../IReadPipingCalculationItem.cs)	(revision 4ef4e426c0a77d547b58ec56581f292ddb3ed381)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/IReadPipingCalculationItem.cs	(.../IReadPipingCalculationItem.cs)	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 namespace Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Readers
 {
     /// <summary>
-    /// Interface for piping calculation items that are read via <see cref="PipingCalculationGroupReader"/>.
+    /// Interface for piping calculation items that are read via <see cref="PipingConfigurationReader"/>.
     /// </summary>
     public interface IReadPipingCalculationItem
     {
Fisheye: Tag 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52 refers to a dead (removed) revision in file `Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/PipingCalculationGroupReader.cs'.
Fisheye: No comparison available.  Pass `N' to diff?
Index: Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/PipingConfigurationReader.cs
===================================================================
diff -u
--- Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/PipingConfigurationReader.cs	(revision 0)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/PipingConfigurationReader.cs	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+// Copyright (C) Stichting Deltares 2016. All rights reserved.
+//
+// This file is part of Ringtoets.
+//
+// Ringtoets is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+// 
+// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+//
+// All names, logos, and references to "Deltares" are registered trademarks of
+// Stichting Deltares and remain full property of Stichting Deltares at all times.
+// All rights reserved.
+
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Xml;
+using System.Xml.Linq;
+using System.Xml.Schema;
+using Core.Common.IO.Exceptions;
+using Core.Common.Utils;
+using Core.Common.Utils.Builders;
+using Core.Common.Utils.Reflection;
+using Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Properties;
+using CoreCommonUtilsResources = Core.Common.Utils.Properties.Resources;
+
+namespace Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Readers
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// This class reads a piping configuration from XML and creates a collection of corresponding <see cref="IReadPipingCalculationItem"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public class PipingConfigurationReader
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Creates a new instance of <see cref="PipingConfigurationReader"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="xmlFilePath">The file path to the XML file.</param>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentException">Thrown when <paramref name="xmlFilePath"/> is invalid.</exception>
+        /// <exception cref="CriticalFileReadException">Thrown when:
+        /// <list type="bullet">
+        /// <item><paramref name="xmlFilePath"/> points to a file that does not exist.</item>
+        /// <item><paramref name="xmlFilePath"/> points to a file that does not contain valid XML.</item>
+        /// <item><paramref name="xmlFilePath"/> points to a file that does not pass the schema validation.</item>
+        /// </list>
+        /// </exception>
+        public PipingConfigurationReader(string xmlFilePath)
+        {
+            IOUtils.ValidateFilePath(xmlFilePath);
+
+            ValidateFileExists(xmlFilePath);
+
+            XDocument xmlDocument = LoadDocument(xmlFilePath);
+
+            ValidateToSchema(xmlDocument);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Reads the piping configuration from the XML and creates a collection of corresponding <see cref="IReadPipingCalculationItem"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <returns>A collection of read <see cref="IReadPipingCalculationItem"/>.</returns>
+        public IEnumerable<IReadPipingCalculationItem> Read()
+        {
+            return Enumerable.Empty<IReadPipingCalculationItem>();
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Validates whether a file exists at the provided <paramref name="xmlFilePath"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="xmlFilePath">The file path to validate.</param>
+        /// <exception cref="CriticalFileReadException">Thrown when no existing file is found.</exception>
+        private static void ValidateFileExists(string xmlFilePath)
+        {
+            if (!File.Exists(xmlFilePath))
+            {
+                string message = new FileReaderErrorMessageBuilder(xmlFilePath).Build(CoreCommonUtilsResources.Error_File_does_not_exist);
+                throw new CriticalFileReadException(message);
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Loads a XML document from the provided <see cref="xmlFilePath"/>.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="xmlFilePath">The file path to load the XML document from.</param>
+        /// <exception cref="CriticalFileReadException">Thrown when the XML document cannot be loaded.</exception>
+        private static XDocument LoadDocument(string xmlFilePath)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                return XDocument.Load(xmlFilePath);
+            }
+            catch (Exception exception)
+                when (exception is ArgumentNullException
+                      || exception is XmlException
+                      || exception is InvalidOperationException)
+            {
+                string message = new FileReaderErrorMessageBuilder(xmlFilePath).Build(CoreCommonUtilsResources.Error_General_IO_Import_ErrorMessage);
+                throw new CriticalFileReadException(message, exception);
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Validates the provided XML document based on a predefined XML Schema Definition (XSD).
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="document">The XML document to validate.</param>
+        /// <exception cref="CriticalFileReadException">Thrown when the provided XML document does not match the predefined XML Schema Definition (XSD).</exception>
+        private static void ValidateToSchema(XDocument document)
+        {
+            XmlSchemaSet schema = LoadXmlSchema();
+
+            try
+            {
+                document.Validate(schema, null);
+            }
+            catch (XmlSchemaValidationException e)
+            {
+                throw new CriticalFileReadException(Resources.PipingConfigurationReader_Configuration_contains_no_valid_xml, e);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static XmlSchemaSet LoadXmlSchema()
+        {
+            Stream schemaFile = AssemblyUtils.GetAssemblyResourceStream(typeof(PipingConfigurationReader).Assembly,
+                                                                        "Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Readers.XMLPipingConfigurationSchema.xsd");
+
+            var xmlSchema = new XmlSchemaSet();
+            xmlSchema.Add(XmlSchema.Read(schemaFile, null));
+
+            return xmlSchema;
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
Index: Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/ReadPipingCalculation.cs
===================================================================
diff -u -r4ef4e426c0a77d547b58ec56581f292ddb3ed381 -r9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52
--- Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/ReadPipingCalculation.cs	(.../ReadPipingCalculation.cs)	(revision 4ef4e426c0a77d547b58ec56581f292ddb3ed381)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/ReadPipingCalculation.cs	(.../ReadPipingCalculation.cs)	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 namespace Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Readers
 {
     /// <summary>
-    /// Class that represents a piping calculation that is read via <see cref="PipingCalculationGroupReader"/>.
+    /// Class that represents a piping calculation that is read via <see cref="PipingConfigurationReader"/>.
     /// </summary>
     public class ReadPipingCalculation : IReadPipingCalculationItem
     {
Index: Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/ReadPipingCalculationGroup.cs
===================================================================
diff -u -r4ef4e426c0a77d547b58ec56581f292ddb3ed381 -r9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52
--- Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/ReadPipingCalculationGroup.cs	(.../ReadPipingCalculationGroup.cs)	(revision 4ef4e426c0a77d547b58ec56581f292ddb3ed381)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Readers/ReadPipingCalculationGroup.cs	(.../ReadPipingCalculationGroup.cs)	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 namespace Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Readers
 {
     /// <summary>
-    /// Class that represents a piping calculation group that is read via <see cref="PipingCalculationGroupReader"/>.
+    /// Class that represents a piping calculation group that is read via <see cref="PipingConfigurationReader"/>.
     /// </summary>
     public class ReadPipingCalculationGroup : IReadPipingCalculationItem
     {
Index: Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.csproj
===================================================================
diff -u -rd8d7d3d24763ec06d36322d9a57996a83a64653b -r9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52
--- Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.csproj	(.../Ringtoets.Piping.IO.csproj)	(revision d8d7d3d24763ec06d36322d9a57996a83a64653b)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/src/Ringtoets.Piping.IO/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.csproj	(.../Ringtoets.Piping.IO.csproj)	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Importers\RingtoetsPipingSurfaceLineUpdateException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Importers\StochasticSoilModelImporter.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Importers\StochasticSoilModelUpdateException.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Readers\PipingCalculationGroupReader.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Readers\PipingConfigurationReader.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Readers\IReadPipingCalculationItem.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Readers\ReadPipingCalculation.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Readers\ReadPipingCalculationGroup.cs" />
Fisheye: Tag 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52 refers to a dead (removed) revision in file `Ringtoets/Piping/test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test/Readers/PipingCalculationGroupReaderTest.cs'.
Fisheye: No comparison available.  Pass `N' to diff?
Index: Ringtoets/Piping/test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test/Readers/PipingConfigurationReaderTest.cs
===================================================================
diff -u
--- Ringtoets/Piping/test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test/Readers/PipingConfigurationReaderTest.cs	(revision 0)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test/Readers/PipingConfigurationReaderTest.cs	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+// Copyright (C) Stichting Deltares 2016. All rights reserved.
+//
+// This file is part of Ringtoets.
+//
+// Ringtoets is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+// 
+// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+//
+// All names, logos, and references to "Deltares" are registered trademarks of
+// Stichting Deltares and remain full property of Stichting Deltares at all times.
+// All rights reserved.
+
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using Core.Common.IO.Exceptions;
+using Core.Common.TestUtil;
+using NUnit.Framework;
+using Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Readers;
+
+namespace Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test.Readers
+{
+    [TestFixture]
+    public class PipingConfigurationReaderTest
+    {
+        [Test]
+        [TestCase("")]
+        [TestCase("      ")]
+        [TestCase(null)]
+        public void Constructor_NoFilePath_ThrowArgumentException(string invalidFilePath)
+        {
+            // Call
+            TestDelegate call = () => new PipingConfigurationReader(invalidFilePath);
+
+            // Assert
+            var expectedMessage = $"Fout bij het lezen van bestand '{invalidFilePath}': bestandspad mag niet leeg of ongedefinieerd zijn.";
+            TestHelper.AssertThrowsArgumentExceptionAndTestMessage<ArgumentException>(call, expectedMessage);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Constructor_FilePathHasInvalidPathCharacter_ThrowArgumentException()
+        {
+            // Setup
+            char[] invalidFileNameChars = Path.GetInvalidFileNameChars();
+
+            string validFilePath = TestHelper.GetTestDataPath(TestDataPath.Ringtoets.Piping.IO,
+                                                              "Valid piping configuration.shp");
+            string invalidFilePath = validFilePath.Replace("piping", invalidFileNameChars[3].ToString());
+
+            // Call
+            TestDelegate call = () => new PipingConfigurationReader(invalidFilePath);
+
+            // Assert
+            var expectedMessage = $"Fout bij het lezen van bestand '{invalidFilePath}': bestandspad mag niet de volgende tekens bevatten: {string.Join(", ", invalidFileNameChars)}";
+            TestHelper.AssertThrowsArgumentExceptionAndTestMessage<ArgumentException>(call, expectedMessage);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Constructor_FilePathIsActuallyDirectoryPath_ThrowArgumentException()
+        {
+            // Setup
+            string invalidFilePath = TestHelper.GetTestDataPath(TestDataPath.Ringtoets.Piping.IO,
+                                                                Path.DirectorySeparatorChar.ToString());
+
+            // Call
+            TestDelegate call = () => new PipingConfigurationReader(invalidFilePath);
+
+            // Assert
+            var expectedMessage = $"Fout bij het lezen van bestand '{invalidFilePath}': bestandspad mag niet verwijzen naar een lege bestandsnaam.";
+            TestHelper.AssertThrowsArgumentExceptionAndTestMessage<ArgumentException>(call, expectedMessage);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Constructor_FileDoesNotExist_ThrowCriticalFileReadException()
+        {
+            // Setup
+            string invalidFilePath = TestHelper.GetTestDataPath(TestDataPath.Ringtoets.Piping.IO,
+                                                                "I_do_not_exist.shp");
+
+            // Call
+            TestDelegate call = () => new PipingConfigurationReader(invalidFilePath);
+
+            // Assert
+            var expectedMessage = $"Fout bij het lezen van bestand '{invalidFilePath}': het bestand bestaat niet.";
+            var message = Assert.Throws<CriticalFileReadException>(call).Message;
+            Assert.AreEqual(expectedMessage, message);
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
Index: Ringtoets/Piping/test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test.csproj
===================================================================
diff -u -r9a9a99ad27ee6fdcd22f0df408b868816502647e -r9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52
--- Ringtoets/Piping/test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test.csproj	(.../Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test.csproj)	(revision 9a9a99ad27ee6fdcd22f0df408b868816502647e)
+++ Ringtoets/Piping/test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test/Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test.csproj	(.../Ringtoets.Piping.IO.Test.csproj)	(revision 9b940da26da12706c2b6665959e6de7f1a3dbc52)
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Exporters\CalculationGroupWriterTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Importers\RingtoetsPipingSurfaceLineUpdateExceptionTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Importers\StochasticSoilModelUpdateExceptionTest.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Readers\PipingCalculationGroupReaderTest.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Readers\PipingConfigurationReaderTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Readers\ReadPipingCalculationGroupTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Readers\ReadPipingCalculationTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="SoilProfile\LayerPropertiesTest.cs" />