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Third Party Inspection

Third party inspection of custom designed and fabricated industrial equipment is prudent, given the fact that the cost of failure is always high. High costs result from plant shutdowns, chemical spills, chemical cleanup, lost product and combinations thereof. An example of the latter occurred some years ago when an improperly designed and fabricated FRP tank suddenly failed at a cosmetics factory. The tank contained a very expensive cosmetic ingredient and the resulting losses were in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. While many companies employ inspectors who are qualified for conventional materials, such as metal and concrete, few companies have staff inspectors qualified for corrosion resistant fiberglass reinforced plastic (CR FRP). FEMech Engineering is staffed with qualified individuals having extensive experience in the inspection of CR FRP new and in-service equipment. An exhaustive technical knowledge of CR FRP and decades of experience, combined with high ethical standards, result in inspection which is practical, yet thorough. We know what is important and what is unimportant. Inspection of CR FRP falls into two major categories: new equipment and in-service equipment. New equipment should be inspected during and at the completion of the fabrication process, to make sure the laminates, the materials, the assembly details, the reinforcements and work schedule are in compliance with the specifications, the applicable codes or standards, the calculations and the approved shop fabrication drawings. In-service equipment should be inspected periodically, depending on the chemical service, the operating temperature and any upset conditions which may have occurred.

Third party inspectors are in a position either to facilitate solutions or to create undue fears, require unnecessary testing, bring about delays and increase costs for everyone concerned. The latter behavior typically results from an unqualified inspection firm or an inspection firm whose business philosophy is to profit by fueling controversy. The FEMech Engineering business model is very simple: Promote solutions which benefit all parties and result in good quality, while avoiding the incubation of controversy and problems. some of the major aspects of new equipment inspection are: Material verification and documentation Resin gel and viscosity testing Mold and mandrel inspection Observation of the winding process and ply counting Inspection of nozzle cut-outs Verification of thickness and ply sequence Internal and External laminate inspection for visual defects Barcol hardness for indication of laminate cure Dimensional checks Verification of fitting location and installation Witness of hydro/pressure test Proof tests of laminate cutouts to verify physical properties Jobsite inspection to verify the absence of shipping damage and to ensure proper foundation fit-up.

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