The only CR FRP Consulting Firm with Extensive Design & Fabrication Experience
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Third Party Inspection
In 1732, Benjamin
Franklin wrote in Poor
Richard’s Almanac “A
stitch in time saves
nine”. There are two
steps in that “stitch in
time”: the first is to
determine the need for
the stitch and the
second is to apply the
stitch.
Upon the failure of one
of its CR FRP vessels,
the plant engineers at
an edible oil company
remarked “We thought FRP
tanks last forever”.
Nothing lasts forever.
The tank which failed
had been in service many
years in a difficult
environment. Sulfuric
acid and live steam
sparging made the
service of particular
concern and the tank
should have been
inspected every 2 or 3
years and repaired and
relined as required. As
it was, the tank was
neglected and
catastrophically failed,
causing a lot of
unnecessary damage and
cost. Periodic
inspection of in-service
CR FRP equipment should
be based on a careful
evaluation of the
service conditions.
FEMech Engineering can
work with your
engineering staff in
developing a periodic
inspection and
documentation plan.
The inspection of
in-service equipment can
be very challenging, as
different corrosive
environments have
different effects on CR
FRP. In addition to
broad-based experience
in the inspection of
in-service CR FRP
equipment, FEMech
Engineering has a long
standing relationship
with the FRP testing
labs and FRP resin
polymer chemists for
assistance in evaluating
difficult situations.
Some of the major
aspects of in-service
equipment inspection
are:
Full and
friendly compliance
with the customer’s
safety regulations
and confined space
entry requirements
as well as good
industry practice.
Detailed
external inspection
of the equipment,
anchor bolts,
supports, etc.
Verification the
vessel is clean and
safe and that oxygen
levels are being
monitored prior to
entry.
Detailed
internal inspection
of the equipment
using some or all of
the following:
Industry
standard
visual
criteria
Barcol
hardness
testing
Grinding
of cracks or
delaminations
if
significant
in nature
Taking
“biopsy”
samples
using
FEMech’s
small
diameter
diamond core
bit.
Sending
samples for
lab testing
Once the
inspection is
completed, FEMech
will issue a formal
report and, if
repairs are
required, issue a
recommended repair
procedure. FEMech
can provide a
follow-up inspection
of any repairs prior
to putting the
equipment back in
service.
