Extension of Inspection Intervals for Complex Power Plants

Over time, the risk of accidents and unplanned stoppages increases with aging plants. In our webinar our experts talked about how to manage these challenges and presented various approaches to solving them using several reference cases.

To demonstrate compliance with the requirements according to local regulations, components of facilities subject to inspection (e.g. pressure vessels, pipelines or boilers) are to be periodically inspected by an accredited inspection body.

The operator must calculate the inspection intervals on the basis of a safety-related evaluation. The inspection periods, however, may not exceed (or may be extended only under certain conditions) the maximum limits of the regulations

In some cases, however, the extension of inspection intervals or an optimization of inspection intervals is useful as an optimal inspection plan of the individual components leads to valuable savings.

The prerequisite for the extension of inspection intervals is the creation of a conclusive performance concept to justify the extension and have this approved by the responsible authorities.

As an accredited inspection body with over 140 years of experience in industrial facilities, we bring the required expertise for this task. We help you to synchronize the diverse inspection cycles of various pressure equipment and make the respective inspections more flexible with the consideration of individual components.

We are the strong partner at your side and provide the following advantages in the area of the extension of inspection intervals for facilities subject to inspection:

• Potential savings through the optimization of inspection time.
• Reduction of downtimes / high plant availability / economic surplus.
• Optimized inspection management.

As an accredited inspection body we offer an all-round service to periodic inspections and inspection management in our "Basic Package". However, we are not only your competent partner when it comes to the implementation of regulations. With the "Premium Package" our services on the subject of extension of inspection intervals go above and beyond the usual services and have already been successfully implemented in 16 power plants.

Our concept in the area of extension of inspection intervals includes, among others, the following modules:

• Definition of various requirements
• Creation of a project-based, overall concept
• Guidance to submitting applications with authorities
• Manufacturing surveillance
• Construction surveillance
• Inspections before putting into operation

Each project is individual; each request requires a detailed analysis. In order to receive a quote tailored to your individual situation, please contact our experts. We will advise you competently on the extension of inspection intervals.

The inspection interval of a power plant must be defined so that the operation of the object of inspection can still be safely maintained between the two inspection phases. Numerous factors such as designing and manufacturing, documented quality, results from the pre-commissioning inspection and operational impact on the service life need to be considered.

New Power Plants
Due to cost factors new installations for which a possible extension of an inspection interval is planned should include us early on for setting the basic direction in creating the necessary conditions determined in the planning and contract tendering.

Since the conclusive existence of requirements for an extension of an inspection interval in new power plants can only be reliably assessed after the first periodic inspection, the application for an extension of an inspection interval should also not be made beforehand.

The application, which must be accompanied by an expert opinion of an accredited inspection body, shows whether the extension of the inspection interval should be applied once or permanently, although an extension of the inspection interval is always limited to a particular plant.

Existing Power Plants
An extension of an inspection interval is also possible for existing power plants, though in contrast to new plants, a greater effort is likely. This is due to the fact that all the necessary information from the manufacturing is usually not available and thus through verification (e.g. determination of actual measurements) or further examinations must be newly established.