(132b) Plant Ageing

One of the biggest issues facing the North American chemical industry today is that of ageing equipment and how to best manage the process of deterioration in order to prevent the release of hazardous fluids and to extend useful life beyond that of design. The phenomenon of plant ageing should not be viewed as the sole responsibility of inspection and engineering but rather as a necessary and comprehensive managerial activity which seeks to balance safety, risk and lowest cost operation while at the same time reducing the level of uncertainty regarding the condition of critical assets. This type of integrated approach to asset ownership ensures that the risks associated with ageing equipment are properly understood and that decisions are made regarding the equipment for the continued safe operation of the enterprise.