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What does it cost?

The need for inspection, as a means of determining asset condition and mitigating risk, applies at all stages of product and plant life. Clearly this need is greatest when susceptibility and impact is high and often increases with time as service effects take their toll.

But 'time is money' and 'down time is serious money'. This applies irrespective of whether it is planned or attributable to unscheduled outage. If downtime, and the consequential impact of failure, can be minimized or avoided - the benefits are obvious.

Traditional invasive methods of inspection are disruptive, ineffective & expensive in terms of 'access' engineering support and degradation issues are complex & require appropriate detection, quantification & characterisation methods using appropriate technique.

The development of non-invasive methods means that many inspection tasks can now be performed at any time without any disruption to operations. Many of these techniques can be applied remotely and at elevated temperature - so negating the need for 'shut down'.

This means that inspection can be used as a pre-emptive tool rather than something reserved for 'shut down' when it is often too late to effect remedial action, most disruptive and least cost effective. The cost impact of this established practise is enormous. The actual cost of inspection represents just a few percent of total expenditure and the vast majority of costs are consumed by lost production revenue and implementation expenditure.

NII techniques helps reduce direct expenditure and avoid disruptive intervention & downtime losses. The approach, which is RBI compatible and increasingly accepted by regulators, certifiers and insurers, also offers other advantages -

• Requires access to one side only
• Can be applied on stream and at elevated temperature
• Some methods can be applied through insulation
• Can be performed without expensive access measures
• Improved POD by selective use of appropriate techniques
• Comprehensive statement of through wall condition
• Fast, efficient & comprehensive coverage
• Graphical (digital) evidence of coverage and findings

The range of non-invasive techniques we provide include all surface and near surface techniques such as visual/video, dye penetrant, magnetic particle and electro-magnetic/eddy current testing and volumetric ultrasonic and radiographic ultrasonic methods which enable visualization assessment of through wall condition.

The ultrasonic techniques include advanced digital methods such as TOFD, phased array - many of which are automated and can be remotely deployed. All site radiography is performed using inherently safe and logistically efficient methods.

For further information on our inspection services, contact Colin Mortimer