Best Practice for Risk Based Inspection

inspection planning processes are being implemented in an effective and appropriate
manner.
Inspection is usually one part of an integrated integrity management strategy for
managing the risk of failure containing other control measures as may be
appropriate. These normally include routine and preventative maintenance, and the
inspection and maintenance functions are being increasingly linked within a
common framework.
The aim of this report is to assist industry and the regulator identify best practice for
plant integrity management by risk based inspection (RBI). It will be of particular
use to plant engineers responsible for inspection planning. It will also interest safety
managers, site inspectors and others involved in industrial risk assessment.
1.2. OBJECTIVES
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) commissioned this project within its
Mainstream Research Programme 1998/99 (1.5). Broad requirements were
interpreted in the formal proposal (1.6). This led to the specific objectives of the
work as follows:
• To define the process and key elements of RBI.
• To give guidance on the information required and methods for RBI.
• To suggest best practice for the proper implementation of RBI.
• To provide an audit tool to enable evaluation of RBI.
1.3. EQUIPMENT COVERED
This report applies to pressure equipment and systems that are subject to the
requirements for in-service inspection under the Pressure Systems Safety
Regulations 2000 (PSSR) (1.2). It applies to fixed pressure vessels and boilers,
pressurised and refrigerated storage spheres, together with associated pipework,
valves, pumps, compressors, and including hoses and bellows. Protective devices
(safety valves, bursting discs etc) are covered by the PSSR and are also within the
scope of this report.
The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) (1.7, 1.8) cover the
control of major accident hazards at installations as a whole. Such installations may
include atmospheric storage tanks, process pipework and other equipment
containing of flammable or toxic and other hazardous materials. While in-service
inspection of such equipment is not a specific requirement of the COMAH
regulations, when this is done in order to meet the more general requirement to
demonstrate adequate confidence of integrity, the guidance given this report can be
applied.
This report has been written largely with boilers and large power and chemical plant
in mind. It is, however, intended to apply to all pressure systems and containers
requiring integrity management. The principles are also applicable to other safety
related structures and equipment, for example lifting and fairground equipment.
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