ABSTRACT
The importance of FM and FR for risk management are briefly discussed, as well as the information sources available in the public domain and the research needs.
2.1 Failure rates and modes for risk based inspection and maintenance
The pressure equipment risk management is aimed to control uncertainties that could jeopardize in the objectives of these systems, which are basically a profitable and safe production and a continuous and regular service. Equipment failure is still a major uncertainty in a process plant and consequently efforts to develop knowledge about the frequency and the mode of failures are worthwhile indeed. For that reason a credible set of general failure rates is essential to promote an efficient management of hazardous equipment. A particular application of risk management is the Risk Based Inspection RBI program, which optimizes inspection at process plants and other facilities. In RBI, times and types of inspection are driven, inter alia, by FMs and by FRs. American Petroleum Institute provides, in the recourses basis for RBI implementation, general failure rates and modes for many type of systems, including pressurized ones (API 2008). RBI details, benefits and compatibility with European and national
1 INTRODUCTION
Pressure equipment is essential in many industries, including oil, chemical, textile food, waste and healthcare industry. In high risk industries, furthermore, pressure systems are critical also for major accident prevention. Thus in all involved industries, it is essential to assure pressure equipment reliability and safety. In this framework the knowledge about the pressure equipment failures is essential to drive inspection and maintenance activities. In particular the failure rates FR and failure mode FM, associate with a type of equipment, are the basic parameters. FRs, in particular, are essential for the risk assessment and FMs for the risk management.
