Used, classic, or antique; solving the enigma of disciplined adherence to standards for existing equipment

Abstract

What do you consider when buying a used car? Do you have minimum safety requirements for your used car? Similarly, do you have minimum safety requirements for existing equipment in your plant? One of the CCPS Vision 20/20 Industry Tenets is Disciplined Adherence to Standards. In this tenet, Vision 20/20 puts special emphasis on application of standards for existing equipment. Companies with great process safety performance recognize that having minimum standards for existing equipment is as important as having them for new projects. However, identifying and applying relevant standards to equipment that may have been installed decades ago can be challenging. This article will describe how to establish minimum standards for existing equipment and will provide a suggested approach for the implementation of these internal or common industry standards. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 36: 10–13, 2017