Asset Integrity Audits
With our in-house multidiscipline engineering and maintenance experience, Process Consultants can provide an independent Asset Integrity
assessment service for the baselining of brownfield facilities.
Such assessments are typically required to document the general condition of a facility for reasons such as prioritisation of maintenance
or project work, transfer of ownership / operation of the facility, or as part of a pre or post-sale inspection. In some instances an
assessment may be required at both the commencement and end of a contract term.
Geoffrey Constable
Projects Director
"The service we provide is of an independent nature to determine if any deficiencies are present in the assets and need to be
rectified to bring the facility back to a fit-for-purpose condition."
The Process
The process commences by agreeing the general approach and scope (the ‘terms of reference’) such as timeline, number of assets to be
assessed, reporting requirements and following this an indicative man-hours estimate can be developed.
Our process typically involves the following steps:
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Agreeing the general approach and scope (the ‘terms of reference’) such as timeline, number of assets to be assessed, reporting
requirements and indicative cost estimate.
- Presenting the document to the facility owner and reach agreement on the scope / activities involved.
- Agreement with the customer on the terms of reference, etc.
The activities typically undertaken as part of the assessment include:
- Pre-site visits preparation in Customer offices (data gathering).
- Logistical planning for the site visits (resourcing, travel, accommodation, etc.).
- Site visits for inspection purposes (including recording observations and photography).
- Report writing and issuing as draft following site visits.
- Report agreed between all parties and finalised.
Inspections
The focus for these asset assessments is typically on major assets or asset classes. As a guide, the level of inspection will be:
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Physical and visual inspections will only involve inspections that can be completed by external assessment whilst the equipment remains in
service.
- No equipment dismantling or internal inspections will be conducted.
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The preference is for physical inspection results where practicable – this should include inspection notes, photographs and any test
results.
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Where physical inspection is not practicable, then past asset inspection and maintenance records are reviewed for scope, quality of
implementation and results.
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Where physical inspection is not practicable and the records available are not adequate to determine condition, the asset condition is
regarded as “indeterminate” in the report.
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Where requested plant records data such as work orders, asset maintenance history and inspection reports can also be viewed and
incorporated into the assessment.
- A written report provides all findings along with any recommendations appropriate.
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Note that these assessments are not a ‘formal’ asset integrity assessment such as that conducted by a pressure vessel inspector or
hazardous area inspector. Such an assessment is a different order of magnitude of time, effort and cost and serve a different purpose.
What are the potential inspection outcomes
We typically categorise major equipment in the following simple terms:
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Excellent Condition (E) – The asset is in ‘as-new’ or ‘near-new’ condition. It will require preventive maintenance as per the maintenance /
inspection program and is unlikely to require any corrective maintenance intervention in the next 3 – 5 years.
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Good Condition (G) – The asset is in a fully serviceable condition. It will require preventive maintenance as per the maintenance /
inspection program and is unlikely to require any corrective maintenance intervention in the next 1 – 2 years.
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Fair Condition (F) – The asset is in a serviceable condition. It will require preventive maintenance as per the maintenance / inspection
program and may also require a corrective maintenance intervention within the next 1 – 2 years to bring it back to good condition / prevent
further degradation.
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Poor Condition (P) – The asset is in a barely serviceable or unserviceable condition and requires a corrective maintenance intervention
within the next 1 – 6 months.
- Unsafe Condition (U) – The asset is unsafe for use and should be removed from service for repairs.
For further details on the Asset Integrity services we provide, please get contact with us.
