Assessment
Site survey and design assessment can help asset managers plan and make appropriate decisions relating to the repair or replacement of assets.
The issues of durability of fibreglass vessels and pipes are being address through worldwide research programs yet methodical inspection and assessment can help extend the life of these structures.
Risk management and budget restrictions make the decision making environment difficult, undertaking a quality driven well planned assessment of the various fibreglass structures can help mitigate risks and improve overall running and capital costs.
The need to undertake an assessment may not be age or durability driven, the local environment and business planning may make an assessment necessary to reflect these changes. For example, wind sensitive structures are affected by the erection of nearby structures, or updates in the local wind loading design code may need to be applied to the structure to ensure adequate levels of structural capacity.
Unless detailed records are maintained it may be impossible to determine to what codes the vessel or structure were originally designed. The vessel may of given years of unfailing service but may not of been designed to cope with seismic actions or more commonly the process has changed and the density or nature of the media is different.
These are all examples where gaps may exist in the understanding of the structures ability to provide the intended service performance. Service life, and changes to the environment and business operations all fall within the risk management framework and assistance in understanding these risks will benefit the management of those assets.
Oceania in association with experienced inspectors and test houses can help resolve these problems and provide realistic action plans to bring assets up to code and to establish anticipated service life for aging structures.
