First, let’s define what this article is all about.
Has your facility ever had a leaking flange? Just a tiny drip of liquid or a small release of gas?
What is the most common response to this leaky flange? Someone goes out and tightens the flange bolts to stop the leak.
This practice is done in the process industry hundreds of times a month in large facilities, and in many situations, no one ever thinks twice about it. They are stopping a leak, and this is a good thing – why would we stand in the way of a “good thing”?
What would you say if I told you there is a RAGAGEP for adjusting bolts or replacing bolts while the piping is IN SERVICE and PRESSURIZED?
One of my favorite support standards for piping is ASME PCC-2 (2008), and in Article 311, we are provided techniques to perform “hot bolting” and “half bolting” as defined by ASME.