Safe Management and Risk Evaluation of Pressure Pipes in the Process and Energy Industry

Abstract

Process and energy industries include chemical plants, oil refineries and bio-refineries, power plants, etc., in which a variety of pressure equipment/assemblies are located (steam generators, reactors, heat exchangers, pressure tanks, etc.), which use a very wide range of flammable and/or toxic substances. This equipment has historically been controlled, both during construction and operation, while the pressure pipes were considered potentially "dangerous" by the legislation only with the entry into force of the first European Directive 97/23/CE (PED Directive) and the European Directive 2014/68/EU, which modifies and integrates the previous one.The PED directive introduced pressure pipes because they very often cause triggering of accidental events (fires, explosions, toxic releases), involving successively important pressure equipment (steam generators, reactors, heat exchangers, pressure tanks, etc.). Pressure pipes must be particularly monitored and maintained in Seveso establishments (Seveso Directive - 2012/18/EU).In this paper authors suggest to the employer an operational framework for the safe management of residual risks of pressure pipes, during operating phase, due to the installation, use and/or reasonably foreseeable improper use of the aforementioned pipes are described here, showing an application example.It is important to note that, nowadays, there are pipes constructed in accordance with the PED Directive and pipes built before the introduction of these European Directives (the latter lack manufacturer’s certification). Employers in Italy must manage these two different types of pipes in compliance with the Decree of the Ministry of Production Activities No. 329, issued on December 1, 2004, and the Decree of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies issued on April 11, 2011.Furthermore, authors describe the main effects on the health of workers and citizens living near industrial plants, due to accidents causing fires, explosions and release of toxic substances.Keywords: Pressure Pipes Safety (construction and exercise), incidental events, PED directive, Seveso directive, workers’ health, citizens’ h