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#1 Posted : 29 August 2007 22:00:00(UTC)
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Posted By Darren Kirk
This one has got me scratching my head; We have a LNG gas system installed in our factory due to no access to piped gas, the problem is that we are experiencing continuos leaks in the pipe system. We are using an established gas instalation company (registered), the pipe system is new, it has been presure tested on 3 seperate occasions and passed, but still we have leaks. The pipes are threaded with PTFE tape and joint sealer. I am realy struggling with this problem, as are the gas installers. Transco are not offering much in the way of advise neither are corgi. Any help would be welcome!
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#2 Posted : 30 August 2007 07:19:00(UTC)
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Posted By GT
Darren,

Is it really Friday already!!!!!!!

How do you know you have leaks?

Do you know where the leaks are occurring?

I would thought that your installation guy would know how to complete a search safely.

Corgi............... will only inspect to find other faults and to protect their members not to assists general public and non members.

I think once you find out where the leaks are happening it may give you an idea how to stop them.


Faulty equipment.........poor installation.......unreliable test
GT
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#3 Posted : 30 August 2007 08:14:00(UTC)
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Posted By Julian Wilkinson
We recently had 4 new gas boilers installed. All four had leaks due to faulty fans, these parts had to be replaced due to a design fault.

We found the leaks by using a hand held gas detector. As the leaks were not very big these gas detectors did the job by firstly detecting gas in the boiler room and secondly, with the increased level of detection we were able to locate the source.

I have now trained Security Officers how to use these detectors, now they carry them on every patrol and test for gas presence.

Probably not very helpful to you, but I just thought I would share my experiences with you.

cheers

Julian
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#4 Posted : 30 August 2007 08:26:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bob Youel

its all down to the quality of the installers, their managers and the systems they have in place [and actually use!] to ensure that installiation practice is to the same standards as manufacturing practices

Unfortunately the quality standard of individual fitters etc [in my personal experiance] has dropped and in may cases a 'house basher' etc has no experience in installing a gas system in an industrial situation. However many companies are so short of proper trades persons they use what they can get

Get looking at your installiation contract terms and conditions and use it to get what you want

If you have installed the system re in-house staff you need to go back to the drawing baord re how you manage quality

If you have gone for the cheapest price that may also affect the quality of the finished product

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#5 Posted : 30 August 2007 10:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By Darren Kirk
The leaks are always occurring on a joint, we are detecting the leaks because the odour added to the gas is very pungent. We then carry out a check on all the pipework with a gas monitor. This has been going on for 3 months now, i have also spoken with my regional HSE Gas safety officer. I have explained the situation in full and it appears to be baffling them too. I am clutching at straws now but i think it may be down to 2 points, contractor quality or the gas/odour (ethyl mercaptan) reacting to the PTFE used on installation of the system. The gas leaks are quite large on some occasions, i have experience of these types of incidents due to my fire service background. Has any one experience with either LNG or Ethyl Mercaptan reacting with gas pipe work.
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#6 Posted : 30 August 2007 13:12:00(UTC)
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Posted By Seamus O Sullivan
Hi
I am sure it is looked at already, but are they using the correct ptfe tape for gas? also some pipe jointing compounds are only suitable for some gases, also are they using the correct fittings?

seamus
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#7 Posted : 30 August 2007 13:21:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ian MacAskill
Replace "fittings" with welded joints where possible and pressure test system. Remember DSEAR assessments.
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#8 Posted : 30 August 2007 14:14:00(UTC)
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Posted By Seamus O Sullivan
Hi
Yes I agree with Ian that would be best
seamus
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#9 Posted : 31 August 2007 10:29:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bob Youel

one big problem throughout industry is that manufacturers manufacture to specific standards e.g. BSEN for pipe elbows etc but the corresponding installation standards do not exist so; as an example; all the effort a manufacturer goes to is wasted when the elbows are put in cross threaded etc

its mainly down to poor site installation standards

on many occasions when installing equipment we had to stop contractors working because their installation standards / culture was poor
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