Applications of Blinds

[liberoSimulation]

As everybody knows that any plant has so many blinds for positive isolation of equipment and with various types of blinds such as figure 8, spacer and blind, slip blind or vapor blind. My questions:
1- Does any one can give from his experience the applications of such blinds and the types used for various piping connected to equipment?
As I know that such blinds are being used to provide positive isolation for personnel entry to equipment (i.e. Safety driven practice) which are spared, or due frequent cleaning or regeneration (or catalyst replacement)
Examples, any spare equipment and dryers/reactors..etc
2- The second question: what type of blind is used for various piping connected to equipment?
As I know that depending on the pipe size fig.8 blind is used for piping up to 14" and others spacers are usually provided.
Note: fig.8, spacer and blinds are rated as piping spec.
But slip blind (or vapor blind) can be used for isolation as well, but it should not have same rating as piping but it is with small thickness.

Any experience is highly appreciated

Cheers

 

[MortenA]

I think most people find that the spectable (figure 8) blind is easier to use in small pipesize (below 16" i think) but it can become dangerous to use in larger pipes on horizontal lines (it can clip hands/fingers when its released if it swings down uncontrolled).

The spacers used on large size pipes to provide space for a spade.

Best regards

Morten