Managing Relief Valve Calibrations 1

[krb]

I have a question about management programs for Relief Valves around the use of spare valves. For example, we have three identical locations for relief valves in the same service and 5 total valves. Threee relief valves are in service and two spares. When the calibration is due on one of the valves, a work order is executed and the in service valve is removed and the spare is put in its place. The spare has already been repaired and calibrated and is appropriate for that service.

How do you manage this scenairo related to P&ID's? We have several methods, and on one case at a site an audit finding where two valves in the same service had the tags reversed as to what they were on the P&ID (PRV-1 was in the location where PRV-2 should have been per the P&ID). I am looking to improve our process without violating any OSHA rules.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[don1980]

I think you can manage that with notes on the the relevant P&IDs. At the locations where these valve are installed, put a P&ID note. In that note list the tag numbers for the 5 PSVs, and state that they are identical and interchangeable. At any given time, the installed PSV is one of the 5 listed PSVs.

I can't imagine that an OSHA inspector would have any objection to that management system. You've identified the valves that are designed for that installation, and as long as you ensure that one of those is actually in the identified location, then you've satisfied the PSI (process safety information) requirement.

 

[krb]

Don,
Thanks for the comments. We are recommending to sites to label each location with the RV number on the P&ID so the tag stas at teh location. Adding the acceptable valves to the P&ID in a note wold be a plus, the only downside is keeping that up to date when a valve is discarded ad another purchased as a replacement.

 

[CMA010]

Normally you do not have to change the P&ID's as the P&ID's only state the functional tag number and not the equipment specific numbers. If you swap the PRV's the numbers on the P&ID's do not change but in your maintenance system (e.g. SAP) the functional location and history is updated.