【Safety Management and Standardization of Special Equipment】For periodic inspections of rupture disc devices, is it necessary to remove the rupture discs for inspection?

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Ensure proper safety management of special equipment – Standardization ensures safety! [Special Equipment Safety Management and Standardization] – Comprehensive summary post! Constantly being updated – feel free to communicate! ! ! https://bbs.hcbbs.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=5718553 (Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum (Hua Haichuan Liu hcbbs)) Everyone is welcome to participate in the discussions--------------------------------------------------------- For periodic inspections of blast valve devices, is it necessary to remove the blast valves for inspection? A reader asked a question regarding Shangqiu. I’ve checked many specifications, and taking into account the actual conditions on site, I’ll discuss it in detail today after mixing and crushing it. Terms and definitions (original text of GB/T 567.1-2012) 3.1 Bursting disc device: A non-self-closing pressure relief device composed of components such as a bursting disc (or bursting disc assembly) and a holder (or retaining ring). At the set burst temperature, when the pressure difference across the rupture disc reaches a predetermined value, the disc immediately activates (breaks or detaches) to release the fluid medium. 3.2 Bursting disc: In a burst disc safety device, it is a pressure-sensitive element that activates rapidly due to excessive pressure. 3.3 The bursting disc assembly is a non-detachable unit composed of a bursting disc along with one or more auxiliary components such as brackets, sealing membranes, backpressure brackets, reinforcing rings, and protective films. 3.4 The holder is a structural component that is installed in conjunction with the burst disc to ensure its accurate positioning, reliable sealing, and proper operation. The question from our readers comes from TSG 92-2026 \"Safety Technical Regulations for Safety Accessories of Pressure-Type Special Equipment\", section E5 – Use and Management, sub-section E5.2 – Regular self-inspections. During the period of use, explosive device systems must undergo regular self-inspections, which include daily inspections as well as annual inspections. E5.2.1 Routine inspections (1) The user unit shall regularly check whether there is any leakage of medium from the burst disc device ； If the rupture disc is installed externally, it is necessary to check for any surface damage, corrosion, or significant deformation on the disc ； (2) The user unit shall regularly check whether the installation direction of the rupture disc device is correct, and verify that the burst pressure and burst temperature indicated on the nameplate meet the operational requirements ； (3) When the burst disc device is connected in series on the inlet side of the safety valve, the user shall regularly check whether the pressure indicating device between the burst disc device and the safety valve shows any pressure ； (4) The user unit shall regularly check whether there is any deformation, cracks, or extensive corrosion on the surface of the clamp ； (5) If the above issues are detected during routine inspections, the user unit shall immediately replace the blast disc or clip, and record the handling process in the safety technical documentation. E5.2.2 Annual inspection The annual inspection shall include at least the following: (1) Verifying whether the information recorded in the safety technical documents matches the products actually in use on site ； (2) Check whether the exhaust connection is unobstructed, whether there is severe corrosion, and whether the support is secure ； (3) If shut-off valves are installed at the inlet and outlet of the rupture disc device, these valves must remain fully open during normal operation of the system (by means of lead seals or locking). The design and diameter of the shut-off valves must not impede the safe discharge function of the rupture disc device ； (4) If the above issues are identified during the annual inspection, the user unit shall immediately verify the consistency between the safety technical documents and the actual conditions of use on site, and take corrective actions to ensure the safe discharge of the rupture disc device ； If it is necessary to replace the burst disc or clamp, each item of the routine inspection should be checked to ensure that the newly installed burst disc device can be used safely. At the same time, the processing procedure is recorded in the safety technical archive. Regarding the question raised by the reader, periodic inspections do not exist; only routine inspections and annual inspections are available. For now, let’s consider routine inspections and annual inspections as periodic inspections. Under the standards, routine inspections only require checking for any leaks in the medium. Only if the rupture disc is exposed is it necessary to check for any damage or deformation on its surface. There is no requirement for this during the annual inspection; only the surface of the gripper needs to be inspected. Thus, the question raised by the reader has an answer – there is no need to remove the burst disc for inspection at all. Why would readers ask such a question? That is because of GB/T 567.2-2012, \"Safety devices for rupture discs\", Chapter 5: Operation and management, 5.2: Routine inspections, 5.2.1: The entity using the device shall regularly inspect the rupture disc safety devices; the inspection items include: a) Whether there is any leakage, deformation, corrosion, or damage to the rupture disc ； b) Are there any obvious damages, corrosion, or deformation on the surface of the exposed rupture disc? ； c) Is the installation direction correct, and do the parameters on the nameplate meet the operational requirements? ； d) Whether the gripper is deformed, cracked, or severely corroded ； e) When connected in series with a safety valve, is the pressure indication in the intermediate chamber normal? There are requirements regarding whether the rupture disc has leaks, deformation, corrosion, or damage, so he believes it is necessary to remove it in order to inspect the rupture disc. Think about it: if it needs to be taken apart for inspection, then there would be no option b. Nor will it be revised to check for leaks in the rupture disc device. So essentially, it is to check whether there is any leakage in the rupture disc device; however, GB/T 567.1-2012 falls short in this regard, which is why it was changed to refer to the rupture disc device in TSG 92-2026. The TSG 92-2026 \"Safety Technical Regulations for Safety Accessories of Pressure-bearing Special Equipment\" will come into effect on July 1, 2026; thus, such ambiguities should no longer exist.