Publications Details

Steps required in the pursuit of quantitative risk management processes for high pressure systems

Priddy, G.T.

Codes and standards have served remarkably well in reducing both the frequency and consequences of pressure vessel and piping system failures. Past successful uses of safety standards show that safety can indeed be designed into potentially hazardous systems. Operational maintenance and inspection programs can also ensure and perpetuate design and manufactured reliability. However, as more advanced and challenging applications with high pressure systems and potentially hazardous operations are encountered we need to sharpen our technology, estimate reliability, quantify consequences, and manage risks with cost-effective process. Practical systems are constructed of several components, and design standards are not always available for every component. A variable level of safety is, therefore, admitted within a system and some assessment of the overall safety is desired. Additionally, when potential personnel safety consequences are large but isolated, secondary protective steps should be considered such as barricading, protective enclosures, or remote operation. This paper discusses rationale and activates that are based on probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methods. While general application of PRA is not advocated at this time, certain derivative parts are suggested for use in closed-loop, risk management activities. Risk management process developments such as development of probabilistic data for threats to system safety and system response, component design requirements, system safety rules, distributed safety goals and technical derivations of numerical criteria are encouraged. Suggested activities are proposed as topics for future High Pressure Technology Development Activities.