RBI is a key element of any Risk Based Asset Integrity Management strategy, which itself may be a key component of an overall "Availability Assessment".

The Availability Assessment is primarily driven by contractual obligations to supply product. The purpose of the subcomponents is to ensure the "Availability" requirement is satisfied. Therefore, each task is on the critical path and as such a very high standard of workmanship, quality control and quality assurance is required.

It has been suggested that RBI reduces the scope of work for shutdown inspection and in many cases allows inspection intervals to be significantly longer compared with time based prescriptive practices. Up to the commencement of an RBI inspection program these features appear true. However, focusing inspection on items that have high probabilities of failure invariably leads to the detection of a high number of critical anomalies, which leads to an increase in the amount of inspection and maintenance work rather than a reduction.

Presenter Robert Nuttall, Principal Engineer with IONIK Consulting, is speaking on RBI next week in West Perth. The presentation will be held on Thursday 29th August at the Institute of Engineers Auditorium, 712 Murray Street, West Perth: arrival time is 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start.

Bob Nuttall has 25+ years' international experience in Management, Monitoring, Mitigation and Control of corrosion, with specialist knowledge in the fields of, electrochemistry, materials selection and specification, and the development and implementation of risk based assessment / inspection programs.

It is a free event with refreshments available, courtesy of the Australian Corrosion Association and the Risk Engineering Society.

To allow for correct catering, please RSVP to Karen Hawkins at IEAust. Phone (08) 9321 3340, fax (08) 9481 4332 or email [email protected]