Why Gas Free Inspection?
As experts in engineering and construction or industrial activity, at MSAA we understand the risks involved in operating and performing maintenance in hazardous environments where combustible materials may be present.
The need for a gas free inspection service
Whether you are conducting regular maintenance, hot work, cold work or construction within vessels, lines, barges or vessels, the safety of your infrastructure and personnel is of paramount importance. Our gas free inspections allow your staff to operate in a safe environment, ensuring that the status of all enclosed spaces is properly assessed and monitored and enabling the issue of a permit-to-work as part of standard safety procedures.
Free Working Environment
Working within the oil, gas and chemicals sector, one is often exposed to highly dangerous work environments. For those who have to conduct regular maintenance work or construction within shore vessels, lines, barges or vessels, safety takes on an even higher standard.
Before performing hot or cold work, or allowing fire exposure, a gas free inspection certificate must be obtained in order to ensure that the working environment is safe and secure. Maintenance and repair work can fall into several categories:
- Cold work includes any repairs or alterations that do not involve heat, fire or spark producing operations
- Hot work includes any repairs or alterations that involve drilling, riveting, welding, burning or other heat, fire or spark producing operations
- Fire exposure includes fire, sparks, open light or using surfaces with a temperature that is equal to or higher than the minimum ignition temperature of the possible remaining liquids or gases in the cargo vessel or enclosed environment
Our Solutions
Besides performing standard Oxygen and Lower Explosion Limit tests, residue within the vessel or enclosed environment needs to be examined. In addition, our Gas Free Inspection indicate:
- The last cargo contained in the area (and sometimes the last three cargoes if available)
- The method used for cleaning the inspection zone
- The location of the working area
- A description of the work
After a careful examination of the tested areas and a review of the maintenance work to be performed, our specialists will issue a judgement on the safety of the enclosed space:
- Not safe for entry
- Safe for entry and no hot work
- Safe for entry and hot work activity
Our specialists also indicate any additional remarks depending on local regulations and specific circumstances and also define the validity time of the Gas Free Inspection. In general these report have to be renewed every 4/8/24 hours
