Corrosion Under Pipe Support (CUPS) Inspection is a potential menace that plagues piping systems in several industries. Unfortunately, CUPS can slowly corrode your system over time and the results of leaving it too long unattended are dire safety risks, expensive repairs or even worse, a total systems failure. At A-Star Testing & Inspection, we provide experienced CUPS inspections to help retain the safety and functionality of your assets.
What is Corrosion Under Pipe Support (CUPS)?
CUPS can develop when moisture, debris andchemicals get trapped between pipes and their supports; usually in hard to see places. This makes it difficult to detect through conventional visual inspections. This unseen corrosion over time results as pipeline wall thinning, leaks or in some cases just a burst because of which operations come to a halt and risk of safety is always there. Offshore platforms, refineries, chemical plants and power generation facilities have been the most affected industries in CUPS
The Importance of CUPS Inspection
CUPS inspection is essential for the following reasons:
- Reducing Structural Failures: before registering a leak, spill or breakage, identify corrosion early and this may generate a significant change.
- Safety: Corrosion poses a safety risk, particularly in systems that operate with high-pressure or hazardous fluids.
- Asset Life Extension: Performing the right inspection and generation of piping asset reports and treating them on time to prolong the life of structures helps in reducing long-term maintenance, repair, and replacement costs.
- Adherence to Industry Codes: Routine inspections make sure the property stays safe for employees and patrons, in accordance with laws that can hold you legally accountable.
A-Star Testing & Inspection’s CUPS Inspection Process
A-Star Testing & Inspection employs advanced techniques to identify, assess, and manage CUPS effectively. Our process includes:
- Visual Inspection: Our experts do a visual inspection of pipes and supports looking for any visible signs of corrosion like rust or colour change.
- NDT (Non-Destructive Testing): This uses techniques such as Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), and Eddy Current Testing (ECT), allowing us to find corrosion beneath the pipe supports without causing any damage. Such techniques give exact measurements of degradation and wall thickness.
- Infrared Thermography: Used to show temperature differences which measure where the corrosion or moisture is building up that is often not accessible.
- Corrosion Mapping: Provide a detailed map indicating the severity of corrosion for maintenance plan preparation.
- Reporting and Recommendations: We offer detailed reports of our findings, as well as guidance on ways in which you can mitigate the risk associated with any corrosion we have identified. Our team also provides preventative maintenance tips to mitigate future risks.
Why Choose A-Star Testing & Inspection for CUPS Inspection?
- Experienced Staff: Our trained inspectors have decades of experience inspecting CUPS—with a proven history of providing reliable results.
- Advanced Technologies: Supporting our survey teams are the latest equipment sets and various no-disruption corrosion detection approaches.
- Turnkey Solutions: We provide tailored solutions to address corrosion risks, from inspection over reporting through remedial recommendations.
- Compliance: We will ensure that your systems remain compliant with regulatory elements and standard from throughout industry.
- Affordable: Save money on expensive repair work and costly downtime. With our services, you catch problems early.
Conclusion
The most obvious defect that can cause an unexpected failure is Corrosion Under Pipe Support (CUPS) and it representsone of the biggest risks in piping systemswith good chances to be detected by inspections and prevented. At A-Star Testing & Inspection, we provide the best in CUPS inspection to bring security and the life of your structural surface.
If you are a Pittsburgh area utility company, spend the time to save on it by relying on A-Star Testing & Inspection for CUPS. Call us now and schedule your inspection today! Keep your valuable investments away from secretive corrosion risks.