DSM Melamine - Urea Production Plant UF1
Customer
DSM Melamine, the Netherlands
Case
The UREA Production Plant UF 1 had not been in use since 1997 as concrete and steel were severely corroded, mainly due to urea. In 2002 they consulted SGS INTRON to give consultation on the best way forward.
Investigated in detail were the material conditions of the prestressed concrete beams, the concrete pril towers and basements, the preservating coating system of the concrete and steel structures, reinforcement of the concrete (severe corrosion) and steel structures (severe corrosion).
On the basis of the inspection results and the known material deterioration processes of the materials in place, the safety of the construction was calculated together with third parties. A risk assessment analysis was drafted with respect to maintenance and demolition.
Solution
The thorough study, inspections and a risk management analyses showed that parts of the plant were structurally incompetent and constituted a danger to people and the environment. The study learnt that demolition was the most economical solution. DSM followed the advice of SGS INTRON.
Recommendations were also given with respect to the service life conditions (SLS and ULS) of the construction. A monitoring scheme of the construction (safety) was developed for the time in between inspection and demolition.