Sight-Glass Inspection & Maintenance
SIGHT-GLASS INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE
Information provided by a number of our SLP partners has shown an increase in the number of tanker sight-glass failures across the country and internationally. Sight-glasses are failing due to internal cracking largely found where the sight–glass bolt holes are drilled through the body of the Acrylic flange.
Failures are most likely being caused due to long term environmental exposure, high temperatures during steaming/cleaning, corrosion and expansion of flange bolts placing stress on the blot holes and exposure to incompatible products, or a combination of all?
Photo’s on our flyer also show where a drive-away protection gate locking pin has caused damage to a sight-glass body and this may, over time initiate a fracture or failure of the Acrylic body?
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Transport Operators/Owners/Drivers
- Regular inspection of all sight-glasses, including manifold sight-glasses, looking for any signs of cracking. Fractures normally starting along the pre-drilled holes and/or from the edge of the sight-glass body.
SLP Authorised Inspection Locations (AIL’s)
- AIL’s must pay particular attention to inspecting sight-glasses during their 6-monthly Pass-2-Load inspection checks. Any sight-glass found showing signs of cracking must be rejected at inspection and replaced.
Safe Load Program
- SLP Random vehicle inspectors will be looking for signs of fractures and our inspectors are under instructions to fail any tanker found with cracked sight-glasses.
General:
- It’s important that the correct flange bolt torque pressures are used to avoid undue stress when installing sight-glasses. Over tightening flange bolts may in some cases be the cause of stress-fractures.
- Please refer to your supplier/manufactures recommendations for sight glass installation and torque settings.
- It is also extremely important that operators ensure sight-glasses are compatible with the product being loaded on the tanker. Note: Many sight-glasses are not compatible with ethanol.
SLP Tanker Sight-Glass Fractures Flyer
