ENGINEER’S STAMP: CONTRACTOR’S STAMP:

The Contractor declares that this submission has passed the contractor’s
QA/QC procedure and is in accordance with the requirements of the
Contract.
Signature

AA For Approval CZ CZ MPJ 20121105

REV DESCRIPTION PREPARED CHECKED APPROVED DATE

PÖYRY ENERGY AG

CONSORTIUM
AL - ARRAB CONTRACTING COMPANY LTD
SEPCOIII ELECTRIC POWER CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION

PROJECT: TITLE:
31002
LOCATION:
East Coast AIR BLOWING PROCEDURE
PACKAGE:
“P” Power Plant
DOCUMENT No.: REV:
SCALE:
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Sheet 1 of
Engineer of Record
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SECTION INDEX

1.  PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................................... 3 

2.  INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 3 
3.  RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................................................................... 3 
4.  DESCRIPTION OF SAFETY PRECAUTION OF FLUSHING ACTIVITIES ......................................... 3 
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1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this procedure is to define the safety precautions to be established to ensure that air
blowing activity is undertaken in a manner that both personnel carrying out the works and personnel
working in surrounded area will not be exposed to hazards which may derive from this specific activity.

2. INTRODUCTION

Air blowing is a method that utilizes the kinetic energy of air to remove all rust, or other contaminants on
surfaces, and any foreign materials left over from construction, so as to prevent the possibility of physical
damage to the plant equipment, particularly rotating equipment, filters and instruments.

Air blowing, using air from a utility air supply or a temporary compressor, can be carried out in the
following ways:

• In the air-accumulation method, a column, drum, or vessel associated to the piping envelope are filled
with compressed air. Then, the pipe at the downstream end is blown out by opening the valve. This
procedure is commonly used for instrument-air, plant-air, nitrogen, fuel-gas, hydrocarbon and
cold-service lines.

• In the direct-blowing method, the pipe (in general for small size piping) to be air-blown is connected to
the air supply source using a temporary pipe or hose. The method often is applied in chemical lines and
instrument and plant-air lines.

• Air (Cardboard) blasting method is used where it is difficult to get sufficient velocities for air blowing due
to no buffer vessel for blowing. First, one end of the pipe is covered by a thin polymer film. The pressure
is slowly raised by connecting air through a hose or temporary connection. When the film bursts, the
shock wave carries the dirt along with it. The blowing or blasting procedure is repeated until foreign
particles are no longer visible in the discharge. If necessary, the thickness of the film can be gradually
increased so that higher pressures can be used. With air blowing the cleanliness of the piping system can
be determined by placing a piece of white cloth on a piece of wood.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

Pre-Commissioning Manager is responsible for ensure that the project safety requirements and specific
safety issues related to Pre-commissioning activities are considered.

All pre-commissioning personnel assist the Pre-Commissioning Manager to ensure the compliance with
the established schedule, project and safety requirements.

4. DESCRIPTION OF SAFETY PRECAUTION OF FLUSHING ACTIVITIES

4.1. General Instruction

The following general instructions shall be followed and adhered to.

• Dedicated work permit must be obtained following specific procedure.

• An emergency procedure has to be issued considering unwanted events coming from blowing activity.
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• All personnel working at site must be informed in advance when blowing is going to be carried out.

4.2. Notification

Before starting any operation, the Pre-Commissioning personnel responsible of blowing has to give
notification to all people present at site. Therefore a communication has to be sent to Construction
Manager, Vendors, Sub-contractors and Client which work at site. Due to the risks of the activity, the
responsible of the blowing shall give a notification at least 24 hours prior to starting the operation. The
notification can be sent early due to the high complexity of the activity or area in which the activity has to
be done.

The communication has to contain, at least, the following information:

• Area involved in the activity. It is better to annex a plot plan with highlighting the area.

• The extension of the area to be fenced off.

• Time and data of starting the activity.

• The location of the discharge point.

• All temporary roads to be closed.

4.3. Safety Instruction

Pre-Commissioning responsible for the blowing has to guarantee, through subcontractors, that at site the
following actions are put in place:

• Install, at the discharge point, a barrier in order to stop any solid material exiting during blowing,
causing damage to adjacent equipment and or injury to personnel. If this is not possible 25 meter around
the efflux point has to be left free from person and materials.

• Fence off at safe distance the exhaust point.

• Post signs around the barricaded area showing:

“DANGER: NO ENTRY TO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL”

“AIR BLOWING IN OPERATION”

“USE PROPER EAR PROTECTION”

• Install a visible pressure gauge on the system to be pressurized up, in order to continuously monitor the
pressure build up in the circuits.

• Isolate any electrical connections and ensure that can not be energized.

• Install plastic sheets (bursting sheet) at one end of the system keep attention to not exceed the
pressure as indicated in the relative procedure.
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• Install the compressor, when this is requested, keeping particular attention in verifying that all
connections are proper jointed.

• Remove at the end of the blowing all materials (e.g. temporary pipe, silencer, target plates…) from the
area.

Pre-Commissioning responsible for the blowing has to carry out the following activities.

• Obtain dedicated work permit, if required.

• Inspect the system verifying that all mitigation measures are put in place. Particular attention has to be
given in verifying if the system, at the blowing point, is properly supported /anchored. The check-list
shown in annex 1 must be used.

• Suspend all activities inside the barricaded area when the activity is carrying on.

• Verify that all people involved in the activity wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipments (PPE).

• Carry out a tool box meeting before starting the activity.

• Activate the emergency procedure in case an unwanted situation happen.

An HSE Officer has to assist the Pre-Commissioning team to prevent non authorized personnel or
vehicles from entering the barricaded area. Pre-Commissioning Supervisor has to fill out the check list
shown in Annex 1. The activity can start only if all applicable answers are positives. When one or more
answers are negatives Supervisor, involving if necessary his Superintendent or Pre-Commissioning
Manager, must find proper mitigation measures. Any decision taken has to be written in the form. The
activity can’t start until all outstanding issues are resolved.

The check list filled out has to be handed over to Pre-Commissioning Superintendent who maintains a
store. During the activity the check list filled out has to be available at site and, when requested, has to be
shown to the HSE Officer.

In annex 1 is shown a check list to fill out before starting blowing activity.

4.4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

In addition to the PPE required for the normal activities (helmet, safety shoes, goggles, gloves) inside the
plant, it is mandatory to use the following personal protection:

• The people at site directly involved on the activity, the correct hearing protection, face shield and
gloves shall be used.

• The persons not involved but close to the area shall use correct hearing protection.

APPENDIX 1 - TEST ASSEMBLY INSPECTION CHECK-LIST

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SYSTEM SUB-SYSTEM

DATE / TIME OF INSPECTION DD/MM/YY HH . MM

CHECK
DESCRIPTION
YES NO N.A
1 Dedicated work permit obtained.
2 System under blowing is marked up on P&ID.
3 System under blowing is inspected.
4 System under blowing is properly supported.
5 At the blowing point the area involved is barricaded off.

6 Tool box meeting done.

7 Compressor is installed correctly.
8 Hoses are in good condition.
9 Around the barricaded area the following signs are posted:
10 Around the barricaded area the following signs are posted:
“AIR BLOWING IN PROGRESS”
“USE EAR PROTECTION”
“NOT ENTRY”
11 All personnel not involved in the air blowing must leave the restricted area.
12 An HSE Officer is present on the area.
13 All involved personnel must wear PPE (ear protection).
14 Special PPE (_________________________________________) are worn.

15 At the discharge point a barrier is installed.

16 All road involved in the activity are closed
Remark

SUBCONTRACTOR SIGNATURE

PRE-COMMISSIONING SIGNATURE

Copy to Pre-commissioning Superintendent