Piping and Equipment Isolation

Note: Double Barrier Concept is a bigger picture, where as Positive isolation (A.K.A Double Valve Isolation)
is a specific type of it.

1.0 8.2.2 Standard isolation

8.2.2.1 General
Valve isolation is the standard way of separating systems. This type of isolation is
provided in all cases where no specific tightness requirements are justified and where
planned use of the isolation can be foreseen during the design stage.

2. For each process line entering and leaving the plant or unit, valved isolation
SHALL [PS] be provided.

3. Actuated valves may be counted as a valid isolation valve in the valve isolation
philosophy provided the valve is a block valve type and the actuated valve itself does
not require isolation for the purpose of on-stream intrusive maintenance.

5. Single valve isolation may be used instead of double valve isolation for the following:
a. at a pressure rating break point, a single valve might be sufficient if two valves in
series are available at a second isolation point at the high pressure side;
For example, a pump can have a single suction valve when the discharge is
equipped with two tandem valves, this could also apply for control valve
isolations in some cases as shown in Figure 8.
b. single valve isolation inside a (package) unit/plant for pumps, relief valves, in
combination with a vent valve is acceptable if it is the design intent to shutdown,
depressurize, - and in situations of very-toxic (1.3.2) fluids - flush, purge and vent
the unit/plant before intrusive maintenance is performed, in case a valve passes;
c. single valve isolation at equipment level where boundary isolation of the plant at
e.g., battery limit or system level has been achieved using the required method of
isolation (e.g., double valve isolation with bleed valves and spading), to avoid
large scale oxygen ingress in piping systems within the plant/system isolation
boundary;
d. at equipment level where boundary isolation of the plant (e.g., battery limit or
system level) has been achieved using the required method of isolation e.g.,
double valve isolation with bleed valves and spading, to prevent large scale
oxygen ingress in piping systems within the plant/system isolation boundary.

6.Where accessory equipment items are contained within the isolation boundaries of the
major equipment they are servicing, and these accessory items will not be maintained
while the major equipment remains pressurised, additional isolation valves may be
omitted if the isolations provided for the major equipment are used instead.

7. For acceptable double block and bleed solutions integrated in a single valve body,
reference is made to (8.2.2.3).

Valve isolation is only a step in achieving positive isolation.

 Piping and Equipment Isolation
2.0 Bleed Provision
9. Valve isolation SHALL [PS] be complemented with bleed in accordance with the
arrangements shown in (Table 10), as illustrated in (Figure 6).

1. The take off point of the bleed should be at the top of the line, especially in fouling
systems.
Rationale: Where a bleed valve is provided, the purpose of the bleed is to verify that
the isolation valve has seated and tightness has been reached before spading, and
to provide a means of draining or depressurising the volume between the
spade/blind and isolation valve.
a. Alternatively, the bleed may be installed at the bottom of the line provided that a
gland sealed rod out device can be attached to the drain valve.

10. For all fluid services other than those mentioned in (8.2.2.1, Item 9), a single bleed
valve SHALL [PS] be provided, with the bleed valve blanked or plugged, in the
following cases (as illustrated in Figure 6):
a. between an isolation valve and spade/blind for line sizes DN 50 (NPS 2) and
above;
b. at control valves with a by-pass;
c. where double block valves with a bleed are used to safely turn a spectacle blind
or insert a spade while both process ends remain under process conditions;
d. where valves in fouling service are frequently switched.
Piping and Equipment Isolation
Piping and Equipment Isolation
 Piping and Equipment Isolation
3.0 8.2.3 Positive isolation (A.K.A Double Valve Isolation)
8.2.3.1 General
Positive isolation is a procedure whereby physical separation between systems is
achieved.
Closing valves does not achieve positive isolation.
Positive isolation is also often referred to as “spading” in industry practice.

1. Positive isolation SHALL [PS] be provided when any of the following apply:
a. hot work is to be done;
b. equipment is to be pressure tested above the design pressure;
c. entry by personnel is required for inspection or maintenance;
d. equipment is to be opened or removed and not replaced by a spool piece whilst
the remainder of the unit is still in operation;
e. where required as per (3.4.1, item 3).

3.4.1 Item 3

2. If personnel are to enter the equipment, the points of positive isolation should be as
close as possible to the equipment.

3. Positive isolation shall be achieved by means of the following:

a. spectacle blinds, including quick-acting blinds;
b. spades;
c. removable spools with blind flanges;
d. blind plates.

8. Where valved isolation is required to be executed as double valve isolation, it

SHALL [PS] only be applied to the following:
a. pumps;
b. control valves with by-pass sets;
c. level gauges;
d. other on-stream equipment isolation.
Piping and Equipment Isolation
 Piping and Equipment Isolation
6.0 Other Cases for Isolation
4. Where pressure can be on either side of the battery-limit or unit limit, the arrangement
in Figure 11 should be used.
Rationale: This allows isolation of unit A while unit B remains in operation and vice
versa. This arrangement has only one spectacle blind in order to prevent selecting
the wrong one.
Figure 11 Positive isolation where pressure can be on either side of production
units

11. A double block and bleed should be applied to prevent product contamination.
a. A double block and bleed should be applied to isolate utility connections which
are regularly and quickly needed.

12. Where cavity relief provision is required for isolation valves, following arrangement
shall be followed for double block valves with bleed connection, see Figure 7.

5. The use of quick-acting blinds or line blind valves (e.g., "Hammer") for frequent pipe
blinding shall comply with the following:
a. all parts of the quick acting blind shall be suitable for the fluid medium;
b. operating these blinds can expose large openings to atmosphere, the quick
acting blind shall be installed between isolation valves, with vents and drains on
both sides of the quick acting blind;
c. quick-acting blinds shall not be used in following fluid services:
i. flashing fluid services (1.3.2);
ii. fouling /scaling fluid services (1.3.3)
 Piping and Equipment Isolation
8.2.2.2 Isolation of control valves
1. The following cases may be considered:
a. the configuration with double block valves upstream and downstream of the
control valve with a capped/blanked bleeds, see Figure 8;

b. if the downstream block valve is located at a piping class break point the second
block valve may be omitted, see Figure 9;
Figure 9 Control valve isolation with a piping class break point

c. in very high-pressure systems when flanges have to be avoided to the maximum

extent, two control valves in parallel may be installed each equipped with a block
valve upstream and no further isolation facilities, see Figure 10.
This implies acceptance of a system shut down when both control valves fail.

2. Where isolation is provided to control valves, the failure direction of the control valve
should be considered.
Rationale: If the control valve fails in the closed position and is not fitted with a hand
wheel, it might not be possible to drain via a single upstream or downstream drain
valve.
8.2.2.3 Integral double-block-and-bleed valves
1. Double-seated valves with one-piece closure members (e.g., gate, ball and plug
valves) and a body bleed shall not be considered as proper double-block-and-bleed
valves since a common mode failure might make both isolations ineffective.
a. They may be used to give a more reliable isolation than single-seated valves, or
to prevent product contamination (e.g., in oil movement operations)