Engineered to Fail

SIL (Safety Integrity Level) rating of four (4), the highest rating available

Bursting Discs that insures process reliability, productivity, and profitability

Engineered to fail. It sounds preposterous! Imagine a car company boldly asserting that they’ve engineered their vehicles to break down. Consider the ramifications of a Personal Computer maker revealing that their computers were designed to crash. Engineering for failure, simply put is not a sound business strategy, except when it comes to bursting discs (also known as rupture discs) used in process safety systems. These sacrificial parts are designed to burst when pressure within production equipment exceeds a certain threshold by breaking down, stopping the process to prevent or mitigate hazardous events.

Bursting discs (rupture discs) are critical instruments utilised so that companies can ensure process safety as set forth by the International Safety Standards (IEC 61508/61511). These devices prove most effective when they fail according to pre-established specifications. Inferior bursting discs (rupture discs) often cause unnecessary and expensive production shutdowns due to the lack of quality testing and expertise in manufacturing.

Continental Disc Corporation specialises in engineering and manufacturing the highest calibre bursting discs (rupture discs) on the market. Intertek Consulting Services (the leading provider of safety system assessment and verification) has performed an independent analysis of Continental Disc Corporation HPX, BDI (Burst Disc Indicator), and BDI-FLX products. Each one of these products scored an equivalent SIL (Safety Integrity Level) rating of four (4), the highest rating available.

Shane Bacon, CDC’s Director of Quality and Compliance states, “Through detailed probabilistic failure mode analysis and evaluation of our products, we can confidently say that our HPX and burst disc indicator products provide our customers with the highest levels of safety protection.”

For over 50 years, Continental Disc Corporation has manufactured premier bursting discs (rupture discs) products for a variety of process industries. Aviation, aerospace, and defence sectors have turned to us to solve their complex, specialised pressure protection and pressure activation needs. CDC’s reverse acting rupture discs are proven to be essential to chemical processing industries seeking to operate systems near designated pressure capacity. Petroleum refining and hydrocarbon industries rely on the sealing capabilities of our rupture discs for cost-effective system protection with a focus on fugitive emissions. Beverage, food, dairy and pharmaceutical industries depend on our sanitary line of discs, specifically developed to meet stringent purity requirements.

When it comes to safety, there is no room for compromise or margin for error. Complex manufacturing infrastructures require safety systems that reduce the risk of hazardous events, while ensuring process reliability, productivity, and profitability. Upon rigorous assessment, Intertek awarded our HPX, BDI, and BDI-FLX products the coveted SIL rating of four (4), a score that cannot be improved upon.

Assentech is proud to supply the Continental Disc Corporation product range.

After conducting a Third Party Witness Inspection, I was most impressed with Ewart and his team, their professionalism, and product knowledge I found to be excellent.

Ian Johnston

Director, RAK Inspection

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Assentech were subcontracted to assemble and install a 25m geodesic dome for Shaft G on the Lee Tunnel project. My experience with Assentech from pre-contract through to assembly has been very positive. Unlike other subcontractors I have experienced on this project, Assentech had a very positive attitude to producing the level of documentation required for a project of this scale. Leading to a high quality pre construction packaged approved in a timely manner. The communication regarding the manufacturing process was first class allowing us to easily plan our works and prepare the site. Dome assembly was carried out very efficiently and completed to programme. The task was correctly resourced and well supervised. The work force had a positive attitude and carried out the task safely. In summary from my perspective it has been a very easy subcontract to manage with a high quality finished product.

Robert Colthorpe

Site Agent – Lee Tunnel Project, Morgan Sindall

Emergency-Relief-Valve-Pilot-Operated-2500a  Assentech wins supplier excellence award from Eastman Chemicals

We were extremely pleased with the level of service and professionalism demonstrated by Assentech, right from our initial enquiry, through delivery and post installation. As a recipient of only two of these awards made by Eastman Chemical Company in the UK, based on performance in 2014, Assentech are rightly proud of their achievements.

Robert Dodgson

TH3 Project Procurement Lead, Eastman Chemical Company

Emergency-Relief-Valve-Pilot-Operated-2500a  AssentechIFR Installations at Vopak, Teesside

As you said “you delivered what it said on the tin”. On time and on budget.  Your up front engineering to determine the suitability of your product for our application was second to none, i have not seen anyone else in the industry pay as much attention to detail before you get the purchase order number as Assentech.

Garry Lee

Project Manager, Vopak Limited

Emergency-Relief-Valve-Pilot-Operated-2500a  AssentechIFR Installations at Vopak, Teesside

Assentech have supported our Navigator Terminal (formerly known as Vopak Teesside) on two important ~
projects by providing technical assistance and supplying and fitting a total of 11 Internal floating roofs. Both projects have been completed on schedule and on budget. Assentech have provided an excellent level of experience and front end engineering support with high quality drawings and documentation. Their specialist on site labour have worked collaboratively with us and Assentech have proven to be open, honest and flexible partners.
We have experience of both their Heavy Duty Pontoon type and Full Contact IFR’s and we continually monitor operation and performance of all lFR units Installed on site and consider the Assentech supplied Matrix brand to be the best in the market with exceptional build quality and rigidity. Our clients have inspected the installations and have always remarked upon the build quality and have been impressed with their strength in fully supporting up to four people without noticeable deformation. The design and construction of their stainless steel shoe seals continue to prove to operate excellently with no noticeable reduction in performance or flotation ability over the time since Installation.
Assentsch have proven to be extremely competitive on price and their installation and inspection activities have always been thorough. Navigator therefore have no hesitation in recommending Assentech to other companies considering their services.

Brian Beddow

Project Manager, Navigator Terminals Seal Sands