Quality Assurance (QA) is the primary tool in the end-user's arsenal to ensure the mechanical integrity of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) equipment such as pipe, duct and vessels. QA is a critical step that should be taken by the plant owner during the pre-commissioning phases of design, specification, and shop and field construction. QA is also critical during post-commissioning preventive maintenance, project lessons learned, and updated specifications and project procedures based on lessons learned. This paper addresses the opportunities available to protect the plant owner's interests, why it is important to exercise these rights and responsibilities, and how the plant owner can do so effectively. The importance of QA is emphasized for the following four reasons: (1) the increasing difficulty in obtaining new construction QA due to fixed fee turnkey project procurement strategies; (2) the increasing requirements imposed by regulations such as OSHA 1910.119 for the plant owner to institute and maintain a proactive mechanical integrity program; (3) increasingly demanding FRP applications; and (4) the high total cost of preventable FRP equipment failures.
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