Risk-Based Life Management (RBLM)

Risk-Based Life Management (RBLM) 

Assess the Risk. Understand the Remaining Life. Plan for the Future. 

Power plants operate critical equipment under demanding conditions for extended periods of time. High temperature, pressure, thermal cycling, corrosion, fatigue, creep, and other degradation mechanisms can gradually affect equipment condition and remaining service life. 

As equipment ages, the key question is no longer simply: 

“How old is the equipment?” 

It becomes: 

“What is the current condition, how much life remains, and what should be done next?” 

Risk-Based Life Management (RBLM) combines risk assessment with engineering life assessment to provide a structured understanding of equipment condition, degradation, and remaining life. 

The approach supports informed decisions on continued operation, inspection, maintenance, repair, life extension, and replacement of critical power plant equipment. 

Focused on Critical Power Plant Equipment 

RBLM can be applied across critical systems and equipment within power generation facilities, with a focus on understanding condition, degradation, risk, and remaining service life. 

• Boiler 

Assessment of critical boiler components and systems subject to high temperature, pressure, thermal cycling, creep, fatigue, corrosion, and other degradation mechanisms. 

• Turbine & Generator 

Life and condition assessment of critical turbine and generator components, considering operating history, thermal and mechanical loading, fatigue, degradation, and service conditions. 

• Cooling Water System 

Assessment of cooling water systems and associated equipment, with consideration of corrosion, erosion, water chemistry, degradation, and operating conditions. 

• Piping & Pressure Vessel 

Assessment of critical piping systems and pressure vessels, including condition, degradation mechanisms, remaining thickness, damage accumulation, and structural integrity. 

• Feedwater & Steam System 

Assessment of high-pressure and high-temperature feedwater and steam systems, where creep, fatigue, thermal cycling, corrosion, and other degradation mechanisms may influence equipment life. 

• Balance of Plant (BOP) 

Assessment of other critical Balance of Plant equipment and systems that may affect plant reliability, safety, availability, and long-term asset integrity. 

Understanding Equipment Risk and Remaining Life 

RBLM considers both the risk associated with equipment failure and the remaining life of critical components. 

Risk Assessment 

Evaluate the potential risk associated with equipment failure by considering the likelihood and consequences of failure. 

Condition Assessment 

Review inspection findings, operating history, maintenance records, material information, and other available data to understand the current condition of the equipment. 

Degradation Assessment 

Identify and evaluate relevant degradation mechanisms such as creep, fatigue, corrosion, erosion, thermal degradation, and other damage mechanisms that may affect equipment integrity. 

Life Assessment 

Evaluate accumulated damage, degradation behavior, operating history, and engineering data to estimate remaining service life and identify potential life-limiting mechanisms. 

From Condition Assessment to Remaining Life 

RBLM connects inspection and engineering assessment into a structured life management process: 

Operating History → Inspection & Condition Assessment → Damage / Degradation Assessment → Remaining Life Assessment → Risk Evaluation → Life Management Strategy 

This provides a clearer basis for understanding how equipment condition may evolve and what actions may be required to maintain its integrity. 

Beyond Equipment Age 

Equipment age alone does not determine remaining life. 

Two components with the same operating age may have significantly different remaining lives due to differences in operating conditions, temperature exposure, pressure, load cycles, material properties, degradation mechanisms, inspection history, and maintenance practices. 

RBLM therefore focuses on actual equipment condition, degradation behavior, and risk rather than relying solely on age or original design life. 

Standards & Methodologies 

RBLM assessments are supported by recognized international standards, engineering methodologies, and industry best practices, selected according to the equipment type, damage mechanism, assessment objective, and applicable service conditions. 

API Standards 

• API 510 — Pressure Vessel Inspection Code 
  API 570 — Piping Inspection Code 
  API 653 — Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction 
  API 581 — Risk-Based Inspection Methodology 

Fitness-for-Service & Life Assessment 

• API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1 — Fitness-For-Service assessment for evaluating the structural integrity and suitability of equipment for continued operation. 

ASME Standards 

• Applicable ASME Codes and Standards for equipment design, inspection, materials, operation, and integrity assessment. 

NACE / ISO 

• Applicable NACE and ISO standards for corrosion management, materials, degradation mechanisms, and related integrity assessment requirements. 

RBI Software & Proprietary Methodology 

• Application of RBI software and proprietary methodologies to support risk assessment, data analysis, inspection planning, and life management. 

Industry Best Practices 

• Engineering assessments are complemented by industry best practices, operating experience, engineering judgment, and applicable technical guidance to develop practical and fit-for-purpose life management strategies. 

Supporting Life Extension Decisions 

For aging power plant equipment, organizations may need to determine whether equipment can continue operating, requires additional inspection or monitoring, needs repair or replacement, or may be suitable for life extension. 

RBLM provides engineering information to support these decisions by bringing together risk, condition, degradation, and remaining life. 

This can support: 

• Continued operation assessment 

• Life extension programs 

• Inspection and monitoring planning 

• Maintenance and repair strategies 

• Replacement planning 

• Long-term asset integrity management 

The Value of Risk-Based Life Management 

RBLM can help organizations: 

• Understand the current condition of critical equipment 

• Identify life-limiting degradation mechanisms 

• Assess remaining service life 

• Prioritize equipment requiring further assessment or monitoring 

• Support continued operation and life extension decisions 

• Improve maintenance and inspection planning 

• Reduce uncertainty in managing aging equipment 

• Support long-term power plant asset integrity 

Know the Condition. Understand the Remaining Life. Manage with Confidence. 

Risk-Based Life Management provides a structured approach to assessing the risk, condition, and remaining life of critical power plant equipment — helping organizations make informed decisions throughout the equipment lifecycle.