Regarding standard creation（English）

Yoichi Ishizaki(Idemitsu Kosan Co.Ltd)
chairperson
Pressure Equipment Sustainable Safety Management Division

Petroleum/petroleum plants, a part of essential  infrastructure of society, are comprised of basic welded structures such as pressure vessels and piping. After day zero of those plants, it’s operational safety has been strictly governed by  various laws and regulations. In recent years, regulations have been updated to performance based one rather than conventional prescription based one so that a cutting edge technology can be deployed faster. In response to this regulation updates, our division was established in October 2023 to discuss operational safety management technology. Our mission is not limited to technical standards developments, but also includes lessons learned sharing, training of employees and workers, plus R&D of technology. 

Our member companies take the social responsibility on stable supply of products under  the international market price competition while high score of seamless operational safety is required. Currently, both inside and outside of Japan, main stream concept of pressure equipment safety is shifting from conventional “Secure by Design” to “Fitness-For-Service” like idea that integrates inspection technology, mechanical integrity technology and organization structure theory in a systematic manner.  In other words, this is an kind of integrated new technology well organized with the cutting edge fracture mechanics, material and corrosion engineering, inspection engineering, education system and risk management systems that brings existing plant performance to its maximum potential. This is the very technology to be called as "sustainable technology".

To achieve this "sustainable technology" goal, our division develops standards and guidelines suitable for domestic Petroleum and Chemical industry caring about experiences and knowledge of members, while following up international standards such as the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). In addition, based on our common recognition that keep our standards green is far important than any development of cutting edge technical standards for operational safety, experience sharing of our technical standards and Its improvement is the priority of our division. Following this, technology development activities will work well.

Membership to our division is limited to class-A licensed plant operators of the High Pressure Gas Safety Law, however, to achieve higher level of safety, we value cooperation with a wide range of related technical fields and opinions from a variety of viewpoints, not limited to JWES Chemical Equipment Welding Research Committee and other JWES committees but also other academic associations in world wide. Door is always opened for discussion from any direction. It would be highly appreciated if you could consider supporting us through those opportunities.