Supervision of pipeline construction

Approximately 50 percent of the FPI's activities involve its supervision of new or renocated pipeline structures. In order for a system to be constructed or modified, the project first has to be officially approved. This is normally the duty of the relevant supervisory authority (Swiss Federal Office of Energy, FL-Economic Office, Federal Pipelines Inspectorate).

The FPI supervision of pipeline structures begins with the examination of the technical documentation relating to the new components. These documents take the form of detailed plans, material certificates and specifications for the individual construction stages, e.g. pipe installation and bending, welding, weld seam testing, pressure testing, and so on.

On the site itself, every construction stage has to be supervised. This involves for instance the following tasks:

  • Testing of materials
  • Handling of the pipe
  • Excavation of the trench
  • Insulation of the weld seams
  • Installation of protective structures, e.g. concrete slabs, etc.
  • Monitoring of welding operations
  • Evaluation of X-ray pictures
  • Pressure tests
  • Implementing

The supervision of pipeline construction is concluded with a detailed report.