SUP&R ITN outreach magazine SUP&R ITN features in FIRM magazine - Jun2014 | Page 17

DESIGN & PRODUCTION SAFELIFE-X: SAFE EXTENSION AND MANAGEMENT OF LIFE OF AGED INFRASTRUCTURES, NETwORKS AND INDUSTRIAL PLANTS The importance of ageing infrastructures, networks and industrial plants will continue to increase due to the need to continue the operation of these infrastructures, networks and plants beyond their design life-time and operate under changed conditions. Effective strategies to address these issues have not yet been developed and consistently applied. The SafeLife-X project, started in September 2013, is exploring the issue of ageing as an opportunity for new technologies, services and businesses, primarily in the service and construction sectors. The project relies on the conclusions of global organisations such as the World Economic Forum and OECD, which indicate that the “underinvestment in infrastructures” is one of the most important risks for society. The goal of this 24-month FP7 project is to improve ageing management for infrastructure networks and industrial plants, including roads, railways, tunnels and bridges, so that their availability is maximised and their management cost effective. SafeLife-X will also pursue the development of a European Standard (EN) on a Risk-Based Inspection Framework (FpREN 16286-1:2012 (E)). SafeLife-X will build cost-effective solutions to handle the problem of infrastructures ageing in the next 10 years (2015-2025) by providing specifications for new Research Development Innovation (RDI) projects (Strategic Research Agenda/Roadmap). It will also set up a reference source with Asset Integrity Management (AIM), mapping, a catalogue of the good (best) practices as well as with Cost-Benefit analysis and Return of Investment. Managed by the European Virtual Institute for Integrated Risk Management (EU-VRI), the project is creating a multidisciplinary and multi-sector community able to answer the key issues related to ageing at a European and international level. The Consortium includes members of the European Technology Platforms (ETPs) and a group of 25 experts to complement the expertise needed, and the project will capitalise on best practices of modelling, asset integrity management, decision making, and cost-benefit analysis. PARTNERS European Virtual Institute for Integrated Risk Management (EU-VRi) Steinbeis Advanced Risk Technologies GmbH, Germany SafeLife-X was initiated by the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP), in particular its “reFINE” (Research for Future Infrastructure Networks in Europe) initiative and the ETP on Industrial Safety (ETPIS). The project has so far carried out an identification of the needs related to safe lifetime extension and ageing management, as expressed by the various stakeholders. In addition, a review of the current standards and regulations has been carried out to identify the gaps, contradictions and overlaps in order to define further improvement. Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), France Ageing infrastructures must keep up with the above challenges and projects like SafeLife-X and standards like the new FprEn developed with the support of this project, will address these changes and work in order to stay ahead as these trends offer a chance to gain competitive advantage. Electricite De France S.A. (EDF), France For more information, see safelife-x.eu-vri.eu or contact Aleksandar Jovanovic and Bastien Caillard at [email protected] Fundación Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Spain Stichting Deltares, The Netherlands Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus (VTT), Finland FEHRL, Belgium EnBW Erneuerbare und Konventionelle Erzeugung AG, Germany Vce Vienna Consulting Engineers ZT GMBH, Austria Stuttgart Research Center for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Studies (ZIRIUS), Germany 17 I