12 Critical Do’s and

Don’ts for Glass-Lined

Equipment

Glass-lined equipment has served in some of the most challenging

applications for over 50 years. Its chemical compatibility and time-

tested designs result in equipment lasting for years, even

decades. Even so, there are a lot of misconceptions and common

mistakes that users make that can lead to premature failure By

following the best practices outlined in this presentation and avoiding

the “don’ts” that go along with them, you can prevent unnecessary

damage from occurring to your equipment.

DON’T use any glass or metallic instruments

during operation or maintenance of the vessel

As quick and careful as you may be, it is always safest to use

products that won’t damage the glass lining. Plastic and PTFE-

lined tools are the way to go.

#1: Use plastic or PTFE-lined tools

to ensure safety of glass lining

DON’T assume your equipment arrives in perfect condition

Unexpected things can happen between the time your equipment leaves the manufacturer’s facility and gets to yours. Upon arrival, a full inspection of the interior and exterior of the equipment should be performed to confirm its condition.

#2: Inspect new equipment and

check accessories upon arrival

DON’T operate equipment outside of the design

conditions

It is crucial to the well-being of the equipment and the safety of the

operating personnel that all pressure and temperature ranges (which are

clearly labeled on the vessel nameplate) are adhered to at all times. Any

deviance can result in significant damage to the equipment or serious

personal injury.

#3: Be aware of the design

limitations of the unit in operation

DON’T have loose items in your pockets when leaning over

a vessel

Glass-lined equipment requires a moderate dress code. In addition to

appropriate footwear, this involves the removal of items that can be hanging

around your pockets such as loose change, pens, and other metal objects that

can cause minimal but significant damage to the glass lining upon accidental

contact.

#4: Wear clean, rubber-soled

shoes when entering a vessel

DON’T remove the vessel nameplate or cover it with

paint or insulation

It is important to keep the identity of the vessel prominent for insurance

purposes and as a reference for future rework. As a safety measure,

we recommend that all data on the nameplate be copied and stored

with all other documents pertaining to the vessel.

#5: Keep the vessel nameplate

visible at all times

DON’T weld components onto the equipment interior

or exterior

Due to the risk of thermal shock, welding on a glass-lined piece of

equipment will almost always cause glass damage. Any major

modifications can be made to the vessel during reglassing, such as

changing the nozzle sizes, adding a nozzle, or adding supports.

#6: Contact the equipment

manufacturer if any modifications

need to be made to your vessel that

would require welding

DON’T us spark testers other than those

recommended by the manufacturer

Spark testing is an important maintenance tool for glass-lined

equipment and is used to locate defects in the glass lining of vessels

and accessories, perform routine preventive maintenance checks, verify

suspected failure, and locate areas to be repaired.

#7: Have your equipment spark tested

by trained personnel who are

thoroughly familiar with the procedure

DON’T allow spilled chemicals to remain on the

vessel exterior

Exterior corrosion can eventually cause damage to the interior glass

lining so it is a best practice to maintain cleanliness of the entire vessel.

Be aware of the vessel temperature and the temperature of the liquid to

avoid thermal shock - safe temperature differentials must be observed.

#8: Flush spills immediately with

water and neutralize all surfaces

DON’T charge materials through nozzles without

filtering the contents

Any solid could impact the glass on the vessel or agitator blades and

scratch the fire polish. Additionally, filtering your product will aide in the

creation of a more homogenous solution.

#9: Monitor and approve all products

prior to adding them into the vessel

DON’T operate the agitator with the liquid level at

the blade level

When the agitator is run with the fluid below the blade level, fluid flow

causes the shaft to “skate”, resulting in excessive stresses and runout

in the seal area and upper end of the agitator. This can cause

premature seal failure and even glass damage on the agitator itself.

#10: Adhere to the minimal level

requirements to ensure safe mixing

DON’T leave the manway cover open

Anytime a manway cover is left open and unattended you run the risk of

it accidentally slamming shut, an event that could cause serious

fracturing of the glass and injury to your personnel. Furthermore,

leaving a manway in the open position increases the risk of damage to

the vessel from objects falling through the opening and impacting the

internal lining.

#11: Close and secure all

openings to the vessel when

they are not being used

In the case of jacketed vessels, DON’T keep the

jacket vent closed

The vent in the jacket is required to allow the air to escape the jacket

when filling it with liquid. If the vent is not opened during filling you will

run the risk of air pockets in the jacket, which will lead to poor

performance and other potentially harmful problems.

#12: Make sure the vent is open

when filling the vessel jacket

We recommend consulting our free

eBulletin “Installation and Maintenance Manual for

De Dietrich Glass-Lined Steel Equipment” for even

more information about caring for your glass-lined

equipment.

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