Evaluate the frequency of pipe leaks
Hazard studies: databases and weighting of values

Pipe leaks account for a significant proportion of the dreaded events identified in risk analyses carried out as part of hazard studies (EDD), but also as part of QRA (Quantitative Risk Assessment) analyses. There are two approaches to quantifying such events.

• the "direct" approach consists of allocating a frequency extracted from a database to the dreaded event. For example, to quantify the occurrence of a pipe leak, one of the most commonly used methods is to extract a so-called linear leak frequency (/year.m) from a database and multiply it by the pipe metre.

• The calculation approach consists in assessing the frequency of the dreaded event by quantifying the frequencies of the initiating events and the probabilities of failure of the preventive measures, using a fault tree (cf. Études des dangers : arbre...