Modern industry is essentially focused on quality, safety and performance. In this constant search for improvement, FME, from the English "Foreign Material Exclusion," plays an important role. But what is FME risk? We tell you everything in this article.
What is the FME risk?
The FME (Foreign Material Exclusion) risk covers all risks of introducing foreign bodies or products into a facility.
FME generally refers to all the means used to combat these risks, which includes control, signaling, plugging, regular inventory, etc. The objective of FME is to prevent any object from being lost.
FME is mainly used in the field of energy and nuclear, whether it be power plants, submarines or basic nuclear installations (BNI). Applications are also found in other industries such as piping and structures for the transfer of products (liquids, granules, powders, gases, oils, etc.).
This article will focus primarily on FME risks in the nuclear field.
Source: https://reporterre.net
Why is FME important?
FME is essential for several reasons:
Worker safety
The main objective of FME (Foreign Material Exclusion) is to guarantee the safety of workers and the environment by preventing contamination in nuclear facilities and to the outside. If a tool or a simple bolt falls into a turbine, a pump, or even the reactor, it is likely to damage the machine or the fuel itself. The risk of radioactive contamination from the primary circuit (reactor, in yellow on the diagram) to the secondary circuit (non-nuclear zone, in blue on the diagram) or to the outside becomes a real threat. FME significantly reduces the risk of objects falling into the nuclear facility, thus ensuring the safety of workers and the environment.
Source: https://www.irsn.fr/
The financial impact
In addition to safety, FME plays a major role financially. When a foreign object falls into a facility, it becomes imperative to recover it, even if it means extending the reactor shutdown. The costs incurred are considerable, amounting to millions of euros in terms of production losses. In addition, if equipment such as turbines or pumps is damaged, additional maintenance operations are unavoidable, further increasing the financial burden.
Preventive actions
To reduce these risks, preventive measures are put in place. Training on FME risk, information campaigns and posters are used to raise staff awareness. When an incident involving a foreign material occurs, information is disseminated to improve vigilance.
The FME risk areas are clearly defined. All objects used in the FME area are fuchsia pink to allow for rapid identification in the event of a fall into the circuit. All tools must be securely attached; removed screws and bolts are carefully inventoried and placed in FME bins, while pipes are protected by bags to prevent foreign objects from falling into the circuit.
3D printing: an innovative solution
3D printing is emerging as an innovative solution in the implementation of FME. Thanks to this technology, it is now possible to quickly create custom tools and supports, such as carabiners and clamps, which can be useful in FME risk areas. By using pink FME filaments, the printed parts are easily identifiable.
In summary, FME is an essential pillar of the industry, guaranteeing the safety of workers and the environment, and preventing considerable financial losses. 3D printing brings an innovative dimension to this practice by offering valuable flexibility for the manufacture of specific tools and supports, thereby strengthening protection against foreign materials.
