LEAKS CAN FORM practically anywhere in a plant. This includes pressurised systems and systems under a vacuum. Leaks can occur internally through valves and steam traps, in heat exchanger and condenser tubes or to the atmosphere. While it is important to locate potential safety hazards from leaks, the loss of gases through leaks can be very costly.
One major concept to understand is that everything leaks. Determination of when and what types of leak to look for depend on many variables, such as economies, safety, performance, the impact on related objects or products (for example quality), as well as the economies of, and the ability to repair the leak once it has been found.
