TLS news & blogs

Before a TLS special container is delivered, it undergoes a comprehensive series of tests to guarantee its structural integrity, safety, and functionality. These meticulous inspections ensure that potential issues are identified and resolved early, minimizing risks during operation. Below is an in-depth overview of these essential tests:

1. Welding Test
Purpose:The welding test is critical for ensuring the structural stability of the container. It verifies the quality and strength of all welded joints, detecting defects such as cracks, porosity, or weak connections that might compromise the container’s reliability.
Testing Methods

• Visual Inspection: Examine weld seams for surface defects like unevenness, undercuts, or spatter.
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Use advanced techniques such as ultrasonic, X-ray, or magnetic particle testing to identify internal defects.
• Strength Test: Apply pressure or load to assess the welds' load-bearing capacity.

Operation Stage

• Conduct immediately after completing the welding process.
• Address any defects identified before assembly to avoid further complications or costly rework.

2. Lifting Test
Purpose:The lifting test ensures the container can handle the designed load and additional stresses during lifting and transportation. It evaluates the strength and stability of lifting points and the overall structure.
Testing Methods

• Load Test: Simulate lifting scenarios by applying loads exceeding the rated capacity.
• Lifting Point Check: Verify the strength and integrity of lifting ears and points to meet international standards.
• Dynamic Testing: Assess the container's response to conditions like sudden movements or uneven loads, ensuring stability.

Operation Stage

• Perform this test after completing structural welding and assembly but before applying surface treatments.

3. Watertightness Test
Purpose:The watertightness test is essential to confirm the container’s resistance to water intrusion. This ensures the container can protect its cargo from environmental factors such as rain, snow, or humidity.
Testing Methods

• Rain Test: Use high-pressure water jets or simulate heavy rainfall to check for leaks.
• Seal Check: Focus on critical areas like door seals, welded seams, and joints to ensure they meet water resistance standards.

Operation Stage

• Conduct after installing door seals and completing welding but prior to surface treatments. This stage allows easier identification and repair of any leakage points.

4. Paint Test
Purpose:The paint test ensures the durability and visual quality of the container’s surface coating. It evaluates the paint’s adhesion, resistance to corrosion, and overall appearance under various environmental conditions.
Testing Methods

• Visual Inspection: Check for uniformity in the coating, ensuring it is free of bubbles, cracks, or peeling.
• Adhesion Test: Utilize cross-cut or pull-off methods to verify the paint’s bond to the container surface.
• Film Thickness Measurement: Measure the film thickness of the paint on the surface of the container using an electronic coating thickness gauge or a magnetic coating thickness gauge to determine the quality of the paint.

Operation Stage

• Perform this test after completing the painting process to validate the container’s visual and protective qualities.

Recommended test sequence

• Welding test → watertightness test (preliminary) → lifting test → surface treatment and painting → watertightness test (final)
• After passing all final tests, product acceptance and preparation for delivery.

Conclusion:

Each of these tests plays a vital role in ensuring the quality and reliability of TLS special containers. By addressing potential issues at the appropriate stages of production, manufacturers achieve:

• Enhanced Safety: Mitigate risks of structural failures, safeguarding personnel and cargo.
• Increased Durability: Ensure the container can withstand challenging environments and prolonged use.
• Operational Efficiency: Minimize downtime and repair costs by resolving issues before delivery.
• Compliance with Standards: Guarantee adherence to international quality and safety regulations.

Through these rigorous testing processes, TLS ensures that its special containers meet the highest standards of performance and reliability, providing customers with products they can trust for their most demanding applications.
 

TLS Offshore Containers / TLS Special Containers is a global supplier of standard and customised containerised solutions. 
Wherever you are in the world TLS can help you, please contact us.
 
More details,please check below link:
https://www.tls-containers.com/tls-blog/category/container-test
 
 
Keywords:#TLS special container#welding test,#lifting test,#watertightness test,#paint test,#structural integrity,#safety testing,#functionality inspection,#visual inspection,#non-destructive testing (NDT),#strength test,#load test,#dynamic testing,#seal check,#vacuum test,#adhesion test,#corrosion resistance

Welding is a crucial process in the construction and maintenance of offshore containers, ensuring the structural integrity and durability of these containers in harsh marine environments. To ensure the highest level of safety and reliability, welding inspection plays an essential role in identifying any potential flaws that could lead to structural failure. At TLS, we prioritize stringent welding inspection protocols in line with international standards, aiming to deliver top-quality, secure containers for offshore operations.
 
Why Welding Inspection is Critical for Offshore Containers 
Offshore containers endure extreme conditions, including exposure to saltwater, heavy loads, and severe weather, all of which put stress on welded joints. Even minor defects in welds can weaken the container’s structure, leading to potential safety risks. Welding inspection, as part of a comprehensive non-destructive testing (NDT) regimen, helps detect cracks, pores, and other imperfections that could compromise the container’s structural integrity.
 
Common Welding Inspection Methods
To maintain the quality and durability of TLS offshore containers, we employ a range of NDT methods to inspect welds. Here are some of the primary methods used in the industry:

1. Visual Inspection: The most straightforward approach, visual inspection involves examining the weld surface for visible defects such as cracks, undercuts, and improper welding techniques.
2. Ultrasonic Testing: This method utilizes sound waves to penetrate the weld and detect internal flaws that may not be visible on the surface, such as inclusions or porosity.
3. Magnetic Particle Testing: Widely used by TLS, this technique involves applying a magnetic field to the welded area and then coating it with magnetic powder. Any surface or near-surface defect disrupts the magnetic field, causing the powder to accumulate at the defect, making it easy to detect.
4. Radiographic Testing: By using X-rays or gamma rays, radiographic testing can capture images of the weld, revealing internal discontinuities and enabling detailed inspection of the weld’s structure.
5. Eddy Current Testing: This technique is effective for detecting surface cracks in conductive materials. It works by inducing currents that create a magnetic field, revealing flaws as changes in the electrical flow.

TLS's Approach to Welding Inspection
At TLS, we adhere to strict international standards for both production and inspection to ensure our offshore containers meet the highest quality requirements. Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT) is one of the preferred NDT methods we employ due to its reliability in detecting surface and near-surface flaws, crucial for offshore containers. Here’s an overview of our MPT process:

• Surface Preparation: We begin by cleaning the container surface, removing any grease, dirt, or impurities that might interfere with the inspection.
• Applying Magnetic Powder: A fine layer of magnetic powder is evenly applied to the surface, usually consisting of iron and magnetic particles.
• Magnetization: The container is placed in a magnetic field, which may be constant or alternating based on inspection requirements.
• Flaw Detection: A light source or magnetic probe helps visualize the magnetic powder distribution, revealing any cracks or imperfections on the surface.

The TLS Commitment to Quality
By incorporating advanced NDT techniques, TLS ensures that every offshore container meets strict quality control standards. Our dedication to robust welding inspection practices allows us to deliver containers that are both durable and dependable, ready for the toughest offshore conditions.
 
 
TLS Offshore Containers / TLS Special Containers is a global supplier of standard and customised containerised solutions. 
Wherever you are in the world TLS can help you, please contact us.
 
 
Keywords: #Offshore container welding inspection, #Non-destructive testing (#NDT) for offshore containers, #Magnetic particle testing (#MPT) for containers, #Offshore container safety standards, #Structural integrity of offshore containers, #Welding defect detection, #Offshore container quality assurance, #TLS offshore container inspection, #Ultrasonic testing for offshore containers, #NDT methods for offshore welding, #Welding flaw detection techniques

        As an important tool for offshore operations, offshore containers must undergo strict testing and maintenance to ensure their safety and reliability. NDT is an important method for offshore container inspection，which can effectively detect defects, cracks and fatigue on the surface of containers, and ensuring the reliability and safety of the container.
Some common methods of NDT for offshore containers are: ultrasonic testing (UT), magnetic particle testing (MPT), eddy current testing (ECT), X-ray testing.
       TLS usually adopts the method of MPT. This detection is based on the adsorption characteristics of magnetic powder under the action of a magnetic field. By coating a layer of magnetic powder on the surface of the container and detecting the distribution of the magnetic powder under the action of a magnetic field, it reveals cracks and defects. The specific detection process is as follows:

1. Container surface preparation: Firstly, the surface of the container needs to be cleaned and treated to ensure that the surface is free of any impurities, grease and other substances
2. Apply magnetic powder: Apply magnetic powder to the surface of the container so that it covers the entire surface evenly. Magnetic powder is generally composed of iron powder and magnetic particles, and can be applied by mechanical spraying, manual brushing or gas spraying.
3. Magnetic field effect: Place the container in the magnetic field so that the magnetic field passes through the surface of the container. The magnetic field can be a constant magnetic field or an alternating magnetic field, depending on the requirements of the inspection and the characteristics of the container surface.
4. Detection of magnetic powder: Use tools such as light source or magnetic induction probe to detect the distribution of magnetic powder, thereby revealing cracks and defects

         TLS products are produced and tested in strict accordance with international standards to ensure their quality and reliability.