Hot Bolting
Hot Bolting is the sequential removal, cleaning and replacement of bolts in a flanged joint, while the system is pressurized.
Although most flanges are designed to keep integrity in case of removal of one bolt, this requires that the remaining bolts are of such quality that they can sustain the connections total loading and maintain the gasket stress. This requirement can seldom be verified for connections in need of Hot Bolting; thereof an external barrier is needed.