API- 570

PIPING INSPECTION CODE, INS, REPAIR, ALTERATION & RERATING OF INSPECTION

 API new edition may be used beginning with the date of issuing but it be comes
immediately after six month from the date of issuance.
 During the six months time, uses shall specify to which addition, agenda the equipment is
to be rerated & inspected.
 For 31.3 the above requirement is applicable unless a specific agreement between
contracts parties to use another addition or agenda.
 API-570 is applicable for repair, alteration and re rating of METALIC PIPING that are IN
INSERVIVE.
 It is developed for petroleum refining & chemical process industries, may be used where
practical for other piping system.
 It is intended for use by organizations that maintain Inspection department, repair
capabilities, qualified Piping Engineer, Inspector & Examiners.
 It shall not be used as a substitute for the original construction requirements governing a
piping system before it is placed in service.
 Fluid service like water (including fire protection system) steam, steam-condensate, Boiler
feed water & category ‘D’ fluid service are EXCLUDED from API 570.
 Following class of piping system are excluded :
o Piping on Truck,barg, other mobile equipment (movable structure)
o Piping on pump, compressors, turbines, generators, Engine & Hydraulic or
Pneumatic cylinder (Integral part of component)
o Internal piping of fired heaters boilers, tubes, tube header.
o Internal piping & External connection of pressure vessels etc.
o Plumbing, sanitary sources, process work server, storm sources.
o Piping or tubing outside water that of NPS 1/2” (<1/2”).
o Non metallic piping, polymeric or glass line piping.
 API-RP-579- Fitness for service (provide generate requirements and detailed assessment
procedure for specific types of degradation.
 Publ 2201- Hot-tapping procedure.
 API-RP-574- Inspection of piping system components.
 API-RP-578- Material verification program.
 Authorized Inspection Agencies :
o Owner or User
o Contractor to owner.
o Govt Jurisdiction.
o Govt approved agency
o Insurance.
 Auxiliary piping- Instrument & machinery piping like small bore piping ex: Flush line, Seal
oil lines, analyzer line, drain 7 vents etc.
 CUI- Corrosion under insulation.
 Dead legs- no significant flow – spare pump piping, control valve by pass lines, level bridle,
relief valve inlet & outlet, height point vents, sample points, drains, bleeders, instrument
connections.
 Hold point- work may not proceed until inspection done.
 Injection point: Locations where two process stream joining are not considered as injection
point (Mixing Tees).
Example of Injection points: Chlorine in re-formers, Polysulfide in Catalytic cracking wet
gas, Antifoam injections, and Inhibitors neutralizers.
 NPS; Nominal pipe size, specific size designation without an inch symbol.
 Piping circuit: Section of piping that has all points exposed to an environment of similar
corrosivity, design condition & Construction material.
 Piping system; Assembly of interconnected piping that is subjected to the same set of
design condition.
 Primary process piping: In normal active service that can not be isolated greater than 2”
NPS.
 Rerating: A change in design temp or MAWP of piping system may consists of an increase,
decrease or a combination of both Derating below original design condition is a means to
provide increased corrosion allowance.
 Soil to air (S/A) Interface: Corrosion will vary depending on factors such as moisture,
oxygen content in the soil & operating temp. Zone in 6” above 12” below the soil 6/12.
 Temperature embrittlement: Loss of ductility & notch toughness in low alloy steels (1¼
Cr 2¼ Cr) due to prolonged exposure to high temp service (370°-575°C).
 Test point: Area defined by circle 2”dia upto 10” pipe line, 3” dia above 10’’ pipe line.
 Material verification program: Procedure used to assess metallic alloy materials.
 PMI Testing: physical evaluation or test of material.
Section A
 Authorized Inspector Duties:
 Determine that the requirements of API 570 on inspection, examination & testing are met.
 Directly involved in the inspection activities.
 All examination results shall be evaluated & accepted by the Authorized Inspection.
Appendix A
INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION:
 Examination shall be based on the current API body of knowledge.
 Education + Experience requirement in addition to exam.
o BS degree + One year experience = Inspection Exp.
o 2 years Diploma + 2 years experience = 1 year Inspection Exp.
o High school + 3 years experience = 1 year Inspection Exp.
o No Qualification + 5 years experience = 1 year Inspection Exp.
 Certification is valid for 3 years.
 Recertification every 3 years, by written test if inspector is not activity engaged as AI.
 Activity engaged as an Ai shall be defined as a minimum 20% of time spent performing or
supervising inspection activities during 3 years certification period.

Section 5
 Risk based Inspection: Combing the assessment like wood of failure and the
consequence of failure are the essential elements of RBI.
 Assessment includes: Check material, design condition relative operating condition,
design codes & standard used, effectiveness of corrosion monitory, quality of maintenance
& QA/QC programs, equipment failure data & Information.
 Consequences includes: Potential incident that may occur as a result failure like-
explosion, fire, toxic exposures, environment impact, health effects.
 Preparation: Isolation, PTW, PPE, NDE equipment are safe to use, Review history of
individual piping system.
 Injection points: Considered separate inspection circuits. Injection point circuit is
Upstream: 12” or 3 pipe diameter which ever is greater
Downstream: Second change in flow direction or 25 feet (7.6m) which ever is less.

 TML Location
o On fittings
o Impingement location
o On longest straight pipe
o At up stream & down stream limit
 Preferred method of inspection is RT or UT
 During periodic inspection extensive inspection
Up stream 12”, Down stream 10 pipe diameter
 Dead leg: Hot piping system  high part area more corrosive due to convention current
set up in the dead leg.
 CUI: sources of moisture  rain, water leaks, condensation and deluge system
 C.S – localized corrosion, SS  chloride test corrosion crack
 Warmer marine location requires extensive inspection program
 C.S piping system insulated personal protection 25ºF to 250ºF cut is aggressive were
operative temperature causes frequent condensation and re-evaporation
 C.S piping normally in-service > than 250ºF but intermitted
 SS piping operating between 150ºF to 400ºF
 C.S piping above 250ºF no problems of CUI
 SS piping below 150ºF and above 400ºF no problem of CUI
 Soil to air interface (S/A): if buried piping uncoated at the grade, consideration should be
given to excavating 6” to 12” (150 mm to 350mm) deep.
 Erosion can be characterizes by grooves, rounded holes, waves and valleys in a directional
pattern. It usually occurs in areas of turbulent flow  change of flow direction, control valve
down stream where vaporization occurs.
 Due to high velocity flowing of solid or liquid will increase erosion danger.
 Velocity sensitive system are hydro sulphide & Sulfuric Acid.
 Environment cracking: polythionic acid SCC of sanitized austenitic alloy steel, caustic in
carbon steel amine SCC in piping not PWHT
 Corrosion under lining coating: separation, breaks, holes and blisters and noted, than
lining should be remove
o Bulging or separation in refractory lining is an indication of corrosion.
 Fatigue cracking: due to cyclic stress may be improved pressure, mechanical or thermal
means, low cycle fatigue – heat up or cold down, high cycle – vibration
 Creep cracking: It is depended on time, temperature and stress brittle fracture: C.S., low
alloy and ferritic steel, are susceptable to brittle failure. It is not an concern with relatively
thin wall piping. Special attention to low alloy steel (2¼” CR – 1 MO material) there are
prone to temper embrittlement
 Freeze damage
 Thickness measurement method  pipe larger than PMS 1” – UT is preferred less than 1
PMS preferred When UT is surface 150ºF should be careful