API 570

Piping Inspection Code: In-service Inspection, Rating, Repair,

and Alteration of Piping Systems

Provided by :Yousef Akbari

Jan 2022
A. API PUBLICATIONS:
API 570, INSPECTION, REPAIR, ALTERATION, AND RERATING OF IN-SERVICE PIPING SYSTEMS API RECOMMENDED
PRACTICE
571, DAMAGE MECHANISMS AFFECTING FIXED EQUIPMENT IN THE REFINING INDUSTRY API RECOMMENDED
PRACTICE
574, INSPECTION PRACTICES FOR PIPING SYSTEM COMPONENTS
API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 576, INSPECTION OF PRESSURE-RELIEVING DEVICES
API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 577, WELDING INSPECTION AND METALLURGY
API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 578, GUIDELINES FOR A MATERIAL VERIFICATION PROGRAM (MVP) FOR NEW AND
EXISTING ASSETS

B. ASME Publications:
Section V, Nondestructive Examination
Section IX, Qualification Standard for Welding, Brazing and Fusion Procedures; Welders; Brazers; and Welding,
Brazing and Fusing Operators
B16.5, Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings
B31.3, Process Piping
 1.Scope
a. ASME B31.3
b. API 574
c. ASME B16.5
d. ASME IX
e. ASME V
2.Normative References f. API 578
g. API 576
h. API 571

API 570
Design
3Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, and Manufacturing and installation
Abbreviations In -service

Owner
Inspection
4.Owner/User Inspection
Engineer
Organization
Examiner
Other personnel
 ➢ Inspection Plans
➢ RBI
➢ Preparation for Inspection
➢ Inspection for Types and Locations of Damage Modes of Deterioration
and Failure
➢ General Types of Inspection and Surveillance
➢ CMLs
5.Inspection,
➢ Condition Monitoring Methods
Examination, and
API 570 Pressure Testing ➢ Corrosion Under Insulation Inspection
Practices ➢ Mixing Point Inspection
➢ Injection Point Inspection
➢ Pressure Testing of Piping Systems
➢ Material Verification and Traceability
➢ Inspection of Valves
➢ In-service Inspection of Welds
➢ Inspection of Flanged Joints
 6.Interval/Frequency and Extent
of Inspection

➢ Inspection During Installation and Service Changes

➢ Piping Inspection Planning
➢ Extent of Visual External and CUI Inspections
API 570 ➢ Extent of Thickness Measurement Inspection and Data
Analysis
➢ Extent of Inspections on Small-bore Piping, Deadlegs,
Auxiliary Piping, and Threaded Connections
➢ Inspection and Maintenance of Pressure-relieving Devices
(PRDs
 7 Inspection Data Evaluation,
Analysis, and Recording
API 570
➢ Corrosion Rate Determination
➢ Remaining Life Calculations
➢ Newly Installed Piping Systems or Changes in Service
➢ Existing and Replacement Piping
➢ MAWP Determination
➢ Required Thickness Determination
➢ Assessment of Inspection Findings
➢ Piping Stress Analysis
➢ Reporting and Records for Piping System Inspection
➢ Inspection Recommendations for Repair or Replacement
➢ Inspection Records for External Inspections
➢ Piping Failure and Leak Reports
➢ Deferral of Inspections, Examinations, and Tests
 ➢ Repairs and Alterations
8 Repairs, Alterations, and ➢ Welding and Hot Tapping
API 570 Rerating of Piping Systems ➢ Re-rating
 ➢ Above-grade Visual Surveillance
➢ Close-interval Potential Survey
➢ Pipe Coating Holiday Survey
➢ Soil Resistivity
9 Inspection of Buried ➢ Cathodic Protection Monitoring
API 570 Piping ➢ Inspection Methods
➢ Frequency and Extent of Inspection
➢ Repairs to Buried Piping Systems
➢ Records
 Education
Annex A (informative) Inspector Experience
Certification Validation
Expire and Duration

Annex C (informative) Examples

API 570 of Repairs

➢ MAWP , MOP
Annex D (informative) Two Examples of the Calculation of
MAWP Illustrating the Use of the Corrosion
Half-life Concept ➢ t required , t
actual
 Chapter II weld joint quality
1.ASME B31.3 factors and casting
quality factors

a) Casting Quality factor, Ec from B31.3, 302.3.3 (b) and Table A-1A

b) Weld Joint Quality factors from ASME B31.3, 302.3.4 and Table A-1B;

c) Increased Joint Quality Factors by performing supplemental NDE from ASME B31.3 Table 302.3.4;
API 570
Reference
 Chapter II
1.ASME B31.3 internal pressure /
minimum thickness of pipe

a) The minimum required thickness or pressure design thickness of a straight pipe section for internal
pressure only (ASME B31.3 Section 304.1.1 and 304.1.2);

API 570
Reference
b) The minimum required thickness of a permanent blank for a given design pressure (ASME B31.3 Section
304.5.3);

c) The "MAWP" of corroded pipe, compensating for expected corrosion loss at the next inspection (API 570,
Par., 7.5)

MAWP =2SEt/D
 Chapter II
1.ASME B31.3 internal pressure /
minimum thickness of pipe

P
P
psi
Mpa

API 570
S
Reference S
psi
Mpa

D,t
D,t
in
mm
 Chapter VI
1.ASME B31.3 pressure testing

a) Demonstrate knowledge concerning hydrostatic leak testing (ASME B31.3 Section 345.4)

b) Demonstrate knowledge concerning pneumatic leak testing (ASME B31.3 Section 345.5)

API 570 c) Calculate a hydrostatic or pneumatic leak test pressure (ASME B31.3 Sections 345.4, 345.5)
Reference
 Chapter VI
1.ASME B31.3 NDE

ASME B31.3: The inspector should be familiar with and understand the general rules for NDE (Chapter VI).
API 570: The inspector should be familiar with and understand the general rules for NDE in API-570.

API 570
Reference
 Chapter III
1.ASME B31.3 impact testing

a) Determine the minimum metal temperature of a material, which is exempt from impact testing (ASME
B31.3, Section 323.2.2, Figure 323.2.2A & Table A-1).
b) Determine the minimum required Charpy V-notch impact values of a given material. (ASME B31.3, Section
323.3, Table 323.3.5)

API 570
Reference

(ASME B31.3, Section 323.2.2, Figure OR

323.2.2A & Table A-1)
 Chapter V
1.ASME B31.3 preheating and heat
treatment requirements

330 preheating 330 preheating

API 570
Reference Table 331.1.1 Post weld
Table 330.1.1 Preheat Heat Treatment
Temperatures
Table 331.1.2 Alternate Post weld Heat Treatment
Requirements for Carbon and Low Alloy Steels, P-
Nos. 1 and 3

Table 331.1.3 Exemptions to Mandatory Post weld

Heat Treatment
 Chapter V
1.ASME B31.3 weld size and joint

1. Typical joints and definitions

API 570
Reference
2. Weld sizes
328.4 Preparation
3. Restrictions on joints
for Welding
4. Maximum allowable reinforcement
 1.ASME B31.3

Chapter

I Scope

II Design

III Material

API 570 IV Standard for Piping Component

Reference V Fabrication, assembly and installation

VI Inspection, Examination and Testing

VII,VIII,IX,X

Annex A Table A1

Annex C Physical properties(Thermal expansion Data)

In service inspector shall also be familiar ASME B36.10

 2.ASME B16.5

• Scope

• Pressure Temperature Ratings

• Markings

API 570 • Materials

Reference • Dimensions

• Test

• Limiting Dimensions of Gaskets

• Methods for Establishing Pressure-Temperature Ratings

 2.ASME B16.5

a) Determine the working pressure and minimum/maximum system hydrostatic test pressure for a flange of specified material
and temperature (ASME B16.5, Par. 2. & Table 1A & Tables 2-1.1 through 2-3. 19 and Tables II-2.1.1 through II-2-3.19).

API 570
Reference

For Example table 2-2.8(Material Group 2.8)

 2.ASME B16.5

b) determine the minimum dimensions of a given flange (ASME B16.5 Tables 7 through 22 and Tables II-7through 22).

API 570
Reference
 3.ASME IX

WPS PQR
API 570
Reference

WPQ
 3.ASME IX

WPS
Part QG
API 570
Reference
Part QW PQR

Part QB
WPQ
Part QF
 3.ASME IX

The inspector should have the knowledge and skills required to review a Procedure Qualification Record, Welding
Procedure Specification and Welder Performance Qualification to determine the following:
1. Determine if procedure and qualification records are in compliance with applicable ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Code and any additional requirements of API-570. The weld procedure review will include:
• Weld Procedure Specification (WPS)
API 570 • Procedure Qualification Record (PQR)
Reference • Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ)
2. Determine if all required essential and non-essential variables have been properly addressed. (Supplemental
essential variables will not be a part of the WPS/PQR)
3. Determine that the number and type of mechanical tests that are listed on PQR are the proper tests, and whether the
results are acceptable.

4. Determine that the welder is qualified to make a production weld according to the WPS
 3.ASME IX

weld procedure review may include smaw, gtaw, gmaw, or saw, with the following limitations:
1. No more than one process will be included on a single WPS, PQR or WPQ and the WPS to be reviewed will be
supported by a single PQR.
2. Filler metals will be limited to one-per-process for SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, or SAW
3. The PQR will be the supporting PQR for the WPS.
API 570 4. The WPQ test coupon is to be welded in accordance with a qualified WPS.
Reference 5. Base metals will be limited to P1, P3, P4, P5, and P8.
6. Dissimilar base metal joints, and dissimilar thicknesses of base metals will be excluded.
7. Special weld processes such as corrosion-resistant weld metal overlay, hard-facing overlay, and dissimilar metal
welds with buttering of ferritic member will be excluded.
8. For P1, P3, P4, and P5, for the purpose of the examination the lower transition temperature will be 1330°F and the
upper transformation temperature will be 1600°F.
 4.ASME V

Article
1 General Requirements
3 Radiographic Examination
API 570 6 Liquid Penetrant Examination (Including mandatory appendices II and III)
Reference 7 Magnetic Particle Examination (Yoke and Prod techniques only)
9 Visual Examination
10 Leak Testing (Including Mandatory Appendix I Bubble Test –Direct Pressure Technique)
23 , Ultrasonic Standards, Section SE–797 only – Standard practice for measuring thickness by manual
ultrasonic pulse-echo contact method:
 4.ASME V

c.Calibration

Depend on type
of NDE
e. Evaluation
API 570
Reference
Follow in
Reference Code
Essential Non Essential ASME B31.3
 4.API RP 571
Section 2 Definitions
Par. 3.3 Amine Stress Corrosion Cracking ❑ Description of Damage
3.8 Atmospheric Corrosion
3.9 Boiler Water and Stream Condensate Corrosion ❑ Affected Materials

3.14 Caustic Corrosion

❑ Critical Factors
3.15 Caustic Stress Corrosion Cracking
3.17 Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking ❑ Affected Units or Equipment
API 570 3.22 Corrosion Under Insulation
Reference 3.27 Erosion/Erosion – Corrosion
❑ Appearance or Morphology of Damage

3.31 Galvanic Corrosion

❑ Prevention/Mitigation
3.37 Hydrochloric Acid Corrosion
3.43 Mechanical Fatigue (Including Vibration-induced Fatigue) ❑ Inspection and Monitoring
3.45 Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion
❑ Related Mechanisms
3.57 Soil Corrosion
3.58 Sour Water Corrosion (Acidic)
3.61 Sulfidation
 5.API RP 574

1) Scope
2) Normative References
3) Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations
4) Piping Components
5) Pipe-joining Methods
6) Reasons for Inspection
7) Inspection Plans
API 570
8) Frequency and Extent of Inspection
Reference 9) Safety Precautions and Preparatory Work Entire document
10) Inspection Procedures and Practices
11) Pressure Tests
12) Determination of Minimum Required Thickness
13) Records
 5.API RP 577

1) Scope
2) Normative References
3) Terms, Definitions, and Acronyms
4) Welding Processes
5) Welding Materials
6) Welding Procedure
API 570
7) Welder Qualification
Reference Entire document
8) Nondestructive Examination
9) Welding Inspection
10) Metallurgy
11) Refinery and Petrochemical Plant Welding Issues
12) Safety Precautions
 5.API RP 578

API 570
Reference Entire document
 5.API RP 576

API 570
Reference