API 571 – Damage Mechanism is a recognized certification for inspectors, developed and published by American Petroleum Institute (API). API 571 gives and in-depth understanding of over 60 different damage mechanisms that can occur to process equipment in refineries.
Damage mechanism review is a process that identifies damage mechanism that exists in pressurized process equipment and piping that can lead to integrity failure and loss of containment.
Purpose of Damage Mechanism Review.
The purpose of damage inspection is not only to identify the damaged piping and equipment. It also involves identifying the factors that may cause a damage like the operating environment, materials construction and operating conditions.
- Identify the damage mechanism susceptibilities of pressure containing piping and equipment.
- Verify factors that influence damage mechanism susceptibilities.
- Recommended actions to mitigate the risk of loss of containment or unplanned outages.
Damage Mechanism Review Process
A large cross functional team is required for conducting a damage mechanism review process.
Initiation of damage mechanism review: It examines why there is a need to perform a damage inspection on the chosen site.
Pre-meeting workup and preparation: This is where operating conditions, operating history and mechanical limits for each of the process equipment is defined. The corrosion rates and failure conditions are also defined in this stage before the inspection begins.
DMR meeting: Where the inspection team discusses and finalizes the action items that come out of the pre meeting preparations.
Post meeting outcomes and impacts: This is the phase where the action items are implemented and documented
Who should take API 571 certification?
API 571 certification can benefit the designers, inspection engineers, maintenance engineers, plant inspectors, mechanical engineers, and process engineers in the Oil & gas and petrochemical industries.
API 571 Course content
Damage mechanisms covered by API 571 certification includes,
- Sulfuric acid corrosion
- Polythionic acid stress corrosion cracking
- Dissimilar metal weld (DMW) cracking
- Wet H2S cracking
- Reheat cracking
- CO2 corrosion
- Corrosion under insulation (CUI)
- Caustic corrosion
- Mechanical fatigue
- Chloride stress corrosion cracking
- Carburization
- Hydrogen embrittlement
- Soil corrosion
- Sulfide stress corrosion cracking
- Graphitic corrosion
- Phosphoric acid corrosion
- Brittle fracture
API 571 Exam and certification details
API 571 examination consists of 70 questions to be answered in 3.25 hours. The passing score is 70%.
API 571 certification is valid only for 3 years. After the 3 year period the certified candidates must apply for a recertification. Re-certification involves a fee and candidates do not have to pass the full examination to recertify.
Candidates are eligible to apply for a recertification 90 days prior to the expiration date of their certification. Also, there is an additional 90 days grace period to apply for recertification once the certification expires.
If the candidate does not apply for a recertification after the 90 day grace period, their existing certification will expire. Once the certification is expired candidates have to apply for a new certification by remitting the full fees and must pass all examinations again to re-certify.
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