API 570

PIPING INSPECTION

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570
Piping Inspection Code

570

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570 COVERS IN-SERVICE
INSPECTION OF PIPING

To fit in with the philosophy of ANSI B31.3

‘DESIGN CODE FOR PROCESS PIPING’

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 THE SCOPE OF API 570

Mandatory:Almost any Optional:

metallic piping system: •Water,steam and
•Raw and finished oil products condensate
•Raw and finished chemical •Piping related to
products mechanical equipment
•Hydrogen/fuel/flare gas systems •(pumps/compressors
etc)
•Sour/waste systems etc
•Pressure vessels
•Domestic sewers etc
•Everything< ½ in dia
•Non-metallic piping

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570 INSPECTION
PRACTICES

Checks are needed for specific types of corrosion and cracking:

1. Injection points
2. Dead legs
3. CUI
4. Soil /Air(S/A) interfaces
5. Erosion and erosion/corrosion
6. SCC
7. Corrosion under linings We’ll look at some of
8. Fatigue cracking these in more detail
9. Creep cracking
10. Brittle fracture
11. Freeze damage
© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd
 INJECTION POINTS

Why is particular inspection attention (and TMLs)

needed at
injection points ?

….and what are TMLs anyway

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd
 INJECTION POINT
INSPECTION AREAS

12in or 3D upstream

2nd change of
flow
This area is direction
known downstream
as:The (or 7.6m after
IPC(‘injectio the first
n point change)
circuit’)

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570 INSPECTION METHODS
TMLs
External
(4 quadrants)
visual

Intern
al
visual
s © Matthews Engineering Training Ltd
 DEADLEGS
Corrosion rates are
higher
around deadlegs

Redundant deadlegs
should be removed
Deadleg

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

CORROSION UNDER
INSULATION (CUI)

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

CORROSION UNDER
INSULATION (CUI)

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

CORROSION UNDER
INSULATION (CUI)

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

CORROSION UNDER
INSULATION (CUI)

Almost total
wastage of bolts

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

CORROSION UNDER INSULATION (CUI)

API identifies the areas that are most

susceptible to CUI

Near steam vents

and deluge systems
Mist from
Acid vapours
cooling towers

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 CORROSION UNDER
INSULATION (CUI)

•All LCS pipework operating continually at –4<t<120 degC

•LCS pipework operating> 120 degC BUT INTERMITTENTLY

•Austenitic Stainless steel at 65-205 DegC (for SCC)

•Piping systems that vibrate a lot (insulation becomes dama

•Piping systems with damaged wrappings

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

CORROSION UNDER FIXED LININGS

In general ,API does

not require removal of
linings for
inspections…AS LONG
AS THE LINING IS IN
GOOD CONDITION
BUT
© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd
 SOIL/AIR INTERFACES

All interfaces without cathodic protection

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 CORROSION UNDER
INSULATION (CUI)

The API 570 rule is that you should

inspect areas for CUI where the
insulation is damaged
© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd
RECOMMENDED EXTENT OF CUI
EXAMINATION(BY CLASS)

% NDT on % NDT on
areas with suspect areas
Type of
damaged within CUI
circuit
insulation temperature
range
Class 1 75% 50%

Class 2 50% 33%

Class 3 25% 10%

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

EROSION AND EROSION-
CORROSION
LOCATIONS

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 TMLS FOR
EROSION/CORROSION
Downstream of ………..

•Control valves (especially when there is ‘flash-

•Orifice plate
•Pump discharges
•Elbows
•Pipe features that produce turbulence

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 EROSION/CORROSION

An
example

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

Erosion/Corrosio
n after flow-
restriction
features

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 STRESS
CORROSION
CRACKING (SCC)

Rule:
In most circumstances,SCC is
due to

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

SCC ON A GAS PIPELINE
COMPONENT

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

SCC ON A GAS PIPELINE
COMPONENT

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

What is this?

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570 GUIDE ON
REPAIR PATCHES
25mm min radii

Repair patch D

Max D/2

Not permitted
© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd
API 570 GUIDE ON REPAIR
PATCHES

Requires a full repair sleeve

Min 2D

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570 INSPECTION
INTERVALS

The maximum permitted interval

depends on pipe ‘class’

Class 1:Highest risk/consequen

Class 2 : ‘Medium’ risk
Class 3: ‘Low’ risk
© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd
MAXIMUM API INSPECTION
INTERVALS (BY CLASS)

Type of circuit Thickness External

measurements visual
Class 1 5 years 5 years

Class 2 10 years 5 years

Class 3 10 years 10 years

Injection 3 years By class

points
S/A interfaces - By class

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570 PIPING
CLASSES

Class 1
Flammable services/flash-off leading to brittl
Explosive vapours after flash-off
H2S gaseous
Hydroflouric acid
Piping over public roads

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570 PIPING
CLASSES

Class 2
Most other process piping
On-site hydrocarbons
H2, fuel gas and natural gas
On-site acid and caustics

© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd

 API 570 PIPING
CLASSES

Class 3
Fluids that will not
flash off (even if they
are flammable)
Distillate/product
storage/loading lines
Off-site acids and
caustics
© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd
 API 570 SUMMARY

•API 570 specifies the main points to look

for

•Remember the pipe classes (and their

inspection periods)

•Simple wall thickness determination

570
© Matthews Engineering Training Ltd