EMTL 353

API 571 - Damage Mechanisms

API RP 571, Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry,
is a standard released by the American Petroleum Institute (API).

The first edition was published in December, 2003 and an updated second edition was released in April, 2011. The new
standard provides an in-depth look at over 60 different damage mechanisms that can occur to process equipment in
refineries. It includes a general description of the damage mechanism, susceptible materials of construction, critical
factors, inspection method selection guidelines, and control factors. The standard is intended to supplement standards
RP 580, and RP 579 and is 257 pages long.

API RP 571 contains sections for different types of damage mechanisms. Each mechanism is given a write up that
consists of a description of the mechanism, a list of materials that are susceptible to that mechanism, guidelines for
inspection for that mechanism, and measures that can be taken to prevent that particular mechanism.

Types of Damage Mechanisms

The types of damage mechanisms that are covered by API RP 571 include mechanisms such as:

• Wet H2S cracking

• Reheat cracking
• Sulfuric acid corrosion
• Polythionic acid stress corrosion cracking
• Dissimilar metal weld (DMW) 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
• Many others

EMTL 353 December 15, 2015 Rev. 0

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