API RP 580 Risk-Based Inspection Is Now Available

In May 2002, after 6 years of preparation, the API published the first edition of API 580 Risk-based Inspection. The document is now an ANSI/API Standard, which was balloted and approved using the ANSI consensus process for creating American National Standards. As such it becomes a “recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice”, for use by all companies in the oil and chemical industry.

API 580 is intended to provide guidance to all users in developing and implementing an RBI work process and methodology for fixed equipment. It is a generic document on RBI that can be used as a measuring stick by which
the quality of any and all RBI methods and work processes could be evaluated to determine if they meet the level of quality prescribed in the recommended practice.