Overview of API 570 - Piping Inspection Code
API 570 - Piping Inspection Code is an inspection code developed and published by the American Petroleum Institute (API). The inspection code covers in-service inspection, rating repair, and alteration of metallic and fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) piping systems and their respective pressure relieving devices. The most recent edition (4th Ed.) was released February 2016.
First published in 1993, API 570 establishes the requirements and guidelines needed to maintain the safety and mechanical integrity of piping systems after they have been commissioned. While it was primarily intended for those systems in the petroleum and chemical processing industries, this code can be applied to any industry that uses piping systems.
API 570 does not cover inspection, repair, or alteration procedures for specialty equipment or equipment that has been decommissioned. However, piping systems that are temporarily out of service and may be recommissioned in the future are covered by API 570.
API RP 574 supplements API 570 to provide information and best practices that assist practitioners in the “how to” inspect piping and common piping components.
Industry Application
API 570 applies to piping systems that involve process fluids, hydrocarbons, chemical products, natural gas, high-pressure gasses, and other flammable or toxic fluids. Some piping systems such as fluid services operating below a certain threshold or fluid services involving water are optional in regards to API 570 requirements. Furthermore, fitness-for-service assessments and risk-based inspection are accepted methods under API 570 for evaluating on-stream piping systems and pressure containing components.
API 570 Piping Inspector Certification
API offers a 570 certification through their Individual Certification Program. The purpose of the certification is to identify individuals that possess broad knowledge in maintenance, inspection, repair, and alteration of in-service metallic piping systems. In order to receive the certification, applicants must pass a two part — one closed-book and one open-book — examination.
In order to take the exam, applicants must meet minimum education and experience requirements. All applicants must have at least 1 year of experience supervising or performing inspection activities described in API 570. In order to maintain certification, pressure vessel inspectors must apply for recertification every 3 years. Education and specific experience requirements are as follows:
- Applicants with no formal education can apply to sit for the exam after acquiring 5 years of relevant industry experience.
- An applicant with a high school diploma or equivalent can apply after acquiring 3 years of relevant industry experience.
- Applicants with 2 year degrees or certificates in engineering or technology require 2 years of relevant experience.
- Those holding a bachelor of science degree or higher must have 1 year of relevant experience.
Is this definition incomplete? You can help by contributing to it.
Share this Topic
Related Topics
API 510 - Pressure Vessel Inspection Code API 530 - Calculation of Heater Tube Thickness in Petroleum Refineries API 653 - Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction API 936 - Refractory Installation Quality Control - Inspection & Testing Monolithic Refractory API Individual Certification Program (ICP) API RP 1169 - Basic Inspection Requirements for New Pipeline Construction API RP 572 - Inspection of Pressure Vessels API RP 573 - Inspection of Fired Boilers and Heaters API RP 574 - Inspection Practices for Piping System Components API RP 575 - Inspection Practices for Atmospheric and Low Pressure Storage Tanks API RP 577 - Welding Processes, Inspection, and Metallurgy API RP 578 - Material Verification for New and Existing Alloy Piping API RP 583 - Corrosion Under Insulation and Fireproofing API RP 584 - Integrity Operating Windows API RP 585 - Pressure Equipment Integrity Incident Investigation API RP 651 - Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks API RP 754 - Process Safety Performance Indicators for the Refining and Petrochemical Industries API RP 934 - Materials and Fabrication of Heavy Wall Pressure Vessels for High-Pressure Hydrogen Ser API TES - Tank Entry SupervisorRelevant Links
-
BlogDecember 26, 2019 By John Reynolds at Intertek
A summary of some of the important topics that were discussed at the API Fall Refining and Equipment Standards Meeting in Atlanta.
-
September/October 2019 Inspectioneering JournalBy Ed Bryner at Gecko Robotics
The refining and petrochemical industries will continue to benefit from the evolution of robotics and data management. The biggest hurdle will be to accept this evolution and embrace the new capabilities that come with it.
-
September/October 2019 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
A damage mechanism review, or DMR, is a structured process performed by a qualified team to gain a better understanding of unit operations, corrosion loops, materials of construction, and potential damage types and locations.
-
September/October 2019 Inspectioneering JournalBy Ashfaq Anwer
If an inspector knows both the content and material of construction of piping, it would be useful when performing inspection. However, this is only possible when there’s a system in place at the site for identifying piping.
-
Reynolds Wrap Up: Highlights from the API Subcommittee on Inspection and Mechanical Integrity (SCIMI) Meetings at the Spring 2019 API Standards MeetingBlogJune 27, 2019 By John Reynolds at Intertek
A summary of some of the important topics that were discussed at the Spring Meeting, including the recently-held API Inspection and Mechanical Integrity Summit, subcommittee activities, and progress with the API Individual Certification Program.
-
BlogJanuary 9, 2019 By John Reynolds at Intertek
The 2019 API Inspection and Mechanical Integrity Summit will be kicking off later this month in Galveston, TX. This four-day event will begin with 14 high level training courses offered Monday, January 28th, and then a top notch conference and...
-
Reynolds Wrap Up: Highlights from the API Subcommittee on Inspection and Mechanical Integrity (SCIMI) Meetings at the Fall 2018 API Standards MeetingBlogDecember 27, 2018 By John Reynolds at Intertek
A quick summary of some of the important topics that were discussed at the Fall Meeting, including the upcoming API Inspection and Mechanical Integrity Summit, subcommittee activities, and progress with the API Individual Certification Program.
-
May/June 2018 Inspectioneering JournalBy Chad Patschke, CPSA at Ethos Mechanical Integrity Solutions
According to API 570, facilities must have a mechanical integrity program in place for critical check valves. But what criteria determines whether or not a check valve is critical in your process? How should check valves be inspected and by whom?
-
January/February 2017 Inspectioneering JournalBy Israel D. Martinez at ORPIC
Evaluating remaining wall thickness of an asset is not enough to ensure its continued safe operation. Proactive strategies should be implemented to assess the entire environment affecting an asset’s condition, including the development of more...
-
Reynolds Wrap Up: Highlights from the API Subcommittee on Inspection and Mechanical Integrity (SCIMI) Meeting at the Fall API Standards MeetingBlogDecember 29, 2016 By John Reynolds at Intertek
The Fall API Standards Meeting was incredibly productive and addressed, among other issues, the API Inspection Summit, balloting for the 11th edition of API 510, and improvements to the inspection section of each damage mechanism in API RP 571.
-
May/June 2016 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at Intertek
This brief article contains updates and highlights related to the Subcommittee on Inspection (SCI) at the 2016 API Spring Refining Equipment and Standards Meeting.
-
Online Article
Updated editions of both API 570 and API RP 580 were recently released by the American Petroleum Institute.
-
Reynold's Wrap Up: Highlights from the Subcommittee on Inspection Meeting at the Fall 2015 API Refining Standards MeetingBlogJanuary 4, 2016 By John Reynolds at Intertek
This article provides a summary of the Subcommittee on Inspection (SCI) discussions that occurred at the Fall 2015 API Refining Standards Meeting, including the Inspection Summit Planning Committee and the API ICP Task Group.
-
BlogMarch 30, 2015 By John Reynolds at Intertek
The 2015 API Spring Refining and Equipment Standards Meeting will be held at the Seattle Sheraton during the week of April 13-16, with plenty of interesting meetings for Inspectioneers. You do not need...
-
BlogJuly 28, 2014 By John Reynolds at Intertek
Fixed equipment mechanical integrity (FEMI) failures are not caused by damage mechanisms; rather, they're caused due to failure to create, implement, and maintain adequate management systems to avoid failures. Nearly all failures that have occurred...
-
BlogAugust 5, 2013 By Marc McConnell, P.E. at Pro-Surve Technical Services
At PinnacleAIS, we often get requests for a Senior API Inspector. But what does that mean exactly? What qualifications are required? Is there a test or a certification that provides the end user with assurance they are getting a higher caliber...
-
BlogJuly 8, 2013 By John Reynolds at Intertek
This week’s post takes up right where last week’s post left off in our discussion on Corrosion Management and Control (CM&C) Management Systems.
-
January/February 2013 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at Intertek
A new API Individual Certification Program (ICP) will be offered soon to certify inspectors who perform quality assurance (QA) surveillance and inspection activities on new materials and equipment for the energy and chemical (E&C) industry. It is...
-
September/October 2007 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at Intertek
In May of this year, a workshop was presented at the annual NPRA Reliability and Maintenance Conference at the George R. Brown CC in Houston. This article is a reader’s digest summary of what was presented at that workshop by the four...
-
May/June 1998 Inspectioneering JournalBy Roland A. Goodman at American Petroleum Institute
The API Subcommittees on Inspection and Pressure Vessels & Tanks are ever vigilant in keeping up with current trends and state-of-the-art technology for in-service inspection of pressure vessels, process piping, and aboveground storage tanks. One...
Pro-Surve Technical with subsidiaries ProSource Radiography and ProForce Industrial are an integrated inspection, NDT, reliability engineering, Data management and project controls service provider assisting clients across CapEx/OpEx budgeted projects processes. We concentrate on solutions provided by the integration of engineering and inspection.
Pro-Surve Technical with subsidiaries ProSource Radiography and ProForce Industrial are an integrated inspection, NDT, reliability engineering, Data management and project controls service provider assisting clients across CapEx/OpEx budgeted projects processes. We concentrate on solutions provided by the integration of engineering and inspection.
Quest Integrity Group is a global leader in the development and delivery of asset integrity management and asset reliability solutions for our clients in the refining and chemical, pipeline, syngas and power industries. Our services include furnace tube inspection for the refining and chemical industries, in-line inspection for the pipeline industry, steam reformer tube inspection for the syngas industry, as well as fitness-for-service assessment, remaining life assessment, structural integrity, failure analysis and materials consulting for various industries including the power industry. We specialize in condition assessment for fired heater coils, unpiggable pipelines, steam reformer tubes, storage tanks, gas turbines and other assets.
Quest Integrity Group is a global leader in the development and delivery of asset integrity management and asset reliability solutions for our clients in the refining and chemical, pipeline, syngas and power industries. Our services include furnace tube inspection for the refining and chemical industries, in-line inspection for the pipeline industry, steam reformer tube inspection for the syngas industry, as well as fitness-for-service assessment, remaining life assessment, structural integrity, failure analysis and materials consulting for various industries including the power industry. We specialize in condition assessment for fired heater coils, unpiggable pipelines, steam reformer tubes, storage tanks, gas turbines and other assets.
PinnacleART builds and runs programs that empower facilities to make value-based decisions on how to manage risk, resulting in safe and profitable operations. We have gathered, organized, and analyzed more mechanical integrity and reliability data than any other company in the world.
PinnacleART builds and runs programs that empower facilities to make value-based decisions on how to manage risk, resulting in safe and profitable operations. We have gathered, organized, and analyzed more mechanical integrity and reliability data than any other company in the world.
Olympus provides an industry-leading portfolio of remote visual inspection, industrial microscopy, ultrasound, phased array, eddy current, phased array, and optical metrology solutions including: ultrasonic flaw detectors and thickness gages, videoscopes, microscopes, advanced NDT systems, and X-ray fluorescence analyzers.
Olympus provides an industry-leading portfolio of remote visual inspection, industrial microscopy, ultrasound, phased array, eddy current, phased array, and optical metrology solutions including: ultrasonic flaw detectors and thickness gages, videoscopes, microscopes, advanced NDT systems, and X-ray fluorescence analyzers.
-
Sponsored Video Published on June 26, 2019In this webinar, the presenters walk through a four step process to develop effective and efficient asset strategies for piping to optimize cost, refocus resources and reduce risk.
Inspectioneering Journal
Explore over 20 years of articles written by our team of subject matter experts.
Company Directory
Find relevant products, services, and technologies.
Job Postings
Discover job opportunities that match your skillset.
Case Studies
Learn from the experience of others in the industry.
Event Calendar
Find upcoming conferences, training sessions, online events, and more.
Industry News
Stay up-to-date with the latest inspection and asset integrity management news.
Blog
Read short articles and insights authored by industry experts.
Acronyms
Commonly used asset integrity management and inspection acronyms.
Downloads
Downloadable eBooks, Asset Intelligence Reports, checklists, white papers, and more.
Videos
Watch educational and informative videos directly related to your profession.