API RP 1184, Pipeline Facilities Construction Inspection, is an industry recommended practice developed and published by the American Petroleum Institute (API). This recommended practice (RP), published in October of 2021, covers the basic requirements needed to perform inspection activities safely and effectively during new and existing onshore transmission pipeline facility construction. This recommended practice is not intended to be fully comprehensive of all systems that may be located within a pipeline transportation facility.
API RP 1184 provides inspection guidance for:
- Pipeline facility construction inspectors responsible for monitoring and verifying construction activities.
- Pipeline owner-operators overseeing pipeline projects and facility integrity.
- Contractors and engineers involved in the design, construction, and commissioning of pipeline facilities.
- Regulatory agencies tasked with ensuring compliance to industry standards and best practices.
- Any other stakeholders involved in pipeline safety, quality control, and environmental stewardship.
API RP 1184 addresses a broad range of topics essential for safe and effective pipeline facility construction inspection, including:
- Inspector Responsibilities
- Defines the roles and duties of inspectors throughout the construction process.
- Establishes requirements for inspector competency and ethical conduct.
- Construction Inspection
- Details inspection activities for all aspects of onshore transmission pipeline facilities, including terminals, compressor stations, pump stations, meter stations, storage facilities, and valve stations.
- Covers monitoring and verification of construction quality, adherence to specifications, and regulatory compliance.
- Safety and Environmental Protection
- Emphasizes personnel safety, environmental controls, and pollution prevention during construction.
- Includes requirements for emergency response planning and preparedness.
- Integrity and Corrosion Control
- Provides guidelines for ensuring pipeline integrity, including material selection, welding, coating, and cathodic protection.
- Addresses quality control measures to reduce the risk of unauthorized emissions and environmental incidents.
- Documentation and Reporting
- Outlines documentation practices for inspection activities, non-conformance reporting, and recordkeeping to support regulatory compliance and project traceability.
- Certification and Competency
- Serves as the basis for the API 1184 Pipeline Facility Construction Inspector certification, which validates the knowledge and competency of inspectors through a formal examination process
API RP 1184 Inspector Certification
The API 1184 Pipeline Facility Construction Inspector certification program is offered through API’s Individual Certification Program (ICP) and was developed in cooperation with industry experts in order to establish an industry-wide credential for the inspection of pipeline facilities construction.
Qualification
In order to take the exam, applicants must meet minimum education and experience requirements. For API RP 1184, experience relating to inspection and non-inspection activities are considered. Additionally, API considers whether those experiences were performed in the oil and gas industry or other related industries such as civil construction, mining, heavy equipment operating, etc.
Applicants with Pipeline Facilities and/or Pipeline Inspection Experience
Applicants with no formal education or degree must acquire at least 3 years of pipeline facility and/or pipeline inspection experience before applying to take the exam. Applicants with a 2 year degree in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) or 2 years of military service in a technical role may apply after acquiring 2 years of experience. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) may apply after acquiring 1 year of experience. Pipeline facilities or pipeline inspection experience includes welding inspection, electrical inspection, instrumentation inspection, civil inspection, utility inspection, coating/paint inspection, pressure/leak testing, safety inspection, environmental inspection, and fixed or rotating equipment inspection.
Applicants with General Oil & Gas Inspection Experience
Applicants with no formal education or degree must acquire at least 3 years of general O&G inspection experience before applying to take the exam. Applicants with a 2 year degree in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) or 2 years of military service in a technical role may apply after acquiring 2 years of experience. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) may apply after acquiring 1 year of experience. General inspection experience includes equipment, in-service, visual, welding, tank and source inspection. Experience in nondestructive examination (NDE) and pressure/leak testing also qualifies under this category.
Applicants with Non-Inspection Experience in Pipeline Facilities and/or Pipelines
Applicants with no formal education or degree must acquire at least 4 years of general (non-inspection) experience in pipeline facilities and/or pipelines before applying to take the exam. Applicants with a 2 year degree in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) or 2 years of military service in a technical role may apply after acquiring 3 years of experience. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) may apply after acquiring 2 years of experience. General (non-inspection) experience can be acquired in areas such as construction, welding, operations, coatings, safety supervision, and heavy equipment operation.
Applicants with General Oil & Gas Industry Experience
Applicants with no formal education or degree must acquire at least 5 years of general O&G industry experience, or a total of 4 years if they have at least 1 year of Pipeline Facility and/or Pipeline experience, and a relevant industry certification (e.g., API, AWS, NACE, ASNT) before applying to take the exam. Applicants with a 2 year degree in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) or 2 years of military service in a technical role may apply after acquiring 3 years of industry experience. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) may apply after acquiring 2 years of experience. General O&G industry experience includes any operations, construction, or maintenance experience at a refinery or petrochemical plant.
Applicants with Other Heavy Industry Experience
Applicants with no formal education or degree must acquire at least 5 years of heavy industry experience and a relevant industry certification (e.g., API, AWS, NACE, ASNT) before applying to take the exam. Applicants with a 2 year degree in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) or 2 years of military service in a technical role may apply after acquiring 4 years of heavy industry experience. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering or technology) may apply after acquiring 3 years of experience. Heavy industry experience includes road building, civil construction, mining, logging, blasting, and heavy equipment operation.
Related Topics
- API 510 - Pressure Vessel Inspection Code
- API 530 - Calculation of Heater Tube Thickness in Petroleum Refineries
- API 570 - Piping Inspection Code
- 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 - Pipeline Construction Inspection
- API RP 582 - Welding Guidelines for the Chemical, Oil, and Gas Industries
- API RP 588 - Recommended Practice for Source Inspection and Quality Surveillance of Fixed Equipment
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