API RP 584, Integrity Operating Windows, is a standard developed and published by the American Petroleum Institute (API). This standard is meant to explain the importance of, and help facility owners create, put into place, monitor, and maintain an Integrity Operating Window (IOW) program for each vulnerable unit and piece of equipment in their facility. The recommended practice was released in May of 2014, and a second edition has yet to have been released.
IOWs are incredibly important for a facility; having set limits for equipment operation can prevent excessive equipment degradation and unnecessary failures. API RP 584 doesn’t provide a specific list of IOW plans or the types of equipment on that might require and IOW. What it does do is provide the reader with the information they might need to identify what equipment of theirs might require an IOW and how best to create and implement and IOW for that equipment.
Specifically, this recommended practice includes information such as definitions of IOWs, the different types of IOWs, and terminology related to them. It also puts forth guidelines on creating, documenting, and implementing IOWs, and discusses the data and information that most useful in their creation. It talks about how to monitor and measure variables within existing IOWs and how to communicate when a limit has been breached. Finally it covers reviewing and updating existing IOW programs, and how to integrate these programs with other safety practices. Three Annexes are provided with samples and examples
This recommended practice also discusses topics such as Risk Based Inspection (RBI), management of change (MOC), process safety information (PSI), and training. But only insofar as they relate to IOWs.
Is this definition incomplete? You can help by contributing to it.
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September/October 2018 Inspectioneering Journal
By Yousuf Hasani at Continental Marine Energy Sdn. Bhd. Malaysia
This article presents a management approach for the implementation of Integrity Operating Window (IOWs) under API RP 584 and discusses the IOW planning process and how input from other programs like RBI and Corrosion Management Plans is critical to establish appropriate limits. |
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March/April 2017 Inspectioneering Journal
By A.C. Gysbers at The Equity Engineering Group, Inc.
Integrity Operating Windows (IOWs) have a subset of operating variables that are important for degradation monitoring, but may not have direct operational controls. Per API RP 584 Integrity Operating Windows, these are known as IOW Informational Limits, which are often neglected or misunderstood by operations or technical personnel within a plant. |
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November/December 2014 Inspectioneering Journal
By Alphonse W. Hegger Jr., P.E. at Stress Engineering Services
Today, more than ever, refinery operators are focused on maintaining safe operations for their employees and extending the life cycle of valuable operating equipment to optimize efficiencies and avoid expensive unforeseen shutdowns. When process unit corrosion assessments, RBI methodologies, and IOWs are properly integrated into refining operations, the result is improved safety and longer run times. |
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Blog
June 2, 2014 By John Reynolds at Intertek
Three new API standards have been published, and one has been revised and updated to a new edition. The standards are described in this post. |
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March/April 2014 Inspectioneering Journal
By Jeremiah Wooten at Inspectioneering, LLC.
Inspectioneering is pleased to announce that our friend, colleague, author and industry leader, Clay White, has recently taken over as chair of API’s Subcommittee on Inspection (SCI). |
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September/October 2011 Inspectioneering Journal
By John Reynolds at Intertek
Three new recommended practices (RP) are under way within the API Inspection Subcommittee (SCI) which will add to the list of SCI standards available to owner-users to improve their mechanical integrity (MI) and inspection programs. |
Many refining, gas processing, and petrochemical plants have already identified the need to define Integrity Operating Windows, but most are still unsure how to extract the most value from them.
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News
American Petroleum Institute, June 4, 2014
The American Petroleum Institute (API) issued three new first edition standards to enhance refinery safety and inspection programs as part of its core commitments to improving workplace safety and protecting the environment. |
