API RP 982, Inspection and Assessment of Refractory Linings, is a recommended practice developed and published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) that details industry practices, requirements, and guidance for the installation, in-service inspection, and repair assessment of refractory lining in equipment used in general refinery services. The purpose of this recommended practice is to enhance equipment reliability, bolster operating efficiency, increase personnel safety, and promote operational process safety across the natural gas and oil industry. The first edition of API RP 982 was published in October 2023.
While numerous existing API standards have covered refractory inspection methods and the qualifications of refractory inspectors, there has been little guidance on what constitutes a refractory inspection. API RP 982 fills in these critical gaps, providing guidelines on what equipment should be inspected, what elements to consider during an inspection, appropriate inspection tools, and the requisite competencies for inspectors.
API RP 982 encompasses an extensive array of refinery equipment, including fluid solid units, fluid catalytic cracker units, reforming units, fired heaters, incinerators, sulfur recovery units, flue gas ducts, calcines, steam-methane reformers, hydrogen plant and transfer lines, cracker furnaces, boilers, and flue gas stacks. The refractory linings in these units serve essential purposes, including:
- Providing thermal protection for equipment;
- Increasing energy retention and process efficiency;
- Resisting processes that cause abrasion and corrosion; and
- Enhancing personnel safety
API RP 982 includes applications for fired furnaces, which are used extensively in the industry to heat hydrocarbon feedstocks for various high-temperature processes. These furnaces manage the interaction and flow of liquids, solids, and gases at elevated temperatures. Performing a reliable assessment of this lining is crucial for maximizing the furnace’s productivity and durability.
Following API RP 982 can help organizations optimize furnace performance, reduce energy consumption, and minimize downtime. It can also foster better and more informed decision-making regarding the condition of the existing lining and the necessity of making repairs.
An API Individual Certification Program (ICP) certification for API RP 982 was released in 2024 to help identify individuals possessing knowledge of API RP 982 Inspection and Assessment of Refractory Linings. API RP 982 complements several other ICP certifications and API standards, including API 936, Refractory Installation Quality Control—Inspection and Testing Monolithic Refractory; API 975, Refractory Installation Quality Control—Inspection and Testing of Refractory Brick Systems and Materials; and API 976, Refractory Installation Quality Control—Inspection and Testing of AES/RCF Fiber Linings. Collectively, with the release of API RP 982, they strengthen the quality and reliability of refractory installations.
Related Topics
- API 560 - Fired Heaters for General Refinery Service
- API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 - Fitness-For-Service (FFS)
- API 594 - Check Valves: Flanged, Lug, Wafer, and Butt-Welding
- API 620 - Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks
- API 650 - Welded Tanks for Oil Storage
- API 660 - Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers
- API 661 - Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Natural Gas Industries Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers
- API RP 1160 - Managing System Integrity for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
- API RP 1173 - Pipeline Safety Management Systems
- API RP 1176 - Assessment and Management of Cracking in Pipelines
- API RP 1188 - Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Facilities Integrity Management
- API RP 538 - Industrial Fired Boilers for General Refinery and Petrochemical Service
- API RP 571 - Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry
- 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 576 - Inspection of Pressure-Relieving Devices
- API RP 577 - Welding Processes, Inspection, and Metallurgy
- API RP 578 - Material Verification for New and Existing Alloy Piping
- API RP 580 - Risk Based Inspection (RBI)
- API RP 581 - Risk Based Inspection Technology
- 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 75 - Safety and Environmental Management System for Offshore Operations
- API RP 751 - Safe Operation of Hydrofluoric Acid Alkylation Units
- 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 RP 939-C - Guidelines for Avoiding Sulfidation (Sulfidic) Corrosion Failures in Oil Refineries
- API RP 941 - Steels for Hydrogen Service at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures
- API RP 970 - Corrosion Control Documents
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
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