Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 16
March April 2014 Volume 20 Issue 2
Since 1995 Inspectioneering Journal has provided the oil amp gasand chemical industries with information to help optimally manageequipment risk and reliability cradle to grave
FEATURING
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A
SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
BY GUY ST-ARNEAULT SR MECHANICAL INTEGRITY GROUPENGINEER GCM CONSULTANTS CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR HUGO JULIEN MECHANICAL INTEGRITYGROUP MANAGER GCM CONSULTANTS
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 26 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 21
What are the key ingredientsof a successful FFS TeamBy Guy St-Arneault Sr Mechanical Integrity Group Engineer GCM
ConsultantsContributing Author Hugo Julien Mechanical Integrity Group Manager GCM Consultants
INTRODUCTIONLet us consider the following situation You are in the mid-dle of a planned shutdown and everything is going well sofar But after a scheduled inspection an inspector comesto see you with some bad news Inspection of equipmentX has revealed a localized area that is extremely corroded
In fact measurements show metal loss well over the corro-sion allowance specied in the equipment data sheet Youneed to know quickly and with relative certainty whetherthe equipment can be put back into operation at the endof the shutdown or if it needs to be repaired or worse yetreplaced Unfortunately you do not have the resources onsite to answer this question and must hire an outside rmSince important decisions will be based on the results ofthe tness-for-service (FFS) determination you need to besure that you have a strong FFS team
But what are the key ingredients of a good FFS team Thisarticle provides some guidelines to help you answer thisquestion
KEY INGREDIENTSSince API standard 579-1ASME FFS-1 represents whatcan be qualied as state-of-the-art for a FFS assessment agood portion of the answer comes directly from this stan-dard itself
A quick overview of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 will provide alist of essential ingredients of a solid FFS team
1 Knowing who needs to be involved in the FFS assess- ment and understanding the responsibilities of eachparticipant
This point may seem obvious and simple but it is very im-portant Knowing who should be involved in a FFS assess-ment will denitely set the foundation for a good FFS teamFFS assessments are usually multidisciplinary and involveengineers from various elds such as materials designfabrication inspection and operations Each professionalinvolved in the FFS assessment has their role and certainresponsibilities Paragraph 14 of API 579-1ASME FFS-1lists the required participants in a FFS along with their re-sponsibilities as follows1
Owneruser
bull Overall responsibility for Fitness-For-Service assessmentbull Ensures that the results of the assessment are
documented and led with the equipment records
Inspector
bull Works in conjunction with the NDE engineer bull Responsible to the owneruser for determining that the
requirements for inspection and testing are metbull Provides all necessary inspection data required for a
tness-For-Service assessmentbull Controls the overall accuracy of the aw detection and
sizing activitiesbull May also be responsible for the Fitness-For-Service
Level 1 assessment (for screening purposes)
Engineer
bull Responsible for most types of Fitness-For-Service assessments
bull Reviews the analysis when a Level 1 Assessment is performed by an inspector or other non-degreed specialist
In the context of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 the term Engineeapplies to a combination of the following disciplines
Materials or Metallurgical Engineering
bull Identify the material damage mechanismsbull Establish the corrosionerosion ratesbull Determine material properties including parameters
and crack-like aw growth parametersbull Develop suitable remediation methods and monitoring
programs
Mechanical or Structural Engineering
bull Calculate the minimum required thickness andoMAWP (MFH) of the equipmentcomponent
bull Perform required thermal and stress analysesbull Provide experience and knowledge in design of and
practices relating to pressure containing equipmentcodes and standards
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 3622 | MarchApril 2014 | Inspectioneering Journal
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Inspection Engineering
bull Establish an inspection plan in order to detectcharacterise and size aws or damage
bull Select the examination procedures in conjunction withavailable NDE expertise
Fracture Mechanics Engineering
bull Responsible for the assessment of crack-like aws usingthe principles of fracture mechanics
bull Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) Engineeringbull Select and develop the methods to detect characterize
and size aws or quantity the amount of damagebull Analyse and interpret the inspection data
Process Engineering
bull Document past and future operating conditionsincluding normal and upset conditions
bull Identify the contained uid and its contaminant levels
Plant Engineer
bull In the context of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 the term PlantEngineer applies to an engineer with knowledge of theequipmentcomponent containing the aw or damage
bull May perform both a level 1 and level 2 assessments
Looking at the responsibilities described above it be-comes obvious that a FFS assessment cannot always beperformed by one individual FFS assessments require
a group of specialists and ownerusers should take greatcare in selecting this group of engineers Since these engineers are responsible for most types of FFS assessmentsevery individual in this group must have sound theoreticaknowledge mixed with solid practical experience in theirrespective discipline Given that the success of the FFSassessment is strongly related to the group of engineersperforming it the rest of this article will focus on the skillsof the team members
2 Qualifcations
It is important that ownerusers take the time to evaluatewhether all of the engineers on the team have the appropri-ate qualications to perform an effective FFS assessmentParagraph 151 of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 states that theeducation level andor experience of all participants shalbe related to the complexity of the assessment1 The standard also species in paragraph 154 that the engineersshall be competent to perform the level of assessment re-quired and meet all required qualications to perform engineering work within the applicable jurisdiction1 To ensurethat all engineers have the required qualications and thatthey will fulll their specic responsibilities the ownerusehiring an external rm for a FFS assessment should ask forthe professional resumes (curriculum vitae) of the engineerswho will be performing the assessment
In addition to the degree of education and number of yearsof experience experience with API 579-1ASME FFS-1philosophy assessment procedure and limitations the following expertise should also be considered by the owneruser when selecting the engineers assigned to a FFS team
MaterialsMetallurgical Engineering Expertise bull Material behavior in relation to specic environments
temperatures and conditionsbull Corrosion phenomenabull Welding techniques (certications API 577 AWS
CWB etc)bull Damage mechanisms (certications API 571 NACE
etc)bull Construction codes and standards present editions and
older editionsbull Up-to-date with the new developments in thei
discipline (continuous training)
MechanicalStructural Engineering Expertise
bull Construction codes and standards (such as ASMESection VIII div 1 and 2 ASME B313 etc) presentedition and older editions
bull Stress Analysis such as Finite Element Analysis toaccurately estimate the stress of the equipmentcomponents
bull Dynamic effect on equipment (pressuretemperaturevariations wind vibrations earthquake etc)
bull Probability and statistics techniquesbull Up-to-date with new development in their discipline
(ASME Committee follow-up continuous training)
Alloy selection for corrosion creep andfatigue resistance
Failure analysisInspection plansAPI (510 570 571 653 etc) and NACEstandards
Preparation of welding proceduresNon-destructive testing (UT RT MTPT VT)Hot-tappingASME API CSA AWS and NBICstandards
Welding Services
wwwgcmconsultantscom 5143518350
A team of experienced engineers for allyour fitness-for-service needs
Metallurgical Services
Mechanical IntegrityA GCM Specialized Service
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 46 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 23
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Inspection Engineering Expertise
bull Data requirements for FFS assessmentbull In-Service InspectionMonitoring (certications API
510 API 570 API 653 etc)
Fracture Mechanics Engineering Expertise
bull Crack propagationbull Mechanical failure mechanismsbull Investigationbull Fracture and crack growth analyses (ECA)bull Finite Element (FE) based fracture analysesbull Fracture and fatigue testing
Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) EngineeringExpertise
bull NDE techniquesbull Identication of the most suitable inspection method
and technology related to specic aw types combinedwith accessibility to the damaged area (certicationsSNT-TC-1A ONCG etc)
3 Engineers performing FFS should understand theorigin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
It may seem obvious but this foundational knowledgeshould not be overlooked or taken for granted Construc-tion codes for pressurized equipment such as the onesdeveloped by ASME and API provide rules for the designfabrication inspection and testing of new equipmentThese codes do not provide rules to evaluate equipmentthat degrades during operation23 Post-construction
Codesstandards API 510 API 570 API 653 and NB-23 ad-dress this point API 579-1ASME FFS-1 was developedto supplement and augment the requirements of theabove-mentioned post-construction CodesStandards1FFS uses quantitative engineering methods to evaluate theintegrity or remaining life of an in-service piece of equip-ment or component containing a aw or damage14 API579-1ASME FFS-1 provides guidelines for performing FFSassessments and these guidelines can be used to makerun-repair-replace decisions to help determine if the equip-ment containing aws can continue to operate safely for anestablished period of time1
4 Engineers performing the FFS assessment should
know the different levels of the assessment and under- stand when and how to apply them
As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 there are three differentlevels of assessments1
bull Level 1 is intended to provide conservative screeningwith minimal data and can be performed either by aninspector or an engineer
bull A Level 2 assessment is intended to provide a moredetailed evaluation with more precise results thanLevel 1 Typically Level 2 should be performed byplant engineers or engineering specialists who areexperienced and knowledgeable about FFS
bull Level 3 provides the most detailed evaluationA detailed inspection and detailed equipmentinformation are required for this level Level 3assessments should be performed by engineeringspecialists experienced and knowledgeable aboutFFS
5 Engineers performing a FFS assessment must do soby following a proven approach
FFS should not be performed haphazardly It should beperformed following a well-known and approved method-ology Since API 579-1ASME FFS-1 represents what can bequalied as state-of-the art for FFS the procedure shouldbe based on this standard The procedure proposed byAPI 579-1ASME FFS-1 in paragraph 213 is well under stood and accepted by the industry and is applicable to alaw types The general procedure described in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 is the following1
bull Step 1 ndash Flaw and Damage Mechanism Identicationbull Step 2 ndash Applicability and Limitations of the FFS As
sessment Proceduresbull Step 3 ndash Data Requirementsbull Step 4 ndash Assessment Techniques and Acceptance Cri
teriabull Step 5 ndash Remaining Life Evaluationbull Step 6 ndash Remediationbull Step 7 ndash In-Service Monitoringbull Step 8 ndash Documentation
6 Understanding of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophyassessment procedures applicability and limitations
All engineers involved in a FFS assessment should knowthe applicability and limitations of the FFS procedure described by the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard The applicability and limitations of a given procedure are relative tothe level of assessment1 Experience with API 579-1ASMEFFS-1 provides the engineer with a better understandingof the philosophy behind the standard and the differencesbetween the three levels of assessment Advanced comprehension of the philosophy behind the API 579-1ASMEFFS-1 will help the engineer in each discipline to make theright decisionassumption during the assessment A betteunderstanding of the FFS and the three different levels ofassessment will help the engineer determine the requiredassessment (ie which part to use) and the required level
Knowing which level of assessment to perform can savesignicant time and money
7 Knowledgeable in Data Requirements
Since the results of a FFS assessment depend on the dataavailable to perform it all engineers involved must be ableto determine what the required data for a specic assessment are and challenge the data received from the owneruser The extent of data required depends on the damagemechanism and assessment level1 By knowing the datarequirements the engineer should be able to dene therequired data and measurements for the FFS assessmentThe engineer should also be able to provide the list o
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 5624 | MarchApril 2014 | Inspectioneering Journal
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
original equipment design data required and if some ofthis information is not available should also identify whatneeds to be done to provide the missing information(physical measurements tests eld inspection)
8 Determine Assessment Techniques and AcceptanceCriteria
By knowing the difference between the 3 levels of as-sessment (previously discussed) the engineers should be
capable of determining the assessment technique to beused As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 each level providesa balance between conservatism the amount of informa-tion required the required skills and the complexity1 Theengineer should have an in-depth understanding of theacceptance criteria (allowable stress remaining strengthfactor failure assessment diagram) utilized in the method-ologies presented in the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
9 Experience in Remaining Life Assessment
If the assessment demonstrates that the damaged equip-mentcomponent is acceptable for the current applicationand conditions engineers should then determine the
remaining life for the equipmentcomponent In API 5791ASME FFS-1 the remaining life is used to establish anappropriate inspection interval an in-service monitoringplan or the need for remediation1
The engineers performing remaining life estimation shouldbe experienced with the guidelines provided in API 579-1ASME FFS-1
10 Experience in Remediation
In some circumstances remediation may be necessaryWhen this occurs and keeping in mind that each situa-tion is unique and requires a special attention engineersinvolved in the FFS assessment should be experiencedwith remediation in order to propose a practical solutionEngineers should also have knowledge and experiencewith other codes and standards such as API 510 API 570API 653 and ANSINB-23
11 Experience with In-Service Monitoring
When future conditions such as the corrosion rate cannotbe properly estimated or when the remaining life is short
Figure 1 Summary of these key ingredients in a one page diagram
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 66 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 25
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Guy St-Arneault is a member ofthe Mechanical Integrity Groupat GCM Consultants basedout of Quebec Canada MrSt-Arneault graduated (1992) from lrsquoEacutecole Polytechnique
de Montreacuteal with a degree in Mechanical Engineering withspecialization in design Heis a member of the followingCanadian Order of EngineersQuebec (OIQ) Ontario(PEO) and British Columbia(APEGBC) Over his career Mr St-Arneault has gained
substantial experience in the design and analysis of pressure equipment and piping and also has signifcantexperience in coordinating fabrication and qualitycontrol
ldquoSpecial thanks to Hugo Julien for the quality control hecontributedrdquo
in-service monitoring may be required In such cases theinspection engineer should provide an in-service monitor-ing plan This in-service monitoring plan should be in ac-cordance with API 579-1ASME FFS-1
12 Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be Re- corded
The engineers performing the FFS assessment shouldsufciently document the assessment so the analysis canrepeated in the future All calculations and documentationshould be kept with the inspection records
CONCLUSIONWhen faced with selecting a Fitness-For-Service teamownerusers should base their choice on the importantparameters found in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 A quick over -view of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 allows one to compile a listof the essential ingredients for a solid FFS team Onceagain these key ingredients include
1 Knowing who should be involved in a FFS assessmentand their responsibilities
2 Having the required qualications3 Knowing the origin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 stan-
dard4 Knowing the different levels of assessment5 Working with a proven procedure6 Knowing API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophy assess-
ment procedures applicability and limitations7 Knowing Data Requirements8 Determining Assessment Techniques and Acceptance
Criteria9 Being Experienced in Remaining Life Assessment
10 Being Experienced in Remediation11 Being Experienced with In-Service Monitoring and12 Being Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be
Recorded
REFERENCES1 API 579-1ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service Second
Edition para 142 ASME B313 Process Piping 2012 Edition3 ASME Boiler amp Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII divi-
sion 1 2012 Edition4 Fitness-For-Service and Integrity of Piping Vessels and
tanks George Antaki
To view this article on Inspectioneering
com click here
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 26 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 21
What are the key ingredientsof a successful FFS TeamBy Guy St-Arneault Sr Mechanical Integrity Group Engineer GCM
ConsultantsContributing Author Hugo Julien Mechanical Integrity Group Manager GCM Consultants
INTRODUCTIONLet us consider the following situation You are in the mid-dle of a planned shutdown and everything is going well sofar But after a scheduled inspection an inspector comesto see you with some bad news Inspection of equipmentX has revealed a localized area that is extremely corroded
In fact measurements show metal loss well over the corro-sion allowance specied in the equipment data sheet Youneed to know quickly and with relative certainty whetherthe equipment can be put back into operation at the endof the shutdown or if it needs to be repaired or worse yetreplaced Unfortunately you do not have the resources onsite to answer this question and must hire an outside rmSince important decisions will be based on the results ofthe tness-for-service (FFS) determination you need to besure that you have a strong FFS team
But what are the key ingredients of a good FFS team Thisarticle provides some guidelines to help you answer thisquestion
KEY INGREDIENTSSince API standard 579-1ASME FFS-1 represents whatcan be qualied as state-of-the-art for a FFS assessment agood portion of the answer comes directly from this stan-dard itself
A quick overview of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 will provide alist of essential ingredients of a solid FFS team
1 Knowing who needs to be involved in the FFS assess- ment and understanding the responsibilities of eachparticipant
This point may seem obvious and simple but it is very im-portant Knowing who should be involved in a FFS assess-ment will denitely set the foundation for a good FFS teamFFS assessments are usually multidisciplinary and involveengineers from various elds such as materials designfabrication inspection and operations Each professionalinvolved in the FFS assessment has their role and certainresponsibilities Paragraph 14 of API 579-1ASME FFS-1lists the required participants in a FFS along with their re-sponsibilities as follows1
Owneruser
bull Overall responsibility for Fitness-For-Service assessmentbull Ensures that the results of the assessment are
documented and led with the equipment records
Inspector
bull Works in conjunction with the NDE engineer bull Responsible to the owneruser for determining that the
requirements for inspection and testing are metbull Provides all necessary inspection data required for a
tness-For-Service assessmentbull Controls the overall accuracy of the aw detection and
sizing activitiesbull May also be responsible for the Fitness-For-Service
Level 1 assessment (for screening purposes)
Engineer
bull Responsible for most types of Fitness-For-Service assessments
bull Reviews the analysis when a Level 1 Assessment is performed by an inspector or other non-degreed specialist
In the context of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 the term Engineeapplies to a combination of the following disciplines
Materials or Metallurgical Engineering
bull Identify the material damage mechanismsbull Establish the corrosionerosion ratesbull Determine material properties including parameters
and crack-like aw growth parametersbull Develop suitable remediation methods and monitoring
programs
Mechanical or Structural Engineering
bull Calculate the minimum required thickness andoMAWP (MFH) of the equipmentcomponent
bull Perform required thermal and stress analysesbull Provide experience and knowledge in design of and
practices relating to pressure containing equipmentcodes and standards
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 3622 | MarchApril 2014 | Inspectioneering Journal
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Inspection Engineering
bull Establish an inspection plan in order to detectcharacterise and size aws or damage
bull Select the examination procedures in conjunction withavailable NDE expertise
Fracture Mechanics Engineering
bull Responsible for the assessment of crack-like aws usingthe principles of fracture mechanics
bull Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) Engineeringbull Select and develop the methods to detect characterize
and size aws or quantity the amount of damagebull Analyse and interpret the inspection data
Process Engineering
bull Document past and future operating conditionsincluding normal and upset conditions
bull Identify the contained uid and its contaminant levels
Plant Engineer
bull In the context of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 the term PlantEngineer applies to an engineer with knowledge of theequipmentcomponent containing the aw or damage
bull May perform both a level 1 and level 2 assessments
Looking at the responsibilities described above it be-comes obvious that a FFS assessment cannot always beperformed by one individual FFS assessments require
a group of specialists and ownerusers should take greatcare in selecting this group of engineers Since these engineers are responsible for most types of FFS assessmentsevery individual in this group must have sound theoreticaknowledge mixed with solid practical experience in theirrespective discipline Given that the success of the FFSassessment is strongly related to the group of engineersperforming it the rest of this article will focus on the skillsof the team members
2 Qualifcations
It is important that ownerusers take the time to evaluatewhether all of the engineers on the team have the appropri-ate qualications to perform an effective FFS assessmentParagraph 151 of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 states that theeducation level andor experience of all participants shalbe related to the complexity of the assessment1 The standard also species in paragraph 154 that the engineersshall be competent to perform the level of assessment re-quired and meet all required qualications to perform engineering work within the applicable jurisdiction1 To ensurethat all engineers have the required qualications and thatthey will fulll their specic responsibilities the ownerusehiring an external rm for a FFS assessment should ask forthe professional resumes (curriculum vitae) of the engineerswho will be performing the assessment
In addition to the degree of education and number of yearsof experience experience with API 579-1ASME FFS-1philosophy assessment procedure and limitations the following expertise should also be considered by the owneruser when selecting the engineers assigned to a FFS team
MaterialsMetallurgical Engineering Expertise bull Material behavior in relation to specic environments
temperatures and conditionsbull Corrosion phenomenabull Welding techniques (certications API 577 AWS
CWB etc)bull Damage mechanisms (certications API 571 NACE
etc)bull Construction codes and standards present editions and
older editionsbull Up-to-date with the new developments in thei
discipline (continuous training)
MechanicalStructural Engineering Expertise
bull Construction codes and standards (such as ASMESection VIII div 1 and 2 ASME B313 etc) presentedition and older editions
bull Stress Analysis such as Finite Element Analysis toaccurately estimate the stress of the equipmentcomponents
bull Dynamic effect on equipment (pressuretemperaturevariations wind vibrations earthquake etc)
bull Probability and statistics techniquesbull Up-to-date with new development in their discipline
(ASME Committee follow-up continuous training)
Alloy selection for corrosion creep andfatigue resistance
Failure analysisInspection plansAPI (510 570 571 653 etc) and NACEstandards
Preparation of welding proceduresNon-destructive testing (UT RT MTPT VT)Hot-tappingASME API CSA AWS and NBICstandards
Welding Services
wwwgcmconsultantscom 5143518350
A team of experienced engineers for allyour fitness-for-service needs
Metallurgical Services
Mechanical IntegrityA GCM Specialized Service
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 46 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 23
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Inspection Engineering Expertise
bull Data requirements for FFS assessmentbull In-Service InspectionMonitoring (certications API
510 API 570 API 653 etc)
Fracture Mechanics Engineering Expertise
bull Crack propagationbull Mechanical failure mechanismsbull Investigationbull Fracture and crack growth analyses (ECA)bull Finite Element (FE) based fracture analysesbull Fracture and fatigue testing
Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) EngineeringExpertise
bull NDE techniquesbull Identication of the most suitable inspection method
and technology related to specic aw types combinedwith accessibility to the damaged area (certicationsSNT-TC-1A ONCG etc)
3 Engineers performing FFS should understand theorigin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
It may seem obvious but this foundational knowledgeshould not be overlooked or taken for granted Construc-tion codes for pressurized equipment such as the onesdeveloped by ASME and API provide rules for the designfabrication inspection and testing of new equipmentThese codes do not provide rules to evaluate equipmentthat degrades during operation23 Post-construction
Codesstandards API 510 API 570 API 653 and NB-23 ad-dress this point API 579-1ASME FFS-1 was developedto supplement and augment the requirements of theabove-mentioned post-construction CodesStandards1FFS uses quantitative engineering methods to evaluate theintegrity or remaining life of an in-service piece of equip-ment or component containing a aw or damage14 API579-1ASME FFS-1 provides guidelines for performing FFSassessments and these guidelines can be used to makerun-repair-replace decisions to help determine if the equip-ment containing aws can continue to operate safely for anestablished period of time1
4 Engineers performing the FFS assessment should
know the different levels of the assessment and under- stand when and how to apply them
As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 there are three differentlevels of assessments1
bull Level 1 is intended to provide conservative screeningwith minimal data and can be performed either by aninspector or an engineer
bull A Level 2 assessment is intended to provide a moredetailed evaluation with more precise results thanLevel 1 Typically Level 2 should be performed byplant engineers or engineering specialists who areexperienced and knowledgeable about FFS
bull Level 3 provides the most detailed evaluationA detailed inspection and detailed equipmentinformation are required for this level Level 3assessments should be performed by engineeringspecialists experienced and knowledgeable aboutFFS
5 Engineers performing a FFS assessment must do soby following a proven approach
FFS should not be performed haphazardly It should beperformed following a well-known and approved method-ology Since API 579-1ASME FFS-1 represents what can bequalied as state-of-the art for FFS the procedure shouldbe based on this standard The procedure proposed byAPI 579-1ASME FFS-1 in paragraph 213 is well under stood and accepted by the industry and is applicable to alaw types The general procedure described in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 is the following1
bull Step 1 ndash Flaw and Damage Mechanism Identicationbull Step 2 ndash Applicability and Limitations of the FFS As
sessment Proceduresbull Step 3 ndash Data Requirementsbull Step 4 ndash Assessment Techniques and Acceptance Cri
teriabull Step 5 ndash Remaining Life Evaluationbull Step 6 ndash Remediationbull Step 7 ndash In-Service Monitoringbull Step 8 ndash Documentation
6 Understanding of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophyassessment procedures applicability and limitations
All engineers involved in a FFS assessment should knowthe applicability and limitations of the FFS procedure described by the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard The applicability and limitations of a given procedure are relative tothe level of assessment1 Experience with API 579-1ASMEFFS-1 provides the engineer with a better understandingof the philosophy behind the standard and the differencesbetween the three levels of assessment Advanced comprehension of the philosophy behind the API 579-1ASMEFFS-1 will help the engineer in each discipline to make theright decisionassumption during the assessment A betteunderstanding of the FFS and the three different levels ofassessment will help the engineer determine the requiredassessment (ie which part to use) and the required level
Knowing which level of assessment to perform can savesignicant time and money
7 Knowledgeable in Data Requirements
Since the results of a FFS assessment depend on the dataavailable to perform it all engineers involved must be ableto determine what the required data for a specic assessment are and challenge the data received from the owneruser The extent of data required depends on the damagemechanism and assessment level1 By knowing the datarequirements the engineer should be able to dene therequired data and measurements for the FFS assessmentThe engineer should also be able to provide the list o
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 5624 | MarchApril 2014 | Inspectioneering Journal
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
original equipment design data required and if some ofthis information is not available should also identify whatneeds to be done to provide the missing information(physical measurements tests eld inspection)
8 Determine Assessment Techniques and AcceptanceCriteria
By knowing the difference between the 3 levels of as-sessment (previously discussed) the engineers should be
capable of determining the assessment technique to beused As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 each level providesa balance between conservatism the amount of informa-tion required the required skills and the complexity1 Theengineer should have an in-depth understanding of theacceptance criteria (allowable stress remaining strengthfactor failure assessment diagram) utilized in the method-ologies presented in the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
9 Experience in Remaining Life Assessment
If the assessment demonstrates that the damaged equip-mentcomponent is acceptable for the current applicationand conditions engineers should then determine the
remaining life for the equipmentcomponent In API 5791ASME FFS-1 the remaining life is used to establish anappropriate inspection interval an in-service monitoringplan or the need for remediation1
The engineers performing remaining life estimation shouldbe experienced with the guidelines provided in API 579-1ASME FFS-1
10 Experience in Remediation
In some circumstances remediation may be necessaryWhen this occurs and keeping in mind that each situa-tion is unique and requires a special attention engineersinvolved in the FFS assessment should be experiencedwith remediation in order to propose a practical solutionEngineers should also have knowledge and experiencewith other codes and standards such as API 510 API 570API 653 and ANSINB-23
11 Experience with In-Service Monitoring
When future conditions such as the corrosion rate cannotbe properly estimated or when the remaining life is short
Figure 1 Summary of these key ingredients in a one page diagram
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 66 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 25
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Guy St-Arneault is a member ofthe Mechanical Integrity Groupat GCM Consultants basedout of Quebec Canada MrSt-Arneault graduated (1992) from lrsquoEacutecole Polytechnique
de Montreacuteal with a degree in Mechanical Engineering withspecialization in design Heis a member of the followingCanadian Order of EngineersQuebec (OIQ) Ontario(PEO) and British Columbia(APEGBC) Over his career Mr St-Arneault has gained
substantial experience in the design and analysis of pressure equipment and piping and also has signifcantexperience in coordinating fabrication and qualitycontrol
ldquoSpecial thanks to Hugo Julien for the quality control hecontributedrdquo
in-service monitoring may be required In such cases theinspection engineer should provide an in-service monitor-ing plan This in-service monitoring plan should be in ac-cordance with API 579-1ASME FFS-1
12 Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be Re- corded
The engineers performing the FFS assessment shouldsufciently document the assessment so the analysis canrepeated in the future All calculations and documentationshould be kept with the inspection records
CONCLUSIONWhen faced with selecting a Fitness-For-Service teamownerusers should base their choice on the importantparameters found in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 A quick over -view of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 allows one to compile a listof the essential ingredients for a solid FFS team Onceagain these key ingredients include
1 Knowing who should be involved in a FFS assessmentand their responsibilities
2 Having the required qualications3 Knowing the origin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 stan-
dard4 Knowing the different levels of assessment5 Working with a proven procedure6 Knowing API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophy assess-
ment procedures applicability and limitations7 Knowing Data Requirements8 Determining Assessment Techniques and Acceptance
Criteria9 Being Experienced in Remaining Life Assessment
10 Being Experienced in Remediation11 Being Experienced with In-Service Monitoring and12 Being Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be
Recorded
REFERENCES1 API 579-1ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service Second
Edition para 142 ASME B313 Process Piping 2012 Edition3 ASME Boiler amp Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII divi-
sion 1 2012 Edition4 Fitness-For-Service and Integrity of Piping Vessels and
tanks George Antaki
To view this article on Inspectioneering
com click here
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 3622 | MarchApril 2014 | Inspectioneering Journal
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Inspection Engineering
bull Establish an inspection plan in order to detectcharacterise and size aws or damage
bull Select the examination procedures in conjunction withavailable NDE expertise
Fracture Mechanics Engineering
bull Responsible for the assessment of crack-like aws usingthe principles of fracture mechanics
bull Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) Engineeringbull Select and develop the methods to detect characterize
and size aws or quantity the amount of damagebull Analyse and interpret the inspection data
Process Engineering
bull Document past and future operating conditionsincluding normal and upset conditions
bull Identify the contained uid and its contaminant levels
Plant Engineer
bull In the context of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 the term PlantEngineer applies to an engineer with knowledge of theequipmentcomponent containing the aw or damage
bull May perform both a level 1 and level 2 assessments
Looking at the responsibilities described above it be-comes obvious that a FFS assessment cannot always beperformed by one individual FFS assessments require
a group of specialists and ownerusers should take greatcare in selecting this group of engineers Since these engineers are responsible for most types of FFS assessmentsevery individual in this group must have sound theoreticaknowledge mixed with solid practical experience in theirrespective discipline Given that the success of the FFSassessment is strongly related to the group of engineersperforming it the rest of this article will focus on the skillsof the team members
2 Qualifcations
It is important that ownerusers take the time to evaluatewhether all of the engineers on the team have the appropri-ate qualications to perform an effective FFS assessmentParagraph 151 of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 states that theeducation level andor experience of all participants shalbe related to the complexity of the assessment1 The standard also species in paragraph 154 that the engineersshall be competent to perform the level of assessment re-quired and meet all required qualications to perform engineering work within the applicable jurisdiction1 To ensurethat all engineers have the required qualications and thatthey will fulll their specic responsibilities the ownerusehiring an external rm for a FFS assessment should ask forthe professional resumes (curriculum vitae) of the engineerswho will be performing the assessment
In addition to the degree of education and number of yearsof experience experience with API 579-1ASME FFS-1philosophy assessment procedure and limitations the following expertise should also be considered by the owneruser when selecting the engineers assigned to a FFS team
MaterialsMetallurgical Engineering Expertise bull Material behavior in relation to specic environments
temperatures and conditionsbull Corrosion phenomenabull Welding techniques (certications API 577 AWS
CWB etc)bull Damage mechanisms (certications API 571 NACE
etc)bull Construction codes and standards present editions and
older editionsbull Up-to-date with the new developments in thei
discipline (continuous training)
MechanicalStructural Engineering Expertise
bull Construction codes and standards (such as ASMESection VIII div 1 and 2 ASME B313 etc) presentedition and older editions
bull Stress Analysis such as Finite Element Analysis toaccurately estimate the stress of the equipmentcomponents
bull Dynamic effect on equipment (pressuretemperaturevariations wind vibrations earthquake etc)
bull Probability and statistics techniquesbull Up-to-date with new development in their discipline
(ASME Committee follow-up continuous training)
Alloy selection for corrosion creep andfatigue resistance
Failure analysisInspection plansAPI (510 570 571 653 etc) and NACEstandards
Preparation of welding proceduresNon-destructive testing (UT RT MTPT VT)Hot-tappingASME API CSA AWS and NBICstandards
Welding Services
wwwgcmconsultantscom 5143518350
A team of experienced engineers for allyour fitness-for-service needs
Metallurgical Services
Mechanical IntegrityA GCM Specialized Service
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 46 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 23
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Inspection Engineering Expertise
bull Data requirements for FFS assessmentbull In-Service InspectionMonitoring (certications API
510 API 570 API 653 etc)
Fracture Mechanics Engineering Expertise
bull Crack propagationbull Mechanical failure mechanismsbull Investigationbull Fracture and crack growth analyses (ECA)bull Finite Element (FE) based fracture analysesbull Fracture and fatigue testing
Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) EngineeringExpertise
bull NDE techniquesbull Identication of the most suitable inspection method
and technology related to specic aw types combinedwith accessibility to the damaged area (certicationsSNT-TC-1A ONCG etc)
3 Engineers performing FFS should understand theorigin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
It may seem obvious but this foundational knowledgeshould not be overlooked or taken for granted Construc-tion codes for pressurized equipment such as the onesdeveloped by ASME and API provide rules for the designfabrication inspection and testing of new equipmentThese codes do not provide rules to evaluate equipmentthat degrades during operation23 Post-construction
Codesstandards API 510 API 570 API 653 and NB-23 ad-dress this point API 579-1ASME FFS-1 was developedto supplement and augment the requirements of theabove-mentioned post-construction CodesStandards1FFS uses quantitative engineering methods to evaluate theintegrity or remaining life of an in-service piece of equip-ment or component containing a aw or damage14 API579-1ASME FFS-1 provides guidelines for performing FFSassessments and these guidelines can be used to makerun-repair-replace decisions to help determine if the equip-ment containing aws can continue to operate safely for anestablished period of time1
4 Engineers performing the FFS assessment should
know the different levels of the assessment and under- stand when and how to apply them
As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 there are three differentlevels of assessments1
bull Level 1 is intended to provide conservative screeningwith minimal data and can be performed either by aninspector or an engineer
bull A Level 2 assessment is intended to provide a moredetailed evaluation with more precise results thanLevel 1 Typically Level 2 should be performed byplant engineers or engineering specialists who areexperienced and knowledgeable about FFS
bull Level 3 provides the most detailed evaluationA detailed inspection and detailed equipmentinformation are required for this level Level 3assessments should be performed by engineeringspecialists experienced and knowledgeable aboutFFS
5 Engineers performing a FFS assessment must do soby following a proven approach
FFS should not be performed haphazardly It should beperformed following a well-known and approved method-ology Since API 579-1ASME FFS-1 represents what can bequalied as state-of-the art for FFS the procedure shouldbe based on this standard The procedure proposed byAPI 579-1ASME FFS-1 in paragraph 213 is well under stood and accepted by the industry and is applicable to alaw types The general procedure described in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 is the following1
bull Step 1 ndash Flaw and Damage Mechanism Identicationbull Step 2 ndash Applicability and Limitations of the FFS As
sessment Proceduresbull Step 3 ndash Data Requirementsbull Step 4 ndash Assessment Techniques and Acceptance Cri
teriabull Step 5 ndash Remaining Life Evaluationbull Step 6 ndash Remediationbull Step 7 ndash In-Service Monitoringbull Step 8 ndash Documentation
6 Understanding of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophyassessment procedures applicability and limitations
All engineers involved in a FFS assessment should knowthe applicability and limitations of the FFS procedure described by the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard The applicability and limitations of a given procedure are relative tothe level of assessment1 Experience with API 579-1ASMEFFS-1 provides the engineer with a better understandingof the philosophy behind the standard and the differencesbetween the three levels of assessment Advanced comprehension of the philosophy behind the API 579-1ASMEFFS-1 will help the engineer in each discipline to make theright decisionassumption during the assessment A betteunderstanding of the FFS and the three different levels ofassessment will help the engineer determine the requiredassessment (ie which part to use) and the required level
Knowing which level of assessment to perform can savesignicant time and money
7 Knowledgeable in Data Requirements
Since the results of a FFS assessment depend on the dataavailable to perform it all engineers involved must be ableto determine what the required data for a specic assessment are and challenge the data received from the owneruser The extent of data required depends on the damagemechanism and assessment level1 By knowing the datarequirements the engineer should be able to dene therequired data and measurements for the FFS assessmentThe engineer should also be able to provide the list o
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 5624 | MarchApril 2014 | Inspectioneering Journal
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
original equipment design data required and if some ofthis information is not available should also identify whatneeds to be done to provide the missing information(physical measurements tests eld inspection)
8 Determine Assessment Techniques and AcceptanceCriteria
By knowing the difference between the 3 levels of as-sessment (previously discussed) the engineers should be
capable of determining the assessment technique to beused As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 each level providesa balance between conservatism the amount of informa-tion required the required skills and the complexity1 Theengineer should have an in-depth understanding of theacceptance criteria (allowable stress remaining strengthfactor failure assessment diagram) utilized in the method-ologies presented in the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
9 Experience in Remaining Life Assessment
If the assessment demonstrates that the damaged equip-mentcomponent is acceptable for the current applicationand conditions engineers should then determine the
remaining life for the equipmentcomponent In API 5791ASME FFS-1 the remaining life is used to establish anappropriate inspection interval an in-service monitoringplan or the need for remediation1
The engineers performing remaining life estimation shouldbe experienced with the guidelines provided in API 579-1ASME FFS-1
10 Experience in Remediation
In some circumstances remediation may be necessaryWhen this occurs and keeping in mind that each situa-tion is unique and requires a special attention engineersinvolved in the FFS assessment should be experiencedwith remediation in order to propose a practical solutionEngineers should also have knowledge and experiencewith other codes and standards such as API 510 API 570API 653 and ANSINB-23
11 Experience with In-Service Monitoring
When future conditions such as the corrosion rate cannotbe properly estimated or when the remaining life is short
Figure 1 Summary of these key ingredients in a one page diagram
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 66 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 25
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Guy St-Arneault is a member ofthe Mechanical Integrity Groupat GCM Consultants basedout of Quebec Canada MrSt-Arneault graduated (1992) from lrsquoEacutecole Polytechnique
de Montreacuteal with a degree in Mechanical Engineering withspecialization in design Heis a member of the followingCanadian Order of EngineersQuebec (OIQ) Ontario(PEO) and British Columbia(APEGBC) Over his career Mr St-Arneault has gained
substantial experience in the design and analysis of pressure equipment and piping and also has signifcantexperience in coordinating fabrication and qualitycontrol
ldquoSpecial thanks to Hugo Julien for the quality control hecontributedrdquo
in-service monitoring may be required In such cases theinspection engineer should provide an in-service monitor-ing plan This in-service monitoring plan should be in ac-cordance with API 579-1ASME FFS-1
12 Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be Re- corded
The engineers performing the FFS assessment shouldsufciently document the assessment so the analysis canrepeated in the future All calculations and documentationshould be kept with the inspection records
CONCLUSIONWhen faced with selecting a Fitness-For-Service teamownerusers should base their choice on the importantparameters found in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 A quick over -view of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 allows one to compile a listof the essential ingredients for a solid FFS team Onceagain these key ingredients include
1 Knowing who should be involved in a FFS assessmentand their responsibilities
2 Having the required qualications3 Knowing the origin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 stan-
dard4 Knowing the different levels of assessment5 Working with a proven procedure6 Knowing API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophy assess-
ment procedures applicability and limitations7 Knowing Data Requirements8 Determining Assessment Techniques and Acceptance
Criteria9 Being Experienced in Remaining Life Assessment
10 Being Experienced in Remediation11 Being Experienced with In-Service Monitoring and12 Being Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be
Recorded
REFERENCES1 API 579-1ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service Second
Edition para 142 ASME B313 Process Piping 2012 Edition3 ASME Boiler amp Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII divi-
sion 1 2012 Edition4 Fitness-For-Service and Integrity of Piping Vessels and
tanks George Antaki
To view this article on Inspectioneering
com click here
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 46 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 23
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Inspection Engineering Expertise
bull Data requirements for FFS assessmentbull In-Service InspectionMonitoring (certications API
510 API 570 API 653 etc)
Fracture Mechanics Engineering Expertise
bull Crack propagationbull Mechanical failure mechanismsbull Investigationbull Fracture and crack growth analyses (ECA)bull Finite Element (FE) based fracture analysesbull Fracture and fatigue testing
Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) EngineeringExpertise
bull NDE techniquesbull Identication of the most suitable inspection method
and technology related to specic aw types combinedwith accessibility to the damaged area (certicationsSNT-TC-1A ONCG etc)
3 Engineers performing FFS should understand theorigin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
It may seem obvious but this foundational knowledgeshould not be overlooked or taken for granted Construc-tion codes for pressurized equipment such as the onesdeveloped by ASME and API provide rules for the designfabrication inspection and testing of new equipmentThese codes do not provide rules to evaluate equipmentthat degrades during operation23 Post-construction
Codesstandards API 510 API 570 API 653 and NB-23 ad-dress this point API 579-1ASME FFS-1 was developedto supplement and augment the requirements of theabove-mentioned post-construction CodesStandards1FFS uses quantitative engineering methods to evaluate theintegrity or remaining life of an in-service piece of equip-ment or component containing a aw or damage14 API579-1ASME FFS-1 provides guidelines for performing FFSassessments and these guidelines can be used to makerun-repair-replace decisions to help determine if the equip-ment containing aws can continue to operate safely for anestablished period of time1
4 Engineers performing the FFS assessment should
know the different levels of the assessment and under- stand when and how to apply them
As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 there are three differentlevels of assessments1
bull Level 1 is intended to provide conservative screeningwith minimal data and can be performed either by aninspector or an engineer
bull A Level 2 assessment is intended to provide a moredetailed evaluation with more precise results thanLevel 1 Typically Level 2 should be performed byplant engineers or engineering specialists who areexperienced and knowledgeable about FFS
bull Level 3 provides the most detailed evaluationA detailed inspection and detailed equipmentinformation are required for this level Level 3assessments should be performed by engineeringspecialists experienced and knowledgeable aboutFFS
5 Engineers performing a FFS assessment must do soby following a proven approach
FFS should not be performed haphazardly It should beperformed following a well-known and approved method-ology Since API 579-1ASME FFS-1 represents what can bequalied as state-of-the art for FFS the procedure shouldbe based on this standard The procedure proposed byAPI 579-1ASME FFS-1 in paragraph 213 is well under stood and accepted by the industry and is applicable to alaw types The general procedure described in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 is the following1
bull Step 1 ndash Flaw and Damage Mechanism Identicationbull Step 2 ndash Applicability and Limitations of the FFS As
sessment Proceduresbull Step 3 ndash Data Requirementsbull Step 4 ndash Assessment Techniques and Acceptance Cri
teriabull Step 5 ndash Remaining Life Evaluationbull Step 6 ndash Remediationbull Step 7 ndash In-Service Monitoringbull Step 8 ndash Documentation
6 Understanding of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophyassessment procedures applicability and limitations
All engineers involved in a FFS assessment should knowthe applicability and limitations of the FFS procedure described by the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard The applicability and limitations of a given procedure are relative tothe level of assessment1 Experience with API 579-1ASMEFFS-1 provides the engineer with a better understandingof the philosophy behind the standard and the differencesbetween the three levels of assessment Advanced comprehension of the philosophy behind the API 579-1ASMEFFS-1 will help the engineer in each discipline to make theright decisionassumption during the assessment A betteunderstanding of the FFS and the three different levels ofassessment will help the engineer determine the requiredassessment (ie which part to use) and the required level
Knowing which level of assessment to perform can savesignicant time and money
7 Knowledgeable in Data Requirements
Since the results of a FFS assessment depend on the dataavailable to perform it all engineers involved must be ableto determine what the required data for a specic assessment are and challenge the data received from the owneruser The extent of data required depends on the damagemechanism and assessment level1 By knowing the datarequirements the engineer should be able to dene therequired data and measurements for the FFS assessmentThe engineer should also be able to provide the list o
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 5624 | MarchApril 2014 | Inspectioneering Journal
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
original equipment design data required and if some ofthis information is not available should also identify whatneeds to be done to provide the missing information(physical measurements tests eld inspection)
8 Determine Assessment Techniques and AcceptanceCriteria
By knowing the difference between the 3 levels of as-sessment (previously discussed) the engineers should be
capable of determining the assessment technique to beused As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 each level providesa balance between conservatism the amount of informa-tion required the required skills and the complexity1 Theengineer should have an in-depth understanding of theacceptance criteria (allowable stress remaining strengthfactor failure assessment diagram) utilized in the method-ologies presented in the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
9 Experience in Remaining Life Assessment
If the assessment demonstrates that the damaged equip-mentcomponent is acceptable for the current applicationand conditions engineers should then determine the
remaining life for the equipmentcomponent In API 5791ASME FFS-1 the remaining life is used to establish anappropriate inspection interval an in-service monitoringplan or the need for remediation1
The engineers performing remaining life estimation shouldbe experienced with the guidelines provided in API 579-1ASME FFS-1
10 Experience in Remediation
In some circumstances remediation may be necessaryWhen this occurs and keeping in mind that each situa-tion is unique and requires a special attention engineersinvolved in the FFS assessment should be experiencedwith remediation in order to propose a practical solutionEngineers should also have knowledge and experiencewith other codes and standards such as API 510 API 570API 653 and ANSINB-23
11 Experience with In-Service Monitoring
When future conditions such as the corrosion rate cannotbe properly estimated or when the remaining life is short
Figure 1 Summary of these key ingredients in a one page diagram
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 66 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 25
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Guy St-Arneault is a member ofthe Mechanical Integrity Groupat GCM Consultants basedout of Quebec Canada MrSt-Arneault graduated (1992) from lrsquoEacutecole Polytechnique
de Montreacuteal with a degree in Mechanical Engineering withspecialization in design Heis a member of the followingCanadian Order of EngineersQuebec (OIQ) Ontario(PEO) and British Columbia(APEGBC) Over his career Mr St-Arneault has gained
substantial experience in the design and analysis of pressure equipment and piping and also has signifcantexperience in coordinating fabrication and qualitycontrol
ldquoSpecial thanks to Hugo Julien for the quality control hecontributedrdquo
in-service monitoring may be required In such cases theinspection engineer should provide an in-service monitor-ing plan This in-service monitoring plan should be in ac-cordance with API 579-1ASME FFS-1
12 Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be Re- corded
The engineers performing the FFS assessment shouldsufciently document the assessment so the analysis canrepeated in the future All calculations and documentationshould be kept with the inspection records
CONCLUSIONWhen faced with selecting a Fitness-For-Service teamownerusers should base their choice on the importantparameters found in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 A quick over -view of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 allows one to compile a listof the essential ingredients for a solid FFS team Onceagain these key ingredients include
1 Knowing who should be involved in a FFS assessmentand their responsibilities
2 Having the required qualications3 Knowing the origin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 stan-
dard4 Knowing the different levels of assessment5 Working with a proven procedure6 Knowing API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophy assess-
ment procedures applicability and limitations7 Knowing Data Requirements8 Determining Assessment Techniques and Acceptance
Criteria9 Being Experienced in Remaining Life Assessment
10 Being Experienced in Remediation11 Being Experienced with In-Service Monitoring and12 Being Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be
Recorded
REFERENCES1 API 579-1ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service Second
Edition para 142 ASME B313 Process Piping 2012 Edition3 ASME Boiler amp Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII divi-
sion 1 2012 Edition4 Fitness-For-Service and Integrity of Piping Vessels and
tanks George Antaki
To view this article on Inspectioneering
com click here
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 5624 | MarchApril 2014 | Inspectioneering Journal
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
original equipment design data required and if some ofthis information is not available should also identify whatneeds to be done to provide the missing information(physical measurements tests eld inspection)
8 Determine Assessment Techniques and AcceptanceCriteria
By knowing the difference between the 3 levels of as-sessment (previously discussed) the engineers should be
capable of determining the assessment technique to beused As per API 579-1ASME FFS-1 each level providesa balance between conservatism the amount of informa-tion required the required skills and the complexity1 Theengineer should have an in-depth understanding of theacceptance criteria (allowable stress remaining strengthfactor failure assessment diagram) utilized in the method-ologies presented in the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 standard
9 Experience in Remaining Life Assessment
If the assessment demonstrates that the damaged equip-mentcomponent is acceptable for the current applicationand conditions engineers should then determine the
remaining life for the equipmentcomponent In API 5791ASME FFS-1 the remaining life is used to establish anappropriate inspection interval an in-service monitoringplan or the need for remediation1
The engineers performing remaining life estimation shouldbe experienced with the guidelines provided in API 579-1ASME FFS-1
10 Experience in Remediation
In some circumstances remediation may be necessaryWhen this occurs and keeping in mind that each situa-tion is unique and requires a special attention engineersinvolved in the FFS assessment should be experiencedwith remediation in order to propose a practical solutionEngineers should also have knowledge and experiencewith other codes and standards such as API 510 API 570API 653 and ANSINB-23
11 Experience with In-Service Monitoring
When future conditions such as the corrosion rate cannotbe properly estimated or when the remaining life is short
Figure 1 Summary of these key ingredients in a one page diagram
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 66 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 25
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Guy St-Arneault is a member ofthe Mechanical Integrity Groupat GCM Consultants basedout of Quebec Canada MrSt-Arneault graduated (1992) from lrsquoEacutecole Polytechnique
de Montreacuteal with a degree in Mechanical Engineering withspecialization in design Heis a member of the followingCanadian Order of EngineersQuebec (OIQ) Ontario(PEO) and British Columbia(APEGBC) Over his career Mr St-Arneault has gained
substantial experience in the design and analysis of pressure equipment and piping and also has signifcantexperience in coordinating fabrication and qualitycontrol
ldquoSpecial thanks to Hugo Julien for the quality control hecontributedrdquo
in-service monitoring may be required In such cases theinspection engineer should provide an in-service monitor-ing plan This in-service monitoring plan should be in ac-cordance with API 579-1ASME FFS-1
12 Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be Re- corded
The engineers performing the FFS assessment shouldsufciently document the assessment so the analysis canrepeated in the future All calculations and documentationshould be kept with the inspection records
CONCLUSIONWhen faced with selecting a Fitness-For-Service teamownerusers should base their choice on the importantparameters found in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 A quick over -view of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 allows one to compile a listof the essential ingredients for a solid FFS team Onceagain these key ingredients include
1 Knowing who should be involved in a FFS assessmentand their responsibilities
2 Having the required qualications3 Knowing the origin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 stan-
dard4 Knowing the different levels of assessment5 Working with a proven procedure6 Knowing API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophy assess-
ment procedures applicability and limitations7 Knowing Data Requirements8 Determining Assessment Techniques and Acceptance
Criteria9 Being Experienced in Remaining Life Assessment
10 Being Experienced in Remediation11 Being Experienced with In-Service Monitoring and12 Being Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be
Recorded
REFERENCES1 API 579-1ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service Second
Edition para 142 ASME B313 Process Piping 2012 Edition3 ASME Boiler amp Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII divi-
sion 1 2012 Edition4 Fitness-For-Service and Integrity of Piping Vessels and
tanks George Antaki
To view this article on Inspectioneering
com click here
8112019 Key Ingredients of FFS Team
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullkey-ingredients-of-ffs-team 66 Inspectioneering Journal | MarchApril 2014 | 25
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FFS TEAM
Guy St-Arneault is a member ofthe Mechanical Integrity Groupat GCM Consultants basedout of Quebec Canada MrSt-Arneault graduated (1992) from lrsquoEacutecole Polytechnique
de Montreacuteal with a degree in Mechanical Engineering withspecialization in design Heis a member of the followingCanadian Order of EngineersQuebec (OIQ) Ontario(PEO) and British Columbia(APEGBC) Over his career Mr St-Arneault has gained
substantial experience in the design and analysis of pressure equipment and piping and also has signifcantexperience in coordinating fabrication and qualitycontrol
ldquoSpecial thanks to Hugo Julien for the quality control hecontributedrdquo
in-service monitoring may be required In such cases theinspection engineer should provide an in-service monitor-ing plan This in-service monitoring plan should be in ac-cordance with API 579-1ASME FFS-1
12 Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be Re- corded
The engineers performing the FFS assessment shouldsufciently document the assessment so the analysis canrepeated in the future All calculations and documentationshould be kept with the inspection records
CONCLUSIONWhen faced with selecting a Fitness-For-Service teamownerusers should base their choice on the importantparameters found in API 579-1ASME FFS-1 A quick over -view of API 579-1ASME FFS-1 allows one to compile a listof the essential ingredients for a solid FFS team Onceagain these key ingredients include
1 Knowing who should be involved in a FFS assessmentand their responsibilities
2 Having the required qualications3 Knowing the origin of the API 579-1ASME FFS-1 stan-
dard4 Knowing the different levels of assessment5 Working with a proven procedure6 Knowing API 579-1ASME FFS-1 philosophy assess-
ment procedures applicability and limitations7 Knowing Data Requirements8 Determining Assessment Techniques and Acceptance
Criteria9 Being Experienced in Remaining Life Assessment
10 Being Experienced in Remediation11 Being Experienced with In-Service Monitoring and12 Being Knowledgeable in the Documentation to be
Recorded
REFERENCES1 API 579-1ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service Second
Edition para 142 ASME B313 Process Piping 2012 Edition3 ASME Boiler amp Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII divi-
sion 1 2012 Edition4 Fitness-For-Service and Integrity of Piping Vessels and
tanks George Antaki
To view this article on Inspectioneering
com click here
