API 510 - Authorized Pressure vessel Inspector

Pressure vessel inspectors are to be certified as stated in this (Api 510) .1

.inspection code

When the ASME Code cannot be followed because of its new construction .2
orientation (new or revised material specifications, inspection requirements,
certain heat treatments and pressure tests, and stamping and inspection
requirements), the engineer or inspector shall conform to this inspection code
.rather than to the ASME Code

Authorized pressure vessel inspector: An employee of an authorized .3

inspection agency who is qualified and certified to perform inspections under this
.inspection code

The owner-user’s inspection program shall provide the controls that are .4
.necessary when contract inspectors are used

Examiner: A person who assists the API authorized pressure vessel inspector .5
by performing specific NDE on pressure vessels but does not evaluate the
results of those examinations in accordance with API 510, unless specifically
trained and authorized to do so by the owner or user

The examiner’s employer shall maintain certification records of the .6

examiners employed, including dates and results of personnel qualifications and
.shall make them available to the API authorized pressure vessel inspector

Authorized pressure vessel inspectors shall have education and experience .7

.in accordance with Appendix B of this inspection code

OWNER-USER ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBILITIES: Reports to the .8

authorized pressure vessel inspector any process changes that could affect
.pressure vessel integrity

When inspections, repairs, or alterations are being conducted on pressure 9

vessels, an API authorized pressure vessel inspector shall be responsible to the
owner-user for determining that the requirements of API 510 on inspection,
examination, and testing are met, and shall be directly involved in the inspection
.activities

The API authorized pressure vessel inspector may be assisted in performing .10
visual inspections by other properly trained and qualified individuals, who may or
may not be certified vessel inspectors
Personnel performing nondestructive examination shall meet the .11
qualifications identified in 3.18 but need not be API authorized pressure vessel
inspectors. However, all examination results must be evaluated and accepted by
.the API authorized pressure vessel inspector

The thickness measurement procedure shall be approved by the authorized .12

.pressure vessel inspector

The authorized pressure vessel inspector should be familiar with the .13
operating conditions of the vessel and with the causes and characteristics of
.potential defects and deterioration

INSPECTION OF PARTS - list - Authorized pressure vessel inspectors must .14

supplement this list with any additional items necessary for the particular vessel
.or vessels involved

The inspection, as deemed necessary by the authorized pressure vessel .15

inspector, may include many of a number of nondestructive techniques, including
visual inspection. Internal inspection is preferred because process side
degradation (corrosion, erosion, and environmental cracking) can be nonuniform
.throughout the vessel and, therefore, difficult to locate by external NDE

A RBI assessment may be used to establish the appropriate inspection .16

intervals for internal and on-stream inspections, including a potential increase in
the 10-year inspection limit described in 6.4, as well as the external interval
described in 6.3. When used to increase the 10-year limit, the RBI assessment
shall be reviewed and approved by a pressure vessel engineer and authorized
pressure vessel inspector at intervals not to exceed 10 years, or more often if
.warranted by process, equipment, or consequence changes

At the discretion of the authorized pressure vessel inspector, on-stream .17

.inspection may be substituted for internal inspection

If an on-stream inspection is conducted, the authorized pressure vessel .18

inspector shall be given sufficient access to all parts of the vessel (heads, shell,
and nozzles) so that the inspector is satisfied that an accurate assessment of the
.vessel condition can be made

Long-term and short-term corrosion rates should be compared as part of the .19
data assessment. The authorized inspector, in consultation with a corrosion
.specialist, shall select the corrosion rate that best reflects the current process
The determination of corrosion rate may include thickness data collected at .20
more than two different times. Suitable use of short-term versus long-term
.corrosion rates shall be determined by the authorized pressure vessel inspector

When there is a discrepancy between short-term and long-term corrosion .21

rates, a pressure vessel engineer experienced in corrosion may need to be
consulted about the use of these rates, at the discretion of the inspector, for
.calculating the remaining life and next inspection date

When the authorized pressure vessel inspector believes that a pressure test .22
is necessary or when, after certain repairs or alterations, the inspector believes
that one is necessary (see 7.2.9), the test shall be conducted at a pressure in
accordance with the construction code used for determining the maximum
.allowable working pressure

Before any repairs or alterations are performed, all proposed methods of .23
execution, all materials, and all welding procedures that are to be used must
be approved by the authorized pressure vessel inspector and, if necessary, by a
pressure vessel engineer experienced in pressure vessel design, fabrication, or
.inspection

All repair and alteration work must be authorized by the authorized pressure .24
vessel inspector before the work is started by a repair organization

The authorized pressure vessel inspector will designate the fabrication .25
.approvals that are required

The authorized pressure vessel inspector may give prior general .26
authorization for limited or routine repairs as long as the inspector is sure that the
.repairs are the kind that will not require pressure tests

The authorized pressure vessel inspector shall approve all specified repair .27
and alteration work after an inspection of the work has proven the work to be
.satisfactory and any required pressure test has been witnessed

No crack shall be repaired without authorization from the authorized pressure .28
.vessel inspector

The repair organization shall maintain records of its qualified welding .29
procedures and its welding performance qualifications. These records shall be
.available to the inspector prior to the start of welding
After the weld is completed, it shall be examined again by either of the above .30
methods to determine that no defects exist using acceptance standards
acceptable to the Inspector or code of construction most applicable to the work
.planned

In situations where it is not practical to perform radiography the .31

accessible surfaces of each non-radiographed repair weld shall be fully
examined using the most appropriate nondestructive examination method to
determine that no defects exist, and the maximum allowable working pressure
and/or allowable temperature shall be reevaluated to the satisfaction of the
authorized pressure vessel inspector and jurisdiction at the location of
.installation

The repair procedure(s) to restore removed, corroded, or missing clad or .32

overlay areas shall be reviewed and endorsed prior to implementation by the
.pressure vessel engineer and authorized by the inspector

Repairs shall be monitored by an inspector to assure compliance to repair .33

.requirements

Temporary repairs using fillet-welded patches shall be approved by the .34

authorized pressure vessel inspector and a pressure vessel engineer
competent in pressure vessel design; and the temporary repairs should be
removed and replaced with suitable permanent repairs at the next available
.maintenance opportunity

Temporary repairs may remain in place for a longer period of time only if .35
evaluated, approved, and documented by the pressure vessel engineer and the
.authorized API pressure vessel inspector

Fillet-welded patches may be applied to the internal or external surfaces of .36

shells, heads, and headers as long as, in the judgment of the authorized
.pressure vessel inspector

A full encirclement lap band repair may be considered a long term repair if .37
the design is approved, and documented by the pressure vessel engineer and
.the authorized API pressure vessel inspector

Where use of these nondestructive examination techniques is not possible or .38

practical, alternative nondestructive examination methods may be used provided
they are approved by the pressure vessel engineer and the authorized pressure
.vessel inspector

After repairs are completed, a pressure test shall be applied .39

.if the authorized pressure vessel inspector believes that one is necessary

Substituting nondestructive examination procedures for a pressure test after .40

an alteration may be done only after a pressure vessel engineer experienced in
pressure vessel design and the authorized pressure vessel inspector have been
.consulted

For cases where UT is substituted for radiographic inspection, the owner/user .41
shall specify industry-qualified UT shear wave examiners for closure welds that
have not been pressure tested and for weld repairs identified by the pressure
.vessel engineer or authorized inspector

The pressure vessel inspection and rerating is acceptable to the authorized .42
.pressure vessel inspector

The pressure vessel rerating will be considered complete when the .43
authorized pressure vessel inspector oversees the attachment of an additional
:nameplate or additional stamping that carries the following information
Rerated by
Maximum Allowable Working Pressure psi at F
Date
Copyright American Petroleum Institute

An API 510 authorized pressure vessel inspector certificate may be issued .44
when an applicant provides documented evidence of passing the National Board
of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors examination and meets all
.requirements for education and experience of API 510

An API certificate for an authorized pressure vessel inspector is valid for .45
.three years from its date of issuance

An API 510 authorized pressure vessel inspector certification .46

is valid in all jurisdictions and any other location that accepts or otherwise does
.not prohibit the use of API 510

Recertification by written examination will be required for authorized pressure .47

vessel inspectors who have not been actively engaged as authorized pressure
.vessel inspectors within the most recent 3-year certification period

Once every other recertification period, (every six years) inspectors actively .48
engaged as an authorized pressure vessel inspector shall demonstrate
knowledge of revisions to API 510 that were instituted during the previous six
.years