Fitness for Service (API 579 / ASME FFS – 1)

This three (3-day optional-minimum) / four (4) day basic course will provide an intensive study of FFS techniques applicable to a wide variety of static pressure equipment, piping, and atmospheric storage tanks and other essential equipment in refineries, petrochemical and oil sands facilities constructed to the principles in construction Codes including ASME VIII Division 1, Division 2, ASME B31.3 and standards such API 650, API 653 and how these practice documents are extended by the ASME FFS-1 / API 579-1 standard for fitness for service evaluations.

The course quickly moves from the engineering mechanics / code criteria basics of the “design by rules” and “design by analysis” approaches of Codes and standards to the detailed application of the principles to safely extend the life of static equipment within the framework of API 579 / ASME FFS – 1.

The solution techniques of API 579 / ASME FFS – 1 have wide application to flaw damage and are illustrated by case study. Level 1 and Level 2 analyses are presented for the benefit of inspectors and non-senior engineers since many FFS problems can be successfully evaluated using these techniques properly. Level 3 techniques are better left to senior engineers who are experienced in the more detailed, analytical approaches which require a deeper understanding of the damage mechanism and solution methodologies.