
Fitness for service (FFS) is a methodology to determine the adequacy of a structure for continued service when it contains a flaw or is operating in a particular condition where there is risk of failure. Failure conditions and types of flaws may include:
Cracking flaws may include:
API RP 579 provides the methods and procedures intended to supplement and improve requirements of API 510, API 570, API 653 and API 750.
AOC consultants include engineering personnel with expertise in FFS assessments. We offer three levels of assessment per API RP 579.
Level1
Level 2
Level 3
AOC has delivered thousands of sustainable Risk Based Inspection (RBI) programs earning the trust of owner operators.
Key parameters and mitigating actions for variables that may dramatically affect the intended design life of your asset
One of the most important steps in an RBI project is the corrosion study or damage mechanism review.
Create mechanical integrity (MI) program value rather than it being seen as a necessary cost to minimize.
Is your plant's MI program compliant? Use our checklist to assess your current program against industry standards and receive expert recommendations for improvement.
How well do you know RBI? Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of the API 580 risk-based inspection (RBI) work process.
Is your Risk Based Inspection (RBI) program aligned with the API 580 Recommended Practice? Are you ready for certification?
A deep dive into quantitative Risk Based Inspection (RBI) as outlined in API 581.
What impact does Risk Based Inspection (RBI) have on my organization?
What's actually going on inside all of that fancy software? An introduction to the API 581 methodology.
A high level overview introducing Mechanical Integrity and Risk Based Inspection
Can Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) finally replace vessel entries? Explore the roadblocks to RBI, validated POD data for UT and RT, and a new framework for technical equivalency in modern refinery maintenance.
This is a practical approach to incorporating the new PHMSA gas well rules into your integrity program with the rest of your surface and subsurface assets.
"Good inspection" is not defined by technical tools, but by a leadership choice to allow the truth about equipment condition to surface. Learn why management is the most critical variable in mechanical integrity.
Is your inspection program reducing risk or just checking boxes? Learn why 100% coverage doesn't guarantee safety and how to shift your focus from activity to true assurance.
What are equipment/inspection strategies in relation to mechanical integrity (MI) and risk based inspection (RBI)?
When working in Brazil please be aware that Brazil has its own Regulatory Standard – NR13 – that covers the minimum requirements for managing the integrity and inspection of steam boilers, pressure vessels, storage tanks and interconnecting pipes.
A dysfunctionality found in many refineries, chemical plants, and other production facilities, is a lack of common asset management work processes.
Since the evaluation of inspection effectiveness for RBI can be so subjective, following these suggestions can greatly improve the process.
The U.S. refining industry recorded nine significant fires and explosions in 2025. While the count is low, incidents at Chevron and HF Sinclair highlight the critical need for robust mechanical integrity and process safety programs.
Why companies overlook Mechanical Integrity: It's expensive, exposes risk, requires specialized knowledge, and is difficult to audit. Learn the 10 structural, cultural, and economic reasons MI is the weakest PSM element.
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