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Matthews Training: ASME Plant Inspector Level 1

Certificate Body of Knowledge (BoK)

Plant inspectors need a specific knowledge base in order to carry out the role of in-service inspection of

static engineering plant. Statutory requirements are different in all countries and there are important

differences in industry practices in technical topics such as inspection frequency, acceptability of corrosion,

repair-v-replace decision, retiral guidelines etc

The ASME Plant Inspector Certificate Program (PICP) is designed around a suite of different country

inspection codes. Taken together they provide a broad coverage of the inspection practices used for the

various equipment items and encompass a range of technical opinion. Emphasis is placed on the technical

content of these codes rather than country-specific practices. The ASME Level 1 body of knowledge is

based on the skills that candidates require to demonstrate their abilities as a plant inspector. These include;

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is on understanding the subject rather than memorizing of word-for-word phrases from inspection codes or

the course notes.

For the level 1 assessment, candidates must achieve a minimum mark of 70% all 3 parts: multi -choice,

narrative questions and inspection plan/report exercise.

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Page 3 of5 ASME Plant Inspector Level 1: Body of Knowledge March 2011: Valid to 31 Dec 11

Body of Knowledge: ASME Level 1:Pressure Equipment: Vessels, Pipework, Valves

Content Source refs

1Background engineering

knowledge

Pressure equipment types/features

Basic materials

Stress: strain curve

Principles of allowable stress: properties

Pressure units (SI/USCS)

Simple linear equationsPipe and flange sizing

Vessel components and head types

Material certificates

ASME IID/EN 13445

API 574 /ASME B36.10 pipe sizing

Vessel construction codes

2 The inspection role

Different inspector roles

Vessel -v- pipework inspector role

Principle of inspection plans)(WSEs)

Objectives of inspection reports

Physical inspection-v-documentation reviews

Course text books and manual

3Statutory requirements

(country-specific)

National legislation in force for vessels/pipework

Statutory-v- non statutory scopes

Statutory reporting requirements

Relevant country regulations

(PSSRs in UK)

4 Equipment failure modes

Principal stress failure after corrosion

Brittle fracture

Crack propagation

Leaks

Threaded plugs/Leaking joints


API 574

5 Damage mechanisms (DMs)

Atmospheric corrosion

Galvanic corrosion/Crevice corrosion

SCC of stainless steel

CUI (all materials)

Fatigue

Erosion/impingement

Course text books and manual (content based on API

571) and ISO Std)

NACE handbook

ASTM G-46

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Creep >400 DegC/H2S DMs

Use of corrosion severity levels

6 Detection of DMs

Difficulty of finding DMs

Probability of detection (POD)

Suitability of surface and volumetric NDE

Limitations of visual inspection

Techniques of thickness measurement

Weaknesses of the above techniques

Difficulty of classifying defects


DNV RP-103:Intro only at Level 1

7 Evaluation of degraded items

Measurement of vessel out-of-roundness, peaking and distortion

Measuring wall thickness/pit depth

Checking of threads/ flange faces

Basic corrosion rate calculations

Basic Tmin calculations on vessel shell and heads

Importance of pipe supports

API 510/570 remaining thickness principles

Australian code AS 3788 practices

8 Specific equipmentinspection plans

Basic inspection plan content

Inspection frequencies (in/external)

Lagged vessel external scope

Extent of vessel internal access /furniture removal

Main vessel stress areas

Heat exchanger inspections areas (TEMA)

DM areas on pipework systems

Pipework lagging removal

Inspection areas on flanges/valves

Weaknesses in generic inspection plans

RBI input into inspection plans

Guidelines in relevant country.(UK PSSRs and PSG-2)

API 510

API 570/574

AS 3788

9 Inspection reporting

Objectives of reports to validate RBI

Proforma-v-descriptive inspection reports

Use of sample proforma report (44 points)

Inspector decision-making

Guidelines in relevant country.(UK PSSRs and PSG-2)

API checklist guidelines

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Using correct technical terminology

Weaknesses in inspectors reports

RBI aspects of reports

10 Practical skills

Use of thickness meter to find internal thinning

Experience the problems in finding hidden defects

Writing an assessed inspection plan and/or inspection report

Answering unexpected questions

Course practical activities

Matthews Engineering Training Ltd is Authorized global training provider to

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

www.matthews-training.co.uk

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