J-1

Appendix J – Technical Inquiries(Jan, 2000)

J.1 Introduction

API will consider written requests for interpretations of API Recommended Practice 579. API staff willmake such interpretations in writing after consulting, if necessary, with the appropriate committeeofficers and committee members. The API committee responsible for maintaining RP 579 meetsregularly to consider written requests for interpretations and revisions and to develop new criteriadictated by technological development. The committee’s activities in this regard are limited strictly tointerpretations of the document and to the consideration of revisions to the current edition of thedocument on the basis of new data or technology. As a matter of policy, API does not approve,certify, rate, or endorse any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity, and accordingly,inquiries that require such consideration will be returned. Moreover, API does not act as a consultanton specific engineering problems or on the general understanding or application of RP 579. If, basedon the inquiry information submitted, it is the opinion of the committee that the inquirer should seekother assistance, the inquiry will be returned with the recommendation that such assistance beobtained. All inquiries that cannot be understood because they lack information will be returned.

J.2 Inquiry Format

J.2.1 Inquiries shall be limited strictly to requests for interpretation of RP 579 or to the consideration ofrevisions to the document on the basis of new data or technology. Inquiries shall be submitted in theformat described in J.2.2 through J.2.5.

J.2.2 The scope of an inquiry shall be limited to a single subject or a group of closely related subjects. Aninquiry concerning two or more unrelated subjects will be returned.

J.2.3 An inquiry shall start with a background section that states the purpose of the inquiry, which would beeither to obtain an interpretation of RP 579 or to propose a revision to the document. Thebackground section shall concisely provide the information needed for the committee’s understandingof the inquiry (with sketches as necessary) and shall cite the applicable edition, revision, paragraphs,figures, and tables.

J.2.4 After the background section, an inquiry’s main section shall state the inquiry as a condensed,precise question, omitting superfluous background information and, where appropriate, posing thequestion so that the reply could take the form of “yes” or “no” (perhaps with provisos). This inquirystatement should be technically and editorially correct. The inquirer shall state what he or shebelieves the document requires. If the inquirer believes a revision to RP 579 is needed, he or sheshall provide recommended wording.

J.2.5 The inquirer shall include his or her name and mailing address. The inquiry should be typed;however, legible handwritten inquiries will be considered. Inquiries should be submitted to thedirector of the Manufacturing, Distribution and Marketing Department, American Petroleum Institute,1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.