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;

A wide spread of technical knowledge on inspection principles, frequencies, equipment damage mechanisms and the types and techniques of inspection The use of basic code calculations from a variety of national codes in common use in the oil/petrochemical/process industries Knowledge of inspection plans/written schemes of examination Practical abilities to inspect equipment and make decisions/recommendation on what they find The ability to write narrative technical descriptions The level 1 assessment contains a mixture of 25 multiple choice questions, 2 narrative questions and an assessed inspection plan and/or reporting exercise, depending on course location. The objectives are to test if candidates can understand the basic concepts of inspection-related technical information. The emphasis

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ASME Plant Inspector Level 1: Body of Knowledge March 2011: Valid to 31

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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ASME Plant Inspector Level 1: Body of Knowledge March 2011: Valid to 31

Body of Knowledge: ASME Level 1:Pressure Equipment: Vessels, Pipework, Valves Content Source refs
Background engineering knowledge
Pressure equipment types/features Basic materials Stress: strain curve Principles of allowable stress: properties Pressure units (SI/USCS) Simple linear equations Pipe and flange sizing Vessel components and head types Different inspector roles Vessel -v- pipework inspector role Principle of inspection plans)(WSEs) Objectives of inspection reports Physical inspection-v-documentation reviews National legislation in force for vessels/pipework Statutory-v- non statutory scopes Statutory reporting requirements Principal stress failure after corrosion Brittle fracture Crack propagation Leaks Threaded plugs/Leaking joints Atmospheric corrosion Galvanic corrosion/Crevice corrosion SCC of stainless steel CUI (all materials) Fatigue Erosion/impingement Material certificates ASME IID/EN 13445 API 574 /ASME B36.10 pipe sizing Vessel construction codes

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The inspection role Statutory requirements (country-specific) Equipment failure modes

Course text books and manual

Relevant country regulations (PSSRs in UK) Course text books and manual API 574 Course text books and manual (content based on API 571) and ISO Std) NACE handbook ASTM G-46

Damage mechanisms (DMs)

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

Detection of DMs

Evaluation of degraded items

Creep >400 DegC/H2S DMs Use of corrosion severity levels 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 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 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 Objectives of reports to validate RBI Proforma-v-descriptive inspection reports Use of sample proforma report (44 points) Inspector decision-making

Course text books and manual DNV RP-103:Intro only at Level 1

API 510/570 remaining thickness principles Australian code AS 3788 practices

Guidelines in relevant country.(UK PSSRs and PSG-2) API 510 API 570/574 AS 3788

Specific equipment inspection plans

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

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Inspection reporting

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

Using correct technical terminology Weaknesses in inspectors reports RBI aspects of reports 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

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Practical skills

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