American Petroleum Institute codes benefit paper industry maintenance

Since very few equipment integrity standards have been written specifically for the pulp and paper industry, companies have been forced to adopt other industry-specific or equipment-general standards, in whole or in part. Good engineering practice dictates that companies review these standards and modify them, as necessary, to meet the requirements of the equipment and service conditions that are specific to the industry. One standard that is likely to require very little modification to suit the pulp and paper industry is the American Petroleum Institute (API) recommended practice (RP) 579, released in early 2000. API 579 provides guidelines for fitness-for-service (FFS) assessments using methodologies for refining and petro-chemical equipment. This comprehensive document, integrated with API inspection codes, covers damage mechanisms and provides a number of benefits, including: 1. easy flaw and damage assessment, 2. tactics for the repair, replacement, and extended safe operation of damaged equipment, and 3. new basis of inspection planning.