Fitness-for-Service (FFS) assessments, according to API 579-1/ASME FFS-1, are defined as the “quantitative engineering evaluations that are performed to demonstrate the structural integrity of an in-service component that may contain a flaw or damage, or that may be operating under a specific condition that might cause a failure. The typical outcome of an FFS assessment is a “go/no-go” decision on continued operation.
FITNESS FOR SERVICE CAN BE APPLIED WHEN
- The equipment design is not fully compliant with the relevant codes.
- The equipment experienced an impact in service, during handling or in transit.
- The non-destructive testing and equipment inspection have noticed defects beyond the prescribed limits.
- The equipment has never been examined, or only partly examined or inspected.
CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS
- Avoiding to remove the equipment from service.
- Finding a solution which is more economical than the replacement of the equipment.
- Utilization of the equipment based on the assessment of its capabilities.
OUR OFFERING
- When NDT is available
- Equipment integrity
- Integrity based on future conditions
- Pressurized equipment (reactor, heat exchangers, columns, LPG tanks)
- Offshore piping & risers
- Onshore piping
- Atmospheric storage tanks which includes cryogenic (LNG)
- The methodology can be expanded to other equipment depending upon the circumstance
- The damage mechanisms correlate to the below non-restrictive list:
- Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC)
- Metallurgical damages such as embrittlement
- Localized corrosion
- Fatigue (thermal or mechanical)
- Creep
- Crack-like flaws
Flaw Type Detection:
- Corrosion
- Brittle fracture
- Fatigue
- Crack-like flaws
- Creep
- Hydrogen embrittlement
- Stress corrosion cracking
- Dents and shell deformations
- High-temperature hydrogen attack
Fitness for Service Application:
- Fired heaters
- High-energy piping
- Turbines
- Pipelines
- Reformers
- Headers
- Pressure vessels
- Storage tanks
- Boiler tubes