American Petroleum Institute Mechanical Equipment Standards

The mean time to failure of various instrumentation and equipment parts would be known from the manufacturer s data or the employer s experience with the parts, which then influence inspection and testing frequency and associated procedures. Also, applicable codes and standards—such as the National Board Inspection Code, or those from the American Society for Testing and Materials, American Petroleum Institute, National Fire Protection Association, American National Standards Institute, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and other groups—provide information to help establish an effective testing and inspection frequency, as well as appropriate methodologies. 

American Petroleum Institute (API), Standard 615, Sound Control of Mechanical Equipment for Refinery Services. API, Washington, D.C., 1987. 

ASTM], American Petroleum Institute [API], NFPA, Factory Mutual [FM], American Society of Mechanical Engineers [ASME], American National Standards Institute [ANSI], Cl, EC), including non-equipment items such as criteria for inspection of foundations and supports, anchor bolts, pipe hangers, guy wires, grounding connections, nozzles and sprinklers, insulation, protective coatings, external surfaces of vessels, insulation, etc. 

Many chemical and petroleum companies are now using Process Industry Practices (PIP) criteria for the development of P IDs. These criteria include symbols and nomenclature for typical equipment, instrumentation, and piping. They are compatible with industry codes of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Instrument Society of America (ISA), and Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association (TEMA). The PIP criteria can be applied irrespective of whatever Computer Assisted Design (CAD) system is used to develop P IDs. Process Industries Practice (1998) may be obtained from the Construction Industry Institute mentioned in the References. 

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