API RP 574-2016 PDF

Full title and description

API RP 574 — Inspection Practices for Piping System Components. Recommended Practice (4th edition, November 1, 2016) that provides guidance for inspection of piping, tubing, valves (other than control valves), and fittings commonly found in petroleum refineries and chemical plants; intended to supplement API 570 by giving inspectors practical information on components, inspection planning, intervals, techniques, records, and common inspection issues.

Abstract

This recommended practice describes inspection practices for process piping system components to support in‑service integrity and safe operation. It covers common piping components and valve types, pipe-joining methods, reasons for inspection, inspection planning and frequency, inspection procedures and techniques (including visual and nondestructive methods), pressure testing, determination of minimum required thickness, and recordkeeping. The publication excludes specialty items such as instrumentation tubing, furnace tubulars, and control valves.

General information

• Status: Superseded (replaced by API RP 574:2024; 5th edition published by API).
• Publication date: November 1, 2016.
• Publisher: American Petroleum Institute (API).
• ICS / categories: 47.020.30 (Piping systems); 23.040.50 (Pipes and fittings) — typical ICS classifications used for piping and related standards.
• Edition / version: 4th edition (2016).
• Number of pages: 122 pages (approx.).

Scope

Specifies inspection practices for routinely encountered piping system components in petroleum refineries and chemical plants. The RP focuses on in‑service inspection (visual and NDE), inspection planning and intervals, common failure modes, inspection techniques for pipe, fittings and valves (excluding control valves), pressure testing guidance, minimum required thickness calculations, and records and documentation to support ongoing integrity management. Specialty items (instrumentation tubing, exchanger tubes, furnace tubes, control valves) are outside its scope. It is intended as a companion to API 570 and to assist inspectors applying API 570 requirements.

Key topics and requirements

• Descriptions of common piping components and valve types and their typical failure modes.
• Pipe-joining methods and inspection considerations for welds, flanges, threaded/press connections.
• Reasons for inspection and risk‑based considerations when planning inspections.
• Inspection planning: establishment of inspection scopes, frequencies, and extent for different services.
• Inspection procedures and practices: external and internal visual inspection, NDE methods (UT, RT, MT, PT), borescope use, thermography, thickness monitoring.
• Pressure testing guidance and acceptance criteria for piping components after repairs or modifications.
• Determination of minimum required thickness and remaining life assessment principles.
• Recordkeeping: recommended inspection records, checklists (including an external inspection checklist in Annex A), and documentation to support future inspections and integrity decisions.

Typical use and users

Primary users include piping inspectors, plant mechanical integrity engineers, maintenance and reliability engineers, operations personnel, third‑party inspection organizations, and training providers. The RP is used to develop inspection plans, train inspectors on component‑level inspection practices, prepare inspection checklists, and support in‑service inspection programmes alongside API 570 and other integrity standards.

Related standards

Commonly used together with: API 570 (Piping Inspection Code), API RP 580 (Risk‑based Inspection principles), API RP 583 (Corrosion Under Insulation guidance), API RP 577 (Welding and inspection), API STD 530 (heater‑tube thickness calculation) and other API equipment inspection and integrity documents. Users should consult the latest editions of these documents for cross‑references and harmonized practices.

Keywords

piping inspection, process piping, valves, fittings, nondestructive examination, inspection planning, inspection frequency, pressure testing, minimum required thickness, piping integrity, API RP 574, API 570 companion.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: API RP 574 is an API Recommended Practice titled "Inspection Practices for Piping System Components" that provides component‑level inspection guidance for process piping in refineries and chemical plants. (4th ed., 2016).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers inspection practices (visual and NDE), component descriptions, joining methods, inspection planning and frequencies, pressure testing, minimum required thickness determination, and records; it explicitly excludes specialty items such as instrumentation tubing, furnace tubing, and control valves.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Piping inspectors, mechanical integrity and reliability engineers, operations and maintenance staff, third‑party inspection firms, and trainers preparing personnel for piping inspection tasks.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2016 (4th) edition has been superseded by a 2024 edition (API RP 574:2024, 5th edition). Users should consult the 2024 edition for the latest requirements and updates.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is a companion recommended practice to API 570 and is part of the API suite of inspection and mechanical‑integrity standards that include API RP 580, API RP 583, API RP 577, API STD 530, and others used together for piping and equipment integrity programs.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: piping inspection, inspection practices, API RP 574, in‑service inspection, NDE, piping components, inspection planning, minimum required thickness.