Engineering Insights by Eng. Hesham Ragab.
From Findings to Action: Building an Inspection Plan After FFS FFS is the decision. The plan is how you stay safe and in control. Convert assessment results into an auditable, efficient inspection strategy. Translate results into limit
Case Study: Avoiding a 14‑Day Shutdown with Level 2 FFS A 36" x 12 mm wall gas line showed localized metal loss near a support saddle days before a planned export campaign. Operations estimated a 14‑day outage if a clamp or spool replace
Communicating Integrity Findings to Leadership: A Template That Works Clarity wins approvals. Use this structure to move decisions forward quickly. Template Decision request (Continue / Derate / Repair) Context (risk, constraints
Data You Need for a Defensible FFS Study (And What to Do If You Don’t Have It) Speed up your FFS by collecting what matters most—and handling gaps with structured assumptions. Must‑have vs. nice‑to‑have Thickness (min, map) with ac
Derating vs Repair: Making the Call with ASME/API Guidance Derating is a powerful lever to buy time and avoid unplanned outages when aligned with code guidance. When derating is justified MAWP reduction still covers operating envel
Inspection Interval Optimization with RBI: Cut Cost, Keep Integrity RBI aligns inspection effort with risk so you can reduce cost without losing reliability. How intervals are determined Consequence vs. probability, updated with ne
Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) in Pumps: Getting to the Real Fix A real RCFA cuts recurrence, not just symptoms. Failure modes to consider Seal wear, misalignment, cavitation, lubrication Process upsets vs. mechanical faults
API 579 Part 5: Assessing Local Metal Loss on Pressure Vessels Local metal loss is common and manageable when assessed correctly. Data collection that matters Thickness mapping resolution and accuracy Damage mechanism confirmatio
Avoiding Unplanned Downtime: How to Use FFS to Make Fast, Defensible Decisions Unplanned downtime is costly. Fitness‑For‑Service (FFS) gives you a code‑aligned decision path to continue operating safely, derate, or plan repairs without g
API 579 Fitness-For-Service: A Practical Guide for Engineers Engineering leaders and integrity specialists rely on API 579 to make fast, defensible decisions about whether equipment can continue in service, be derated, or must be repaire