Area of Examination & Reference Documents
In this module, you shall learn about:
Reference documents,
In this module, you shall learn about:
Certified API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector must have a broad knowledge in tank inspection and repair of aboveground storage tanks.
In a nutshell, an API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector should know about:
The API 653 examination has two sets of references as study materials:
One set contains ASME codes (Section IX- Welding and Section V-Non-destructive Testing) and API Standards (API 650 and 653).
The other set of reference materials are API Recommended Practices (API 571, 575, 576, 577, 651 & 652).
Most of calculation type of questions from the API standard and ASME codes are in the open book part of the examination.
You need not memorize the formulas but should know where to look for when solving the open book questions. This is especially important since the search button is disabled during the exam.
Still can’t find it, make a note of question number, flag it off and jump to the next questions. Chances are you may find it later when looking for answer to other question.
Don’t spend more than 2 minutes looking for an answer in the open book question, otherwise you may be short of time answering all questions.
You should have an idea how to navigate through them during open book part.
When reading a code and standard; don’t immediately dive into the details. Get the bigger picture.
First, understand what the code covers by reviewing the opening paragraphs of each code. This is called the Scope or purpose.
Next, look at the table of contents to understand how the code is structured. It helps you to have a fair idea of where to look for.
This step is often overlooked: the purpose of the code and how to locate the information.
We have flagged important pages of codes within each summary and also brought important information in the flash cards.
These information are potential exam questions.
Our mock exams and quizzes also designed to test your knowledge, help you understand how to interpret and check if you missed something we explained before.
Those closed book exam questions that are coming straight from API and ASME codes; are the ones that an inspector would be using on daily basis and therefore, you need to memorize them. API calls them ‘’practical questions’’.
But don’t worry; we shall supply you with enough presentation, mock question and flash cards to ensure that you would not forget them during the exam.
We have summarized the second set of reference documents contain the recommended practices (API 571, 575, 576, 577, 651 & 652); highlighted important information and explained the underlying reasons whenever necessary, so you can understand the concepts.
Please note that only API 650 & API 653 are standards and hence are mandatory, while the rest of API documents are recommended practices (good engineering practice).
Closed book questions mostly come from API 653 standard and RPs because these information are supposed to be used by inspectors on daily basis.
For open book questions that need referring to tables, graphs and formulas, you shall have access to both the API RPs and API 653 standard as well as the ASME codes.
We shall cover them within the next 9 modules combined with flash cards and mock exams
Note: A Code document is mandatory and cannot be violated while a Recommended Practice;Â as the name suggest, is a recommendation which means you can deviate from it based on circumstances and based on sound engineering judgement.
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Codes are based on scientific conclusions while recommended practices are mostly the result of past experience gathered over the years showing the trends and good practices. That’s why; you may observe that the formulas brought within RPs are empirical. The empirical formulas have no sound scientific backing and are merely formulated to show the trends and relationship between various parameters.
Why? Because, to turn an empirical formula into a scientific formula necessitates including many more parameters of less importance and this would unnecessary complicate the equation where as empirical formulas are like rule of thumbs and can be of everyday use especially when you do not need to be that accurate.
The analogy would be the difference between a WPS and a Welding Instruction. The welder does not need to know about all the essential and non essential parameters or the PQR and it’s associated test reports. All the welder needs to know is the range of amperage & voltage, the welding speed, the type and size of electrode, the welding position, the number of passes and if any pre heat required.
Empirical formulas are used when a very high accuracy is not important. They are basically the mathematical representation of trends. For example, as a rule of thumb, you need to preheat 4’’ or 4t from each side of the weld whichever is more. You do not really need complicated formulas to come to the right number that you cannot even implement in practice.
Scientific formulas accurately explain the phenomena for all the ranges of parameters while an empirical formula only works within a limited range.
Overall, the Codes are scientific based while RPs are more experience based.
Before going to the relevant section, you need to know which document or documents you need to look at in order to find a particular topic.
Therefore, you need to know what is covered in each code and recommended practice.
If you are in doubt, look at the table of contents.
If it does not help, look at the list of figures or tables for large volume codes, it shall give you an idea where you can find the topic.
For smaller documents, peruse through table of contents or list of figures.
Try reading the PDF format of documents on a desktop or laptop so your eyes and mind-set gets used to them.
It seems, the brain works differently when you are looking at a hard copy of a document than when you peruse through soft copy of the same document.
Reading soft copies of reference documents help acclimatize oneself while searching for a topic. A little practice is necessary to get it right. It is particularly useful for bigger codes such as ASME Sec V & IX and API Standard 650.
Also try to memorize the topics of codes and RPs so you know where to look for.
If you can’t find the relevant section after a couple of minutes, flag off the question and note the question number on a piece of paper as there is a high chance that you shall find it when looking for answers for other questions. Once found, you can go back to the flagged off question and solve it within seconds.
You are also advised to practice looking for topics in PDF format.
API Standard 653 and API RP 575, 571, 576, 577, 651 & 652 should not be a problem navigating as they are much smaller compared to ASME codes API Standard 650. There is also the content list available foreach RP.
Please note that the reference codes and RPs provided during the open book part of the exam are not word searchable, hence, you should know where to find each topic.
In the following modules, we shall be explaining and highlighting the important topics and tables supplemented with flash cards and mock exams. This should help you get an idea where to look for.
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