Area of Examination & Reference Documents
In this module, you shall learn about:
In this module, you shall learn about:
API 1169 pipeline construction inspector certification is designed to qualify individuals who shall be the eyes and ears of the owner/operator company in the pipeline construction field.
Pipeline Inspector should be monitoring and reporting all aspects of pipeline construction;
So, the inspector is practically representing the owner in the field.
For example, the inspector has the authority to stop the work when there is imminent danger to people or environment.
API RP 1169 defines the inspector as somebody who is qualified to:
As you can see, the job description covers a long list of topics:
to name a few) without the need to have specialization in any of them whatsoever, but just a general knowledge.
If you are already a specialist in any other inspection field such as welding or coating inspection, you may find it difficult to answer some welding or coating related exam questions!
This is because exam question are too simplified from a welding inspector point of view.
Therefore, during the exam, don’t read too much into a question which happens to be your field of expertise.
Most of the questions are common sense really; provided you know the ABC of pipeline construction inspection.
API 1169 is the fastest growing certification among all the other dozen certifications and has a good passing rate (60%) so far; although the pass rate has been declining over the past 8 years.
API 1169 exam has some peculiarity over other API exams, namely:
a) The prime document is not API RP 1169; but the practical guide published jointly by INGAA (Interstate Natural Gas Association of America) and CEPA (Canadian Energy Pipeline Association).
b) API RP 1169 basically explains what is expected from the inspector but does not explain how? On the other hand, the practical guide has extensive checklist showing what need to be verified or ticked by the inspector. These areas are categorized by construction phase as well as by topic.
e) ISO 9000 explains the quality management system (QMS) vocabulary while API Q1 describes QMS requirements.
f) Although ASME B31.4 (Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquids) and ASME B31.8 (Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems) has been brought as part of body of knowledge, but API has noted within the BoK that these ASME Documents are recommended for general knowledge only and are not required for the exam; because all exam related information contained within ASME B 31.4 & B31.8 documents can also be found in API RP 1169 and CEPA/INGAA’s Practical Guide for Pipeline Construction Inspectors.
Nevertheless, we have dedicated course module 12 to these ASME codes so you may understand where those information brought within API RP 1169 and INGAA are coming from.
g) During the exam, you shall have access to both US and Canadian sets of HSE documents (12 US and 9 Canadian). We have highlighted important information and included them in the course. The search button is disabled but the content lists are available. You should have a fair idea where you can find the answer to open book questions.
The exam is 3 hours long and has 115 questions, of which only 100 are scored (1.5 minute per question). The remaining 15 are called pretest questions and not scored.
Scored and non scored questions are shuffled and unmarked, so, you need to answer all questions.
You should have at least 3 years pipeline inspection experience or 4 years pipeline non inspection experience (1 years experience is reduced if you have BS or 2-year degree in a technical discipline).
The minimum experience required MUST be documented on your application and should have been acquired within the last 20 years.
Below please find the prequalification requirements. Contact us if you are in doubt.
6-7 questions are based on the API Recommended Practice 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspector body of knowledge.
12-15 questions shall be from the open book.
Nothing complicated or cross referenced, just need to know where to find the information.
We suggest flagging them off to be answered at the end since these questions would normally take more time to answer than the closed book questions.
Most of questions are common sense if you are familiar with the various phases of pipeline construction. We have provided lots of pictures to give you the feel factor.
Around 7-8 questions shall come from API Q1 and ISO 9000. We have explained the quality terms in an easy to understand format and also highlighted the potential exam questions (in yellow).
API BoK specifies the following topics for exam questions:
− Alignment sheets (e.g., extra workspace, PI locations, special conditions)
− Specifications (e.g., width, right of way, grubbing, topsoil segregation)
− Permits (e.g., road crossing, road access, railroad, encroachment)
− Special landowner requirements (e.g., line list)
− Written and/or electronic reporting
− Materials identification (e.g., pipe grade, wall thickness, coating, heat and pipe number)
− Materials defects / condition
− Handling requirements (e.g., lifting, loading and unloading, equipment, stacking, securing)
− Pipe tally / pipe placement (e.g., placed per alignment drawings, seam locations)
− Specifications (e.g., minimum equipment requirements)
− Written electronic reporting (e.g., stringing distances and skips, number of joints)
− Pipe ovality and wrinkles (e.g., CFR192)
− Proper bending equipment (e.g., liners, mandrels, shoes, angle measurement)
− Specifications (e.g., bending requirements, tangents, maximum angles, seam alignments, coating or metal damage)
− Written electronic reporting (e.g., bend location, as built)
− Specifications, qualified procedures, qualified personnel, documentation, material/consumable control, testing (equipment and products)
− Specifications, clearances, type of bores, voids, crossing agreements/permits, cased vs. uncased crossings, pipe condition
− Specifications, qualified procedures, qualified personnel, documentation, material/consumable control, testing (equipment and products)
− Proper equipment (e.g., lifting, cradles, slings)
− Specifications (e.g., spacing, location in ditch, depth, ditch preparation, sandbag placement, benching
− Lifting plans (e.g., boom spacing, lift height, boom size, number of booms)
− Written / electronic Reporting (e.g., amount, damage, holiday detection)
− Specifications (e.g., alignment, OQ)
− Written / electronic reporting (e.g., location, amount)
− Material identification (e.g., pipe number, heat number, cut off length)
− Material Placement (e.g., transition, pipe support)
− Alignment sheets (e.g., location, type, length)
− Specifications (e.g., connection, wire size, anode ground beds, size, length, location)
− Written / electronic reporting (e.g., location, amount, as-builts, type)
− Redline drawings, alignment sheets showing final as built conditions, dimensions, and characteristics of the pipeline (e.g., weld maps/logs, NDE maps/logs, PI/POT locations, depth of cover, test leads, material and coating information).
− Proper equipment (e.g., type, padding requirements, rock shield, erosion control, weights)
− Padding pipe (e.g., depth, material size, compaction, foam)
− Specifications (e.g., padding amount, material size, bench spacing, compaction, crown)
− Written / electronic reporting (e.g., quantity and location)
− Buoyancy control (e.g., types, installation, spacing, documentation)
−Alignment sheets (e.g., special conditions, mile marker placement, re-vegetation, bank stabilization)
−Landowner requirements (e.g., damages, special conditions, fences, restoration)
−Equipment (e.g., LGP, decompaction, seeding)
−Horizontal drilling process, drilling fluids, drill path/profile, geotechnical studies, pull force, radius of curvature, entry/exit points, entry/exit angles)
−Testing, gauge plate inspections, deformation
The effective editions of the publications required for the API 1169 exam are:
API Recommend Practice 1169, Basic Inspection Requirements – New Pipeline Construction,
API Recommended Practice 1110, Pressure Testing of Steel Pipelines,
API Specification Q1, Specification for Quality Management System,
ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes,
CGA, Best Practices,
INGAA, Construction Safety Guidelines,
CS-S-9 Pressure Testing (Hydrostatic/Pneumatic) Safety Guidelines,
API Standard 1104, Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities,
ASME B31.4, Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquids and Slurries (only those information that could be found in API 1169 and hence not required to study).
ASME B31.8, Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems (only those information that could be found in API 1169 and hence not required to study).
Exam tip 1:
There is no negative marking; therefore, it is advisable to answer all the questions.
Exam tip 2:
All API questions are multi choice (4 possible answers). API never uses terms such as ‘’ none of the above’ or ‘all of the above’ as possible answer.
Exam tip 3:
When solving the doubtful questions, try to understand as why a particular answer may be right while the other three given answers should be wrong. Eliminate wrong answers to increase your chances of picking the correct answer.
Note: You can eliminate wrong answers by holding the curser on them and right click therefore short listing the possible correct answers.
Exam tip 4:
Please note that sometimes the wrong answer is quite a valid statement, but it is the wrong answer simply because it is either not relevant to the question or the question asked is in negative form (NOT or EXCEPT). Hence, it is very important that you carefully read and understand the question.
Exam tip 5:
Some questions are solely based on your experience as an inspector. API calls them ‘’practical questions’’.
Remember that all certifications require certain level of experience in addition to the education and knowledge. We have provided ample pictures and half a dozen video clips to help you understand practical type of questions.
Exam tip 3:
You have approximately 1.5 minutes to answer each question on average. Open book questions may take considerable time where as closed book questions can be answered in seconds. Hence, it is recommended to flag off those questions including open book questions (most starting with: ‘’according to OHSA’’) that are taking considerable time and come back to them at the end.
Note: there is a flag off bottom below each question.
Exam tip 6:
Some API exam questions contain irrelevant information. This is not aimed to confuse you but to verify whether you can differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information in an actual scenario.
Exam Tips 8:
API intends to verify your understanding of principles and theory; interpretation and evaluation; so mere memorizing the facts and figures of the study materials does not really help.
Exam Tips 9:
Most questions are either rephrased or brought within a context or is within a scenario, or the question and answer are swapped. Hence, it is very important that you have a clear understanding of context, concepts and fundamentals.
Exam Tips 10:
Time management is not normally a problem as long as you keep a healthy pace of questions answered versus time spent. The API 1169 exam is 3 hours long to answer 110 questions.
This leaves you with approximately 1.5 minutes per question maximum.
Please note that time using the toilet, checking out and in, commenting on any question, reviewing the questions, etc. is coming off your allowance.
For better time management, flag off those questions you are not sure of and revisit them once you have completed all other questions.
Exam Tips 11:
Remember that all questions carry equal marks and the minimum passing grade is around 70%, so, it is logical to attempt smaller questions quickly and then in the remaining time, try re-attempting those questions that are longer, more complicated, or you are simply stuck spending too much time on it without any progress.
Exam Tips 12:
Although education can offset for less experience, you should appreciate the fact that unless one does not have real hands-on experience in the field, it would be difficult to ‘’FEEL’ the underlying reasons behind some of the codes, standards and recommended practices.
The experience is gained through observation, power of deduction and is eventually a common sense really.
Try to compensate lack of practical experience watching video clips of pipeline construction phases in Google/YouTube.