The test is divided into two sections, a closed-book section and an open-book

section. The closed-book examination includes such questions which the

inspector is normally expected to know without referring the Codes, i.e., the
questions are awareness level questions. Whenever you find a very
definitive or quantitative statement in body of the Code, a closed book
question may be expected on it. Thus, the basic requirements of a code,
specific DO and DONT statements, important quantified statements,
important definitions and well-known inspection principles will constitute
such questions.
Where the student is required to refer to the diagrams or formulas or tables
or graphs and curves from the Codes, it will always be an open-book
question. All calculation oriented questions will normally be open-book
type. The Code information which is not short and crisp, (i.e., large
paragraphs, several descriptive statements clubbed together) will normally
be asked in open-book part. Here the participant is expected not to
remember the information but should know where to find it in the body of the
Code.
No reference material of any kind will be permitted during the closed book
portion;

some

examining

proctors

may

permit

language

translation

dictionaries. There will be some common knowledge mathematical questions

on the practical portion of the exam - remember to have your calculator
available for this part of the exam.

WEIGHTAGE OF MARKS
You have only a limited amount of time to study, so you need to invest your
time where you can get the MAXIMUM return! Approximately 50% of the test
questions are directly from API 570. So, that's your priority! For every hour
spent studying the other publications, spend 2 hours studying API 570.

There will be about 75 test questions directly from API 570 .This document is
about 40 pages, that averages almost 2 questions per page. The remaining
65 questions will come from the 600+ pages contained in the other
documents. That's only 1 question for every 10 pages.
Following distribution scheme will help the participant to decide how much
time he should spend for each document during preparation.
Note: The weightage indicated is approximate and for guidance only.

A . API Publications:
API 570, Piping Inspection Code.50 %
API RP 571, Damage Mechanisms..5 %
API RP 574, Recommended practice. Inspection of Piping..4 %
API RP 578, Material verification Program....3 %
API RP 577, Welding Inspection and Metallurgy3 %
B. ASME Publications:
Section V, Nondestructive Examination7 %
ASME B 31.1 Process piping code..20 %
ASME B 16.5 Flanges and flanged fittings.3%
Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications...7 %

Publications Effectivity Sheet

For API 570 Exam Administration: September 23, 2009
Listed below are the effective editions of the publications required for the September 23, 2009
API 570,Piping Inspector Certification Examination.
API Standard 570, Piping Inspection Code: Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Rerating of InService
PipingSystems, 2nd Edition, October 1998, Addenda 1, 2, 3 and 4 (June 2006).
API Recommended Practice 571, Damage mechanisms Affecting fixed equipment in the refining industry,1st
Edition, December 2003. IHS Product Code API CERT 570_571 ( includes only the portions listed below)
ATTENTION: Only the following mechanisms listed in RP 571 to be included:
Par. 4.2.7 Brittle Fracture
4.2.9 Thermal Fatigue
4.2.14 Erosion/Erosion Corrosion
4.2.16 Mechanical Fatigue
4.2.17 Vibration Induced Fatigue
4.3.2 Atmospheric Corrosion
4.3.3 Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)
4.3.5 Boiler Water Condensate Corrosion
4.3.7 Flue Gas Dew Point Corrosion
4.3.8 Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC)
4.3.9 Soil Corrosion
4.4.2 Sulfidation
4.5.1 Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking (ClSCC)
4.5.3 Caustic Stress corrosion Cracking (Caustic Embrittlement)
5.1.3.1 High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTTA)
API Recommended Practice 574, Inspection Practices for Piping System Components, Second Edition,June
1998.
API Recommended Practice 577 Welding Inspection and Metallurgy, 1st edition, October 2004.
API Recommended Practice 578, Material Verification Program for New and Existing Alloy Piping
Systems,1st Edition, May 1999. IHS Product Code API CERT 578
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 2007 Edition.
ASME Section V, Nondestructive Examination, Articles 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 23(Section SE797
only).
Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications, Welding only
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
B16.5, Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings, 2003 Edition
B31.3, Process Piping, 2004 Edition

API 570 - PIPING INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION

PREPARATORY COURSE

PART III

CODE WISE PUNCH POINTS