ICP Programs API-580 Syllabus Exam Questions Answers

As stated in API 580 Section 7.3:

“The data quality has a direct relation to the relative accuracy of the RBI analysis. Although the data requirements are quite different for the various types of RBI analysis, quality of input data is equally important no matter what approach to RBI is selected.”

This highlights that data quality is critical across qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative analyses.

According to API 580, multiple API inspection codes include provisions for RBI. Section 4.3 of API 580 clearly states:

“The RBI methodology is recognized in the API inspection codes — API 510, API 570, and API 653 — as an acceptable method to determine inspection intervals.”

Each of these codes outlines both the requirements and limitations for using RBI in their specific contexts:

API 510 — for pressure vessels

API 570 — for piping systems

API 653 — for aboveground storage tanks

On the other hand:

API 573 is a recommended practice for the inspection of fired heaters and does not include formal RBI provisions.

API 578 focuses on Positive Material Identification (PMI) and is unrelated to RBI methodologies or requirements.

Therefore, the correct selection includes:

✔️API 510

✔️API 570

✔️API 653

API 580 Section 6.6 specifies:

“The resources and time required to implement an RBI assessment will vary widely between organizations depending on a number of factors including... g) degree of precision required.”

Other listed factors include knowledge and training, data availability, and complexity of analysis, but not the number of mitigation activities or whether CoF or PoF is the dominant risk driver.

According toAPI 580, Section 7.3, thequality of datais explicitly identified as having adirect relationto therelative accuracyof the RBI analysis:

“The data quality has a direct relation to the relative accuracy of the RBI analysis.Although the data requirements are quite different for the various types of RBI analysis, quality of input data is equally important no matter what approach to RBI is selected.”​

The section also emphasizes the need forvalidation of data inputs and assumptions by qualified personnel, underscoring the fact thatdata quality—not merely its precision or origin—is the key influencerof the reliability of results.

Therefore:

Data precision (A)andData validation (D)support reliability but arenot as foundationalto accuracy as overalldata quality.

Data sources (C)contribute to quality but are not as decisive as quality itself.

Correct and verified per API 580 Section 7.3.