Fitness For Service Evaluations
API-579 / ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service Evaluations are Performed to Demonstrate Structural Integrity of Tanks, Vessels, Silos and other Process Equipment that Exhibit Damage or Contain Flaws/Cracks.
What We Do
- Conduct thorough inspections and data collection on damaged tanks, vessels, piping, and process equipment
- Analyze damage types including fatigue, fire, corrosion, cracks, dents, wind/blast effects, and stress corrosion cracking
- Use methods such as finite element analysis (FEA), fracture mechanics, fatigue life assessments, and thermal analysis
- Evaluate weld repairs and residual stresses, vibrations, and creep damage
- Determine if equipment can safely continue operation or requires repair/replacement
- Provide clear recommendations for safe life extension or remediation options
Benefits of Our FFS Evaluations
- Ensures safety and prevents catastrophic failures
- Supports regulatory and insurance compliance
- Extends asset life to reduce operating costs
- Optimizes maintenance strategies and inspection intervals
- Minimizes unplanned plant downtime and expense
- Thermal and Mechanical Fatigue
- PWHT of Weld Repairs
- Weld Residual Stresses
- Mechanical Vibration
- Blast and other Dynamic Effects
- Fatigue of Welded Joints
- Fatigue Life Assessment
- Finite Element Analysis
- Bulges and Out-of-Roundness
- Creep, Stress-Corrosion & Corrosion Fatigue Crack Growth
- Elevated Temperature Analysis for Creep and Creep Fatigue
Mechanical Engineering
An API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1 2007 Fitness for Service Evaluation was Performed on a Brewery Tank.
To Read more about our Projects, see Portfolio.
Recent Projects
Related Codes and Standards
Codes and standards for pressurized equipment provide rules for the design, fabrication, inspection, and testing of pressure vessels, piping systems, and storage tanks include:- ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII, Division 1 – Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels
- ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII Division 2 – Alternative Rules for Construction
- ASME B&PV 31.3 – ASME Code for Process Piping
- ASME B&PV 31.1 – ASME Code for Power Piping
- ASME Section XI – Rules for In-Service Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
- API 650 – Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage
- API 620 – Design & Construction of Welded Low Pressure Storage Tanks
- BS 5500 – British Standard for Unfired Fusion Welded Pressure Vessels
- EJMA – Standards of the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association
- Petrochemical
- Process
- Oil/Gas
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Pressure Vessels
- Heat Exchangers
- Piping
- Condensors
- Reactors
O’Donnell Consulting performs Fitness for Service assessments in accordance with API 579 / ASME 579 FFS-1 to extend equipment life. Our experience includes pressure vessel fatigue life evaluations, assessment of undocumented equipment, and critical flaw sizing assessments.
There are many factors that affect plant aging. Core asset failure can have far reaching consequences, which impact reputation, scheduling, and your bottom line. FFS evaluations often result in lower maintenance & operating costs as well as improved plant safety. Read our article on Fitness for Service in Stainless Steel World. (PDF).
Give Us a Call to Discuss Your Engineering Challenges
Fitness for Service Related Links
>> Tom O’Donnell, PE
>> Weld Troubleshooting/ Consulting
>> Article: Introduction to API 579 / ASME FFS-1
>> Article: Introduction to Fatigue Analysis
>> Project: API 579 / ASME FFS-1 Fitness for Service Evaluation on Urea Reactor
>> Portfolio: Mechanical Engineering Project Challenges / Solutions
