Piping Inspection
API 570-compliant piping inspection services covering thickness measurement, corrosion assessment, CUI evaluation, and fitness-for-service determinations for process piping systems of all types.
Process piping systems are the circulatory network of any industrial facility — moving hydrocarbons, chemicals, steam, and other process fluids under pressure between equipment, storage, and process units. The integrity of these systems is fundamental to safe and reliable operations. Piping failures — whether from corrosion, erosion, fatigue cracking, or improper maintenance — cause product releases, fires, explosions, toxic exposures, and unplanned shutdowns that carry severe safety, environmental, and financial consequences.
At Precision MCS (PMCS), we provide rigorous, code-compliant piping inspection services that give process facilities a complete, accurate picture of their piping system condition. Our inspectors are experienced across a broad range of piping services, materials, and operating environments, and we apply systematic inspection methodology to ensure that every circuit in your facility is assessed thoroughly and documented completely.
PMCS piping inspections are conducted in accordance with the following codes and standards: API 570 (Piping Inspection Code — In-Service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration of Piping Systems), ASME B31.3 (Process Piping), ASME B31.1 (Power Piping), OSHA PSM 29 CFR 1910.119 Mechanical Integrity requirements, and applicable state and local regulatory requirements. Our inspectors hold API 570 certification and are trained to apply these standards in demanding field conditions, producing documentation that satisfies both regulatory requirements and corporate integrity management needs.
PMCS inspects all categories of process piping encountered in industrial facilities. This includes hydrocarbon process piping in refinery and petrochemical service, high-temperature and high-pressure steam piping systems, chemical service piping handling corrosive or toxic materials, water injection and cooling water piping, fuel gas distribution systems, compressed air and instrument air headers, amine, caustic, and acid piping systems, and utility piping supporting process operations. Each piping circuit presents distinct damage mechanisms and inspection challenges, and our approach is always tailored to the specific service conditions, materials, and failure history of the system being inspected.
PMCS applies a comprehensive range of inspection methods to assess piping condition accurately. External visual inspection forms the foundation of every piping inspection, covering pipe surface condition, coating and insulation integrity, support and hanger condition, flange and valve external condition, and evidence of leakage, corrosion product, or mechanical damage. Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) measurement provides direct wall thickness readings at defined locations including injection points, dead legs, elbows, and other high-corrosion-rate locations identified in the circuit inspection plan. Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) is applied for advanced corrosion mapping, flaw characterization, and weld inspection where standard UT is insufficient. Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) testing screens insulated piping for corrosion under insulation without removing insulation, enabling efficient CUI risk identification across large insulated piping inventories. Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) and Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) detect surface and near-surface cracking in welds and base metal. Radiographic Testing (RT) provides volumetric examination of welds and piping walls for internal defects.
Corrosion under insulation is one of the most pervasive and costly damage mechanisms affecting insulated process piping. Hidden beneath insulation cladding, CUI can progress undetected for years — eating through pipe walls while routine visual inspections reveal nothing abnormal on the exterior surface. When a CUI-related failure finally occurs, it is often sudden and serious.
PMCS has extensive experience in CUI inspection programs for insulated piping systems. Our approach applies API 570 and NACE SP0198 guidelines to identify the piping segments most susceptible to CUI based on operating temperature range, insulation type, age, and service history. We deploy pulsed eddy current screening and profile radiography to assess insulated pipe condition without mass insulation removal, focusing targeted insulation removal and direct inspection on the locations where CUI risk is highest. Our CUI inspection reports clearly identify findings, recommend corrective actions, and provide a risk-ranked remediation priority list to guide your maintenance budget.
API 570 identifies specific piping locations that warrant elevated inspection attention due to higher susceptibility to damage or failure. PMCS inspection programs give priority attention to injection points and mix points where corrosive or erosive conditions are intensified, dead legs and low-flow areas where stagnant process fluid causes accelerated corrosion, small-bore piping connections that are susceptible to vibration fatigue and preferential corrosion, elbows and tees where erosion-corrosion is common in high-velocity or solid-bearing services, pipe supports and saddles where external corrosion beneath supports is frequently overlooked, and areas of previous repairs or alterations that may present elevated risk of recurrence.
When inspection reveals wall loss, pitting, cracking, or other damage in a piping system, the engineering question is whether the line can continue to operate safely at current conditions or whether it requires immediate repair, derating, or replacement. PMCS performs Fitness-for-Service (FFS) assessments in accordance with API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 to provide a quantitative, defensible answer to this question. Our FFS assessments address metal loss, pitting, groove corrosion, weld anomalies, and dents or mechanical damage, providing remaining life projections and clear run-repair-replace recommendations supported by documented calculations.
API 570 defines inspection interval requirements based on corrosion rates, piping classification, and damage mechanisms present. PMCS works with your inspection team to establish inspection intervals that are both code-compliant and risk-informed. For facilities implementing Risk-Based Inspection programs per API 580 and API 581, we integrate piping inspection data into the RBI framework to ensure that inspection resources are directed toward the circuits with the highest risk — maximizing safety impact and inspection program efficiency simultaneously.
Every PMCS piping inspection produces a complete, well-organized inspection report including: piping circuit identification and service description; inspection scope, methods, and NDE data; thickness measurements by location with corrosion rate calculations; high-priority location assessment results; CUI findings where applicable; fitness-for-service determinations; corrective action recommendations with priority classifications; and next inspection due dates per API 570. All documentation is formatted for use in PSM records, regulatory submissions, and corporate asset management systems. Our reports are written to withstand regulatory audit scrutiny — because we know your compliance depends on it.
PMCS operates on a flat-rate pricing model for piping inspections. One clear price before work begins, with no surprises at invoice. File review, audit support, and full inspection documentation are included in the flat rate. We believe that transparent, predictable pricing is the foundation of a trustworthy inspection partnership.
PMCS provides piping inspection services to petroleum refineries, petrochemical and chemical processing plants, natural gas processing facilities, power generation operations, ammonia refrigeration systems, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, and any facility with process piping systems requiring code-compliant inspection and documentation. Whether you need a single-circuit assessment or a comprehensive facility-wide piping inspection program, PMCS has the personnel, tools, and expertise to deliver.
Certified inspections of all flame arrestor types — deflagration, detonation, in-line, and end-of-line — documented to API 2000, NFPA 67, and EN ISO 16852 standards.
API 510-compliant pressure vessel inspections with corrosion analysis, remaining life assessments, and full audit-ready documentation for every vessel in your facility.
