News•Feb 21, 2026
Behind the Bulletin: WRC Bulletin 599 Recommendations for Evaluating Resistance to Brittle Fracture for Carbon and Low Alloy Steel Equipment...
WRC Bulletin 599, released in 2023, delivers a comprehensive set of recommendations for assessing brittle‑fracture resistance in carbon and low‑alloy steel pressure vessels and piping. The bulletin critiques existing screening methods in ASME Sections VIII‑1, VIII‑2, B31.1, B31.3, B31T and API 579, exposing inconsistencies that could compromise safety. It introduces fracture‑mechanics‑based procedures intended for new designs and Fitness‑For‑Service evaluations, forming the technical basis for the upcoming Annex 3B of API 579‑1/ASME FFS‑1. The publication also prompted the formation of an ASME Board task group to harmonize low‑temperature limits across multiple codes.
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 21, 2026
Sunsetting API RP 581, Part 2: RBI Quantitative POF Model Examples
The Inspectioneering article presents next‑generation quantitative RBI examples that tackle three key limitations of API RP 581: poor CML/TML data utilization, cumbersome piping modeling, and vague inspection recommendations. By applying probabilistic algorithms, the authors demonstrate how historic corrosion‑monitoring data can be...
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 21, 2026
Determine Limiting Crack Sizes and Remaining Life to Improve Your Next Equipment Inspection
The article explains how identifying limiting crack sizes before an inspection can streamline equipment assessments and guide repair decisions. It highlights the use of the Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD) from API 579‑1/ASME FFS‑1 to evaluate crack stability through the Kr (toughness) and...
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 21, 2026
Reynolds Wrap Up: Developing and Applying FEMI Wisdom Leads to Success in FEMI Problem Solving
John Reynolds revisits the distinction between fixed equipment mechanical integrity (FEMI) knowledge and FEMI wisdom, emphasizing that accumulating a robust body of knowledge alone does not guarantee effective problem solving. He argues that wisdom—knowing when, how, and what to communicate—transforms...
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 21, 2026
Restoring Integrity: In-Situ Repair of Circumferential Weld Seams on a Vintage CO₂ Absorber
The Fauji Fertilizer Company’s Port Qasim plant performed an in‑situ rehabilitation of two circumferential weld seams on its vintage CO₂ absorber (C‑208), originally built in 1964 and relocated from the United States. The repair followed ASME Section VIII guidelines, employing heat‑treated...
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 21, 2026
Progress Toward Fitness-for-Service Assessment of FRP Equipment
The Inspectioneering Journal highlights growing capabilities to perform fitness‑for‑service (FFS) assessments on fiber‑reinforced polymer (FRP) equipment. Since 2017, a series of technical articles have built a data foundation that bridges the gap between construction codes and real‑world operating conditions. While...
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 21, 2026
Piping and Pressure Vessel Failures Associated with Secondary Stresses
Secondary stresses, often hidden behind welding, temperature changes, and deformation, are a leading cause of piping and pressure vessel failures. The article highlights three case studies—a PWHT carbon steel pipe, a high‑temperature austenitic tube, and a boiler feed‑water system—where secondary...
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 21, 2026
Failure and Residual Life Analysis of Service Exposed Hydrogen Reformer Tubes
The study examines premature failures of service‑exposed hydrogen reformer tubes used in steam‑reforming plants. It identifies creep rupture initiating at dendritic boundaries and localized overheating from burner misalignment as primary damage mechanisms. The research compares a failed bottom section with...
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 21, 2026
Material Failure Investigation of High-Pressure Impulse Tubing
A recent investigation uncovered that a ½‑inch high‑pressure impulse line made of Tungum alloy on a North Sea platform failed due to mercury‑induced liquid metal embrittlement (LME). The leak was traced to aggressive mercury in the production fluid, which compromised...
By Inspectioneering
News•Feb 20, 2026
When Infrastructure Problems Become Energy Assets
Denver’s National Western Center repurposed two 72‑inch wastewater mains as a heat‑recovery source. By extracting waste heat from the constant‑temperature sewage flow, the system now provides low‑carbon heating and cooling for the campus. The solution avoided costly new boiler plants,...
By Quality Digest
News•Feb 20, 2026
EPA Moves to Rescind Much of a 2024 Chemical Safety Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a proposal to roll back most of the 2024 amendments to its Risk Management Program (RMP) rule, which governs safety at roughly 11,000 chemical manufacturing, storage, and warehousing facilities. The 2024 rule introduced...
By Chemical & Engineering News (ACS)
News•Feb 20, 2026
Quality Management and Traceability in Regulated Manufacturing:
Regulated manufacturers are confronting a surge in quality data requirements while many still rely on fragmented systems that isolate documents, training records, and production data. This siloed approach erodes traceability, hampers audit readiness, and raises compliance risk. Modern quality platforms...
By Manufacturing Tomorrow
News•Feb 20, 2026
ACS Nigeria 11th Annual Symposium Focuses on Emerging Technologies and Chemistry for Sustainable Development
The American Chemical Society Nigeria Chapter hosted its 11th Annual Symposium from Feb. 8‑11 at the University of Ibadan, spotlighting “Emerging Technologies in Chemistry for Sustainable Development.” The event featured international academics and industry leaders, including speakers from Cambridge and Bristol...
By Chemical & Engineering News (ACS)
News•Feb 20, 2026
Feb. 20 Policy Watch: Trump Orders More Glyphosate and Phosphorus Production
President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Feb. 18 to prioritize domestic production of glyphosate‑based herbicides and elemental phosphorus, granting liability protection to Bayer, the sole U.S. phosphorus supplier, amid thousands of cancer lawsuits and an upcoming Supreme Court...
By Chemical & Engineering News (ACS)
News•Feb 20, 2026
U.S. Businesses Line up for Tariff Refunds After Supreme Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, opening the door for refunds of roughly $130 billion collected by the Treasury. Importers, retailers and apparel groups are already petitioning for clear guidance on how to reclaim these...
By Supply Chain Quarterly