API 570 Certification Prep

API 578 Study Questions

This following study aid helps you learn the content of API RP-578, Material Verification Program for New and Existing Alloy Piping
Systems.
There will be about 5 questions from this document on the API 570 exam. It is helpful to read through API 578 before working on this
exercise!

1.

API 578 provides guidelines for a quality assurance system to verify:

A) all materials.
B) all alloy materials.
C) only non-ferrous materials.
D) only high-alloy materials.

2.

Usually substituting an alloy for carbon steel would not cause a problem. Which of the process services where substituting an alloy
for carbon steel could result in a problem?
A) Caustic, amine and Chloride in service
B) Hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen fluoride and sulphuric acid in service
C) Catalyst, oxygen scavengers and inhibitors in service
D) None of the above

3.

An alloy material is any metallic material that contains alloying elements that are added:
A) only to improve mechanical properties.
B) only to improve corrosion resistance.
C) To improve either mechanical properties or improve corrosion resistance
D) To improve the weldability of material

4.

Alloy components include, pipe, fittings, plate, flanges, and ____________ needs PMI
A) Valves
B) supports
C) skirt vessels
D) all of the above

5.

An inspection lot includes:

A) all materials from same supplier.
B) all materials included on the same purchase order.
C) all materials of the same material type (i.e. 316 SS)
D) all materials of the same material type from the same supplier and heat.

6.

A documented material verification program should be established by the:

A) Authorized inspector.
B) Owner/User.
C) Repair organization.
D) Engineering organization.

7.

The material verification program should cover PMI testing of materials:

A.
during construction of piping systems.
B.
in existing piping systems.
C.
during repairs and alterations of piping systems.
D. in existing piping systems and during construction, repairs and alterations of
E.
piping systems.

8.

Random sampling is most appropriate for:

A) low-risk systems.
B) low alloy systems.
C) stainless steel systems.
D) ferritic steel systems.

9.

Who has the responsibility to determine the extent of PMI performed?

A) Authorized inspector
B) Owner/User or his designee
C) Repair organization
D) Engineering organization.

10. Who has the responsibility to verify that the material verification program is properly implemented?
A) Authorized inspector
B) Owner/User
C) Repair organization
D) Engineering organization.
11. Who has the responsibility to review and approve the adequacy of the PMI program used by fabricators and material suppliers?
A) Authorized inspector
B) Owner/User
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C)
D)

Repair organization
Engineering organization

12. A mill test report:

A) Eliminates the need for further material verification.
B) is a report showing material discrepancies.
C) is an important part of the material qualify assurance program.
D) is issued by the owner upon receipt of materials.
13. The material verification program specified by API 578 covers:
A) only pressure-containing components
B) Only pipe, and fittings.
C) Only pipe, fittings, and welds.
D) Pressure containing and non-pressure containing components.
14. During alloy welding:
A) One electrode from each box should be sampled.
B) Two electrodes from each box should be sampled.
C) One or two electrode from each lot should be sampled as per inspector
D) Two electrodes from each lot should be sampled.
15. If alloy element(s) are contained in the flux of a welding electrode, PMI testing:
A) is not necessary.
B) is not necessary provided appropriate documentation is provided by the supplier.
C) could be conducted on any of the production welds.
D) could be conducted on a weld button prior to production welds.
16. New longitudinal welded alloyed pipe should:
A) never be used.
B) be used only if the Quality Factor is 1.0.
C) receive random PMI testing of weld and base metal.
D) receive 100% PMI testing of weld and base metal.
17. Who has the responsibility to determine the extent of PMI testing required on existing piping systems?
A) Authorized inspector
B) Owner/User
C) Repair organization
D) Engineering organization
18. What are all the important factors to consider when prioritizing the need for PMI on existing piping systems
A) Likely hood of failure due to material mix up, Consequence of failure due to mix up, The reason for alloy specification,
B)
C)
D)

historical in advent of material substitution.

All the failed items need to be PMI checked
Only likely hood of failure due to material mix up and consequence of failure is high item shall be PMI tested
None of the above

19. Incorrect substitution of carbon steel is most likely to be found in:

A) chrome steels.
B) stainless steels.
C) any ferritic steel.
D) any non-ferrous.
20. Which of the following piping components is most likely to have a substitution with the wrong material?
A) A 20 length of 6 NPS pipe
B) Weld-neck flange
C) Expansion joint
D) Bolting
21. Who has the responsibility to determine the extent of PMI testing required during repairs and alterations of piping systems?
A) Authorized inspector
B) Owner/User
C) Repair organization
D) Engineering organization
22. Identification of materials by visual stamps or markings:
A) is not an important part of the material verification program.
B) is not a substitute for PMI testing.
C) is important only on high alloy materials.
D) should only be done by inspectors.
23. PMI tools that use X-Ray fluorescence can not detect:
A) carbon content.
B) chrome content.
C) iron content.
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D)

molybdenum content.

24. How does Portable Optical Emission Spectrometry determine the elements in a material?
A) An electric arc causes a spectrum of light to be emitted from the tested material. The light is analyzed.
B) X-rays striking the material cause a spectrum of x-rays to be emitted from the tested material. The x-rays are
C)
D)
25. PMI testing
A)
B)
C)
D)

analyzed.
Specific chemicals deposited on the tested material cause a spectrum of colors to be emitted. The colors are analyzed.
The surface is polished and etched. A replication is preformed and is analyzed with a microscope.
equipment should be:
calibrated every 4 hrs.
calibrated as specified by the manufacturer.
used only by the manufacturers personnel.
used by owner/user personnel.

26. All personnel performing PMI tests should be:

A) qualified by national exam.
B) qualified by the owner/user.
C) knowledgeable about the operation of the PMI test equipment.
D) knowledgeable about the operation of the plant where the PMI is conducted.
27. An alloy weld overlay is applied to carbon steel base metal. Who has the responsibility to establish the minimum alloy requirements
of the as-deposited weld metal?
A) Authorized inspector
B) Owner/User
C) Repair organization
D) Engineering organization

28. What is the

A)
B)
C)
D)

appropriate action to take when an incorrect material is located during a PMI sampling of new materials
Inspect 2 more items from the inspection lot.
Inspect 50% of the items from the inspection lot.
Inspect 100% of the items from the inspection lot.
Inspection all items supplied by that manufacturer.

29. Marking pens should not contain:

A) Carbon.
B) Chrome.
C) Oxides.
D) Sulfur.
30. What are all the material excluded from PMI in new or old piping
A) All non ferrous materials and components
B) Carbon steel materials and components
C) All weld metal alloys
D) All alloy steel material and components
31. While establishing material verification programme
A) Roles and responsibility of the PMI programme shall be documented
B) Authorized inspector has the total responsibility
C) Roles and responsibility that each group has within the specific organization (within the operating plant, or the shop of
D)

the contractor, vendor or fabricator) shall be documented

Roles and responsibility of fabricator and PMI person shall be documented

32. The specified percentage of the number of components or weldment to be examined in an inspection lot
A) Sampling examination
B) Added examination
C) Selected examination
D) Level of examination
33. One or more item selected at random from the inspection lot that are to be examined to determine acceptability
A) is representative sample
B) Random sampling
C) Progressive sampling
D) Spot sampling
34. Demonstrating test instrument accuracy and reliability With a sample materials for which laboratory chemical analysis data are
available

A)
B)
C)
D)

is
is
is
is

called
called
called
called

referred material
standard reference material
traceable material
uniform testing standard

35. What decides the extent of testing up to 100% examination is for

A) All high pressure system
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B)
C)
D)

Only for Category D service fluid service

High risk systems
Excluding Normal fluid service

36. Lower likelihood of nonconformance can be expected for the system which undergoes
A) non vigorous procedure of verification programme
B) less vigorous procedure of verification programme
C) High vigorous procedure of verification programme
D) None of the above
37. PMI testing
A)
B)
C)
D)

within warehouse should not be considered an alternative to

PMI testing of the fabricated piping system when testing is not specified
PMI testing of the fabricated piping system when testing is specified
PMI testing recommended for fabricated piping system
None of the above

38. It is important that repair procedures include consideration of PMI testing

A) As part of obtaining satisfactory repair
B) As part of obtaining satisfactory result
C) As part of sound quality repaired weld metal
D) as part of obtaining satisfactory materials to be used for repair
39. The principle of operation is that one or more gamma rays to excite materials under analysis is
A) Portable Optical emission spectrometry method
B) Portable X-ray fluorescence method
C) Portable Alloy analyzer
D) Portable X-ray spectrometer
40. An accuracy of typically much higher than normally needed for PMI testing is achieved by
A) Optical emission spectrometry
B) X-ray emission spectrometry
C) Wet chemical analysis
D) All of the above
41. Reagents dropped onto the sample on a moisture filter paper, distinct colors that are indicative of the presence of specific elements
in the sample tested is
A) Called Chemical spot testing in which material is removed physically and depositing it onto moistened filter paper
B) Called PMI test method of chemical laboratory analysis
C) Called chemical resistivity testing
D) Called X-ray fluorescence testing

42. A heated junction of dissimilar metal is created when the

A) PMI test equipment in contact with material
B) Heated probe and the metal being tested are in contact each other is called resistivity testing.
C) Heat is transferred into electrical signal by a thermocouple
D) None of the above
43. Techniques such as eddy-current sorters, electromagnetic alloy sorter, triboelectric (ferret meters)

testing devices and

thermoelectric tests
A) Are also quiet extensively used for regular PMI like other methods
B) Are used only when other PMI methods not available or possible
C) Are qualitative and as such may only be appropriate for limited sorting applications and not for specific alloy
identification
D) Are the techniques are hazardous to health

44. When component composition is desired

A) The owner/user should establish the acceptable precision and repeatability
B) Authorized inspector should establish the acceptable precision and repeatability
C) The fabricator should establish the acceptable precision and repeatability
D) The inspection agency who prepared the procedure should establish the acceptable precision and repeatability
45. Qualification of person performing the PMI test, including training and experience,
A) Should be submitted to authorized inspector for review and permission
B) Should be submitted to the local authority to issue license
C) Should be submitted to the API 570 committee for approval and license
D) should be submitted for review and approval by the owner/user
46. If testing using one of the portable or qualitative analysis methods leads to the potential rejection of a component,
A) analysis may be used to determine component acceptance
B) a more accurate analysis may be used to determine component acceptance
C) Reject the entire component no need to carryout any further analysis
D) No provision for recheck rejected item in API RP 578

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47. PMI testing indicates alloying elements are outside the ranges indicated in the material specification, the owner/user may still
choose to allow the use of the materials in situations
A) where corrosion engineer knowledgeable says that the material will perform satisfactorily in service
B) if the inspector feels that it will perform satisfactorily in service
C) where a person knowledgeable of the appropriate damage mechanisms confirms that the material will perform
satisfactorily in service
D) Any of the above

48. The owner/user established minimum compositional requirements, results from testing dissimilar metal welds should take
A) Into account the effects of dilution occurs during weld deposition
B) Into account the effect heat affected zone because of welding
C) Into account other non destructive testing like penetrant method
D) Into account the effect of welding
49. Alloy material identification by their alloy designation or composition
A) a color coding by alloy or low stress stamp marking & document of testing and result
B) Test location should be shown on drawings
C) Need not to be marked on the material
D) Both A & B
50. Materials identification by color coding is not a substitute for
A) permanent manufactures marking by their procedure
B) permanent manufactures marking by applicable ASTM or other spec
C) permanent manufactures marking by painting inspector requirement
D) permanent manufactures marking by legislation
51. The technique used, equipment calibration elements, the qualification requirements for PMI test personnel, the testing methodology
and the documentation requirements
A) Should be mentioned in the
B) Should be mentioned in the
C) Should be mentioned in the
D) Should be mentioned in the

PMI test procedure

PMI test report
PMI test result
process detail

52. When included in the owner/users written material verification procedure

A) The edition number of the written procedure should be documented in the record
B) the date of the written procedure should be documented in the record
C) the date and edition number of the written procedure should be documented in the record
D) the date or edition number of the written procedure may be documented in the record
53. PMI records of
A) Should
B) Should
C) Should
D) Should

the results on new or existing piping

be kept as long as the piping system exists
be as per the piping engineer instruction
be as per the applicable design code
be as per the local legislation

54. The marker pens should not contain what additives and metallic pigments
A) Metallic pigments aluminum, lead or zinc and additives sulphur or chloride
B) The additives and metallic pigments should not have chloride
C) The additivies and metallic pigments should not have sulphur
D) None of the above
55. Shop and field PMI should follow what and the documents contain what
A) Owner/user approved PMI procedure has equipment calibration, technique to be used, testing technology, PMI tester
B)
C)
D)

qualification.
The documents like drawing, physical marking traceability to owner to identify the tested material
Both A & B
The shop should follow only manufacturer testing procedure

56. A piping system has not received PMI is relocated, the Owner/user
A) Consider the need for PMI testing
B) Consider the need for PMI testing prior to placing the relocated components into service
C) Consider the need for PMI testing after placing the relocated components into service
D) Need not consider the need for PMI testing prior
57. A document which carries the information like the technique to be used, equipment, calibration elements, the qualification
requirement of PMI test personnel, testing methodology and documentation requirement is a
A) A PMI test report shall these things included in them
B) A procedure of personnel qualification needs to have them
C) A PMI report & check list should have these informations
D) A typical test procedure of PMI needs to have them in it

58. All information shall be listed in a _______________ and it shall be traceable to ___________________
A) PMI test procedure and the equipment shall be traceable to National standard
B) PMI test report and the equipment shall be traceable to National standard
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C)
D)

PMI test report, the point of particular items installation shall be traceable
PMI test procedure and the equipment shall be traceable to the installation location

59. A document which carries information like date of testing, procedure number, revision, instrument Sr.#, instrument name, name of
person & the company which does the work, results of the test etc., is called
A) PMI test procedure
B) A PMI test report
C) PMI test check list
D) PMI test criteria

60. A semi permanent paint marking system is applied

A) Whether or not the marking system is only temporary to facilitate to proper handling and identification from the point of PMI
B)
C)
D)

testing to final installation

To avoid mix up of tested items
To identify the tested items
To identify and segregate the tested items

61. Item which are of non confirming the material requirement including those left in service
A) Shall be recorded for future replacement
B) Shall be recorded for any future reference
C) shall be recorded with the basis and action for resolving is mentioned in the test record
D) Shall be recorded to have them check for their performance in the future

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API 578 QUIZ

Sr. #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
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44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
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55
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57
58
59
60
61
API 578 quiz

Answer
B
B
C
A
D
B
D
A
B
B
B
C
C
A
C
C
B
A
A
D
B
B
A
A
B
C
B
D
D
B
C
D
A
B
C
B
B
D
B
D
A
B
C
A
D
B
C
A
D
B
A
C
A
A
C
B
D
C
B
A
C
Mohan Raj

ANSWER KEY

Reference section
1.1
1.2
3.1
4.2.5(b)
3.4
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.2
4.2.4
4.2.5
4.2.6
4.2.6
4.2.6.1
4.3.1
4.3.2 a, b, c, d
4.3.2.1
4.3.3
4.4.1
5.1
5.2.1 (b)
5.2.2
5.3
5.5
6.2
6.3
7.1.2
1.1
1.3
3.5
3.16
3.17
4.1
4.3.2.2 (a)
4.4.2
4.4.3
5.2.1
5.2.3
5.2.4.1
5.2.4.2
5.2.4.3
5.4
5.5
6.1 (d)
6.1 (c)
6.2
7.1
7.1.1
7.6
7.5 (g)
7.4
7.1.2
7.3
7.4
7.6
7.7
7.5
7.1.2 b
7.5 f
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